The Licensing Awards 2020: The Finalists

Top brands, products and retailers ready for glory at this year’s special virtual extravaganza.

Today (Monday September 28), we have the great pleasure of unveiling the finalists for The Licensing Awards 2020.

As announced last week, this year’s winners will be unveiled at an event to be held digitally on the evening of Wednesday December 16, and is likely to attract a huge global audience.

“Despite the inherent challenges the ongoing period has presented, the character and entertainment licensing industry has done itself proud on the product, retailing and promotional front and as such it is imperative that we honour this excellence,” said Jakki Brown, joint md of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Licensing Awards. “This may not be a ‘normal’ year, but all the more important to mark the positives, and being a finalist in The Licensing Awards is certainly a good reason to smile.”

The finalists in The Licensing Awards 2020 are:

THE