Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 open for entries

The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards are back for 2022, and are now open for entries

The event – now in its seventh year – will take place on Wednesday 27 April, at an afternoon event at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

The deadline for nominations and entries across all categories is Tuesday 8 March, 2022.

The B&LLAs 2022 will look to reward brand and lifestyle licensing activity which has taken place in the UK between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, across Product, Retail and Property categories. In addition, the Brand Ambassador Award will also be presented to a special individual (brand owner, licensor, retailer, licensee or supplier), acknowledging their contribution to the brand licensing sector.

The entry and nomination process for all categories is free and via online submission – all the forms can be accessed from the dedicated B&LLAs website by clicking here.

Brand Licensing Europe returns as the headline sponsor of the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards, while trade body Licensing International will once again be lending its support.

A number of stellar names have also pledged their support as sponsors including MDR Brand Management, The Point.1888, CAA-GBG, WildBrain CPLG, Pink Key Licensing (Pringles), Start Licensing, Golden Goose, Discovery Consumer Products, Erve, Dependable Solutions, Poetic Brands, H&A, Beanstalk, Metrostar, TSBA, Brandgenuity and BrandComply.com.

For ticket and table information for The B&LLAs awards event, please click here.

 

The Licensing International Excellence Awards prepare for Licensing Expo Virtual live stream ceremony

The Licensing International Excellence Awards will be returning to Licensing Expo this year, albeit in a virtual format, as the ceremony makes its preparations to live stream on Day One of Licensing Expo Virtual this August 24th to 26th.

The annual award programme will once again honour a list of nominees and reveal the 2021 winners across its 22 categories, whittling down the record-setting number of finalists from the more than 150 nominees across 23 countries. The live broadcast will take place on the Licensing Expo Virtual platform and is available exclusively to event attendees.

Register here for the event and ceremony free of charge.

Scheduled for August 24 at 9:00 a.m. PST/12:00 p.m. EDT, the live ceremony is designed to celebrate a world-class group of licensing professionals, IP owners, agencies, retailers, and more, for their creativity and dedication to the pursuit of advancing the brand licensing industry.

“In a year where stay-at-home restrictions radically disrupted societal behavior, a selection of standout professionals and companies helped the industry navigate these uncharted waters through strategic licensing initiatives – many of which are nominated for this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards,” said Maura Regan, president of Licensing International.

“Each and every one of this year’s nominees have played a part in reimagining the brand to consumer relationship, changes that will have a positive impact on the outlook of our industry. We look forward to celebrating these successes during the award ceremony during Licensing Expo Virtual.”

Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets, added: “Licensing Expo is about bringing the global licensing community together, a sentiment that really strikes home as we’ve all had to face unique challenges and think outside the box, more so than ever before.

“We are proud to partner with Licensing International and host the Excellence Awards ceremony on the first day of this year’s event to pause and applaud so many individual’s and company’s continued perseverance and inflow of creative ideas that kept our industry’s momentum going.”

The Licensing International Excellence Awards categories include:

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Apparel / Footwear / Accessories
Presented by WildBrain CPLG

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Appliances/Automotive/Electronics/Housewares/Paint
Presented by ViacomCBS

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Digital: Apps / Software / Video Games
Presented by WildBrain – emojitown

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Food / Beverage
Presented by LI Accelerator Recipients Bedrock Collectibles, Holy Joe, LIBREX, Park Star Media & Somos Arte

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Health & Beauty Aids
Presented by WildBrain – Teletubbies

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Home Décor
Presented by InSpirit Designs

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Publishing / Social Expression / Back-to-School
Presented by ViacomCBS

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Toys / Games / Novelties / Role Play (ages 0-8)
Presented by Alifish

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – Toys / Games / Novelties / Role Play (ages 8+)
Presented by InSpirit Designs

BEST AGENCY / MANUFACTURER REP
Presented by Bedrock Collectibles, Holy Joe, LIBREX, Park Star Media & Somos Arte

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Corporate
Presented by ViacomCBS

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Digital: Apps & Video Games
Presented by InSpirit Designs

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Entertainment / Character / Toy Brand – Animated
Presented by Alifish

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Entertainment / Character – Live Action
Presented by InSpirit Designs

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Food / Beverage / Restaurant Brand
Presented by WildBrain CPLG Lifestyle

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Lifestyle: Art / Design / Celebrity / Fashion Brand
Presented by Bedrock Collectibles, Holy Joe, LIBREX, Park Star Media & Somos Arte

BEST LICENSED BRAND – Sports / Collegiate
Presented by ViacomCBS

BEST LICENSED COLLABORATION
Presented by Alifish

BEST LICENSED PROMOTION
Presented by WildBrain CPLG – Peanuts Worldwide

BEST RETAILER – Corporate / Lifestyle / Fashion / Sports
Presented by Alifish

BEST RETAILER – Entertainment / Character
Presented by Bedrock Collectibles, Holy Joe, LIBREX, Park Star Media & Somos Arte

THE PANDEMIC PIVOT
Presented by ViacomCBS

 To view the full Licensing International Excellence Awards nominee list, visit here.

Tonies lands slew of award wins as it enjoys ‘exponential growth in the UK’ through 2021

A period of exponential growth here in the UK for the children’s audio platform, Tonies has been compounded with a slew of awards wins and recognition from across the parents media space.

