Brand Licensing Europe, organized by UBM and sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, has unveiled the four finalists for its annual License This! competition.
Now in its seventh year, the License This! competition offers those with new, unlicensed creative concepts the opportunity to break into the global licensing industry. The contest will conclude at the show on Thursday, Oct. 13, when the four finalists will present their concepts to a live audience and the panel of judges, which is chaired by Kelvyn Gardner, managing director, LIMA U.K.
The finalists include:
- May the Thoughts Be with Youby Charlotte Reed–This concept is a book of Reed’s own thoughts, illustrated with cheerful, fun cartoon characters.
- I Like Birds by Stuart Cox–This entry encompasses a series of bird-based greeting cards and designs.
- Super Geek Heroes by David Lawrence Jones–Super Geek Heroes is an animation based on a group of nursery school kids with friendly “super powers” derived from specific development areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- “Chihuahua Hiyaa” by Ryan Winchcombe and Chris Berntsen–The TV show concept is set in the fictional world of West Valley, Calif., and follows the adventures of five young Chihuahuas.
“Having received 24 entries for the contest this year, the judging panel had a difficult task,” says Gardner. “As ever, the caliber of entries was extremely high with lots of interesting new property concepts. However, we felt the final four have strong licensing potential and we are looking forward to hearing their pitch at BLE.”
Gardener will be joined on the final panel by: Tom Gunn, senior international brand director, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products; Jane Evans, director, JELC; Sam Ferguson, senior director, licensing and retail, Jazwares; Pat Reading, licensing director, UU; Max Lister, senior licensing manager, Natural History Museum; Clare Piggot, director, licensing and merchandising, Larkshead Media; and Pippa Smith, childrenswear licensed character coordinator, Marks & Spencer.
The four finalists will compete for a chance to win the prize valued at more than £6,000, including a fully furnished 9-square-meter stand at BLE 2017 to bring the property to market as well as a LIMA membership for one year and one ticket to the LIMA Licensing Essentials Course & Spring Fling Networking Party in May 2017.
BLE is the largest licensing event in Europe and will take place from Oct. 11-13 at London’s Olympia.
