The winners of the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards are floating towards the weekend on the back of their victories on Wednesday (20 October) – with many sharing their initial joy at winning with LicensingSource.net.
Maxine Lister, head of licensing at the Natural History Museum, picked up two of the prestigious accolades – Best Brand Licensed Adult Apparel Product or Range for its collection with Finisterre and Best Licensed Heritage Or Institution Brand.
Speaking on the win for Finisterre, Maxine said she was “thrilled” that the sustainable range had been recognised.
On the Property category triumph, she said: “There was huge competition in this category and I’m delighted. We work so hard to produce all the content that we do at the museum, so to have that recognised in this way is amazing.”
Pippa Chamberlain, creative director at Blueprint Collections, took to the stage with her colleague Suzanne Chater, product development director, and Marijn Veraart, licensing manager at Van Gogh Museum to collect the Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product or Range for its Van Gogh Stationery and Gifting collection.
“We are so honoured,” Pippa commented. “This really is a team effort and a true partnership and we are so pleased for the work that’s gone into the range to be recognised.”
Best Brand Licensed Homewares, Kitchen & Tabletop Product or Range was awarded to Homebase for its Country Living Whitstable and Hastings Kitchens. Clara Hobday, senior buyer at Homebase on behalf of the Homebase Kitchens team, commented: “This is a brand and a range that we really are so proud of and it’s such a great experience working with the team at Hearst.”
Elaine Hooper, John Lewis & Partners buyer, collected the award for Best Department Store Or Mixed Retailer of Licensed Brands with her colleague Neil Amer, merchandiser. She commented: “We work really hard with our partners on the selection of licensed products which goes into store and we’re so lucky to have a great department store to showcase them in.”
The team at Iceland – which won Best Supermarket of Licensed Brands – were delighted with their win. Lauren Metcalfe, head of exclusive brands at the supermarket, commented: “We are so proud to be recognised. We really are delighted and this is just the start for us!”
Stephanie Freeman, licensing manager at The LEGO Group, said that the wins for Best Licensed Lifestyle Brand and Best Brand Licensed Children’s Product or Range for the Classic LEGO Bricks Collection from adidas helped to underline the hard work which has been going on at the company.
“This is huge for us; we’re at the start of a new direction for what we do with the brand and this is just the beginning of that journey,” she commented.
Scion was another double winner, picking up Best Brand Licensed Home Décor Product or Range for its collaboration with Next, plus Best Licensed Design-led Lifestyle Brand.
Fleur Neal, head of partnerships at Sanderson Design Group, said that there was much more to come from the brand going forward, too.
“We are really thrilled with these wins and the partnership with Next continues to go from strength to strength,” she commented.
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