The popular storytelling and music playing Toniebox and its line up of Tonies figures, spanning some of the biggest IP in the preschool space, including The Gruffalo, Peppa Pig, Disney and more, has so far racked up no fewer than six awards, with more still on the horizon.

Tonies won big at the recent Loved By Parents awards, where it took home a total of three accolades. Its Toniebox and cast of Tonies figures secured a Gold award win in the Loved By Parents’ Best Educational Toy 2021 and took home the Platinum in the Best Muscial Toy 2021 category. The winning streak was rounded out with the Loved By Parents Recommended Tried and Tested accreditation.

Meanwhile, the team also took the Gold award at UKMums.TV Baby and Pre-school Awards 2021, as well as the Dadsnet Toy Awards 2021. The firm’s triumphant run was then completed when it secured the Platinum award in Loved By Children’s Best Electronic Toys for three to six year olds this year.

Pinky Laing, PR and partnerships manager at Tonies, told Licensing.biz: “We are thrilled to have won so many incredible awards already this year. We are growing exponentially in the UK and these awards not only mean so much to us as a business but also show the industry is really supporting us and our big plans for the rest of the year.

“Watch this space for more exciting Tonies projects and hopefully more awards to come.”

Completing the firm’s run of success here in the UK for now, and it has also been given the full accreditation of the Good Play Guide which has championed the team’s recently launched Sleep Tonies for their role in helping parents and children establish a ‘soothing bedtime routine.’

“Our testers found that after a few days, children began to associate the bedtime story with going to sleep, often falling asleep before the end,” commented the Good Play Guide team.

Tonies lands slew of award wins as it enjoys ‘exponential growth in the UK’ through 2021

A period of exponential growth here in the UK for the children’s audio platform, Tonies has been compounded with a slew of awards wins and recognition from across the parents media space.

The popular storytelling and music playing Toniebox and its line up of Tonies figures, spanning some of the biggest IP in the preschool space, including The Gruffalo, Peppa Pig, Disney and more, has so far racked up no fewer than six awards, with more still on the horizon.

Tonies won big at the recent Loved By Parents awards, where it took home a total of three accolades. Its Toniebox and cast of Tonies figures secured a Gold award win in the Loved By Parents’ Best Educational Toy 2021 and took home the Platinum in the Best Muscial Toy 2021 category. The winning streak was rounded out with the Loved By Parents Recommended Tried and Tested accreditation.

Meanwhile, the team also took the Gold award at UKMums.TV Baby and Pre-school Awards 2021, as well as the Dadsnet Toy Awards 2021. The firm’s triumphant run was then completed when it secured the Platinum award in Loved By Children’s Best Electronic Toys for three to six year olds this year.

Pinky Laing, PR and partnerships manager at Tonies, told Licensing.biz: “We are thrilled to have won so many incredible awards already this year. We are growing exponentially in the UK and these awards not only mean so much to us as a business but also show the industry is really supporting us and our big plans for the rest of the year.

“Watch this space for more exciting Tonies projects and hopefully more awards to come.”

Completing the firm’s run of success here in the UK for now, and it has also been given the full accreditation of the Good Play Guide which has championed the team’s recently launched Sleep Tonies for their role in helping parents and children establish a ‘soothing bedtime routine.’

“Our testers found that after a few days, children began to associate the bedtime story with going to sleep, often falling asleep before the end,” commented the Good Play Guide team.

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment opens nominations for Wonder Women Awards 2021

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) has opened its nominations for the 17th Annual Wonder Women Awards, a well-established industry initiative that honours the top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for their accomplishments.

Coinciding with WIT’s 30th anniversary, the 2021 Wonder Women Awards are expected to be held for the first time in Los Angeles in late September this year. The date and the location of the event will be announced soon.

“The WIT Wonder Women Awards celebrate the women whose exceptional achievements and successes have made a significant impact on our industry,” said Wonder Women co-chair, Genna Rosenberg. “We look forward to celebrating and recognizing these remarkable leaders, and to reimagining this exciting annual event for the entire WIT community.”

Co-chair, Jennifer Caveza, added: “Each year, WIT brings together hundreds of industry players to honor powerhouse women who inspire us all, and who play a pivotal role in their companies. This will be a celebratory night for all in our industry, in a special new location befitting of the superstars we will honor.”

From now through to April 30th, anyone may nominate a colleague, friend, themselves, or any woman who has made an impact in toys, licensing or entertainment. 2021 Wonder Women Award categories include:

  • Designer | Inventor

  • Licensor | Entertainment

  • Licensee | Manufacturer

  • Marketing | PR

  • Rising Star

  • Social Good

  • COVID-19 Hero

  • Deal Maker

  • StoryTeller

  • Unsung Hero

  • Wonder Girl

Click here for full category descriptions and guidelines.

All Nominee submissions will be reviewed by the Wonder Women Committee and WIT staff to ensure eligibility is met. The slate of finalists will be determined by vote conducted by the WIT Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Chapter Chairs, and will be based on the Nominee’s achievements and criteria provided.

Voting for the winners will be conducted by the entire WIT community, including all active WIT members, Chapter Chairs, its Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Winners will be revealed at the Wonder Women Awards in September in Los Angeles

To nominate a WIT Wonder Woman, please visit www.WomenInToys.com.