The Licensing Awards Reward The Best in The Business

Brandora News - July 2008

 
Winners of the UK Licensing Awards 2008 have got what it takes!

  • Comedian Rob Brydon hosts the glittering event
  • Sir Steve Redgrave makes guest appearance
  • Exclusive animations featuring Morph, Bob the Builder, Little Princess
  • Over 1000 guests attend biggest awards event for licensing industry
  • Awards for licensed products, retailers and licensed properties

The Licensing Source Book is proud to announce the winners of The Licensing Awards 2008. The awards were presented last night, 17 September 2008, during a prestigious black tie event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel hosted by comedian and TV personality Rob Brydon. Winners included BBC’s In the Night Garden for ‘Best Baby or Pre-school Property’, Disney’s High School Musical for ‘Best Licensed Schoolers, Tween or Teen Property’. Plus, winners of the brand new awards this year included Marco Pierre White for ‘Best Celebrity Licensed Property’, Liverpool FC for ‘Best Sports Licensed Property’.

Created by The Licensing Source Book Europe, part of Max Publishing, The Licensing Awards celebrate the industry’s achievements on all levels and reward innovation and excellence in licensed product development and licensed properties across the full retail spectrum as well as a selection of special awards. For the third year running, Spring Fair Birmingham is the headline sponsor once again and Lima UK is again an official supporter of the awards.

The award ceremony has become the ‘must attend’ event in the licensing calendar and over 1,000 guests enjoyed a golden evening of superb entertainment, dinner and dancing – and the fact the whole industry can get together.

Highlights from the evening included a guest appearance from five times Olympic Gold Medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave, who presented the prizes at the raffle. Exclusive animations were created by Aardman, HIT Entertainment and TV-Loonland with their much-loved children’s characters who injected their own humour to the evening.

Ian Hyder, Director, The Licensing Source Book, comments: “The Licensing Awards definitely hit the spot this year. Over 1000 guests attended the star-studded event with top notch entertainment, a record level of attendance, number of entries and sponsors. We have created the winning formula for a top night that is now a firm favourite in the industry calendar that really puts licensing in the spotlight.”

The judging for the Product categories, for which 4,500 products were entered, was conducted by a prestigious panel of over 40 of the top retail buyers including those from Amazon, Boots, Bhs, Clinton Cards, Debenhams, HMV, Mothercare, New Look, Tesco, WHSmith and Woolworths. The judges assessed each product entry considering the following criteria; the excellence of design, innovation and originality; consumer targeting and quality of manufacture and packaging. The award categories recognise products, retailers and property owners. This year’s awards categories include five new awards dedicated to brand licensing (encompassing sports, celebrities as well as general brands).

The Licensing Source Book is proud to announce the winners of The Licensing Awards 2008 for each of the three categories are as follows:

1) THE RETAIL AWARD CATEGORY WINNERS

Best Baby/Pre-School Retailer (aimed at 0-5 year olds) of Licensed Products
M&S
Category sponsored by HiT Entertainment

Best Schoolers Retailer (aimed at 5-9 year olds) of Licensed Products
Woolworths
Category sponsored by 4Kids International

Best Tweens and/or Teens Retailer (aimed at 9-16 year olds) of Licensed Products
New Look
Category sponsored by Chorion

Best Brands Retailer of Licensed Products
Debenhams
Category sponsored by The Beanstalk Group

Best Direct Selling Retailer of Licensed Products
Play.com
Category sponsored by ITV Global Entertainment

Best Overall Retailer of Licensed Products
Play.com
Category sponsored by Mattel Brands

2) PRODUCT CATEGORY WINNERS

Best Licensed Toys Or Games Range
In The Night Garden Toy Range from Hasbro
Category sponsored by BBC Worldwide

Best Licensed Dress-up and/or Party Range
Dr Who Dress-up from The Christy Group
Category sponsored by Warner Consumer Products

Best Licensed Children’s Apparel Or Accessories Range
High School Musical, Woolworths Exclusive Range from Blues Clothing
Category sponsored by Nickelodeon Viacom

Best Licensed Adult Apparel Or Accessories Range
Sesame Street T-Shirts from Famous Forever
Category sponsored by Hallmark

Best Licensed Written, Listening Or Learning Range
Dora The Explorer, Reader’s Digest Range from Simon & Schuster
Category sponsored by Parthenon Entertainment Group

Best Licensed Paper Products Or Stationery Range
High School Musical 2 Greeting Cards and Calendars from Danilo
Category sponsored by Spring Fair, Summer Fair and Autumn Fair

Best Licensed Giftware Range
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Giftware from Portmeirion
Category sponsored by TV-Loonland

Best Licensed Interactive Range
Planet Earth DVD Game from Imagination Games
Category sponsored by AT New Media

Best Licensed Home Décor, Housewares or Bedding Range
Humphrey’s Corner Bedroom Range from Mothercare
Category sponsored by Jetix Consumer Products

Best Licensed Food Or Drink Range
In The Night Garden Confectionery Range from Bon Bon Buddies
Category sponsored by Kidz Entertainment EEMC

The Innovation Award
Queen Tooth Tunes from Grosvenor
Category sponsored by Cartoon Network

Best Licensed Brand Range – Soft Goods
Jelly Belly Toiletries from Baylis and Harding
Category sponsored by The Brand & Sport Licensing Source Book

Best Licensed Brand Range - Hard Goods
Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauces from Baxters Food Group
Category sponsored by Guinness

3) THE PROPERTY AWARD WINNERS

Best Baby/Pre-School Licensed Property (aimed at 0-5 year olds)
In The Night Garden
Category sponsored by Character World

Best Schoolers, Tween or Teen Licensed Property
High School Musical
Category sponsored by The Character Group

Best Sports Licensed Property
Liverpool Football Club
Category sponsored by Zap

Best Celebrity Licensed Property
Marco Pierre White
Category sponsored by Danilo

Best Brand Licensed Property
Haynes
Category sponsored by Brand Licensing Europe 2008

he Honorary Achievement Award
Mike Redfern
Category sponsored by Smiffy’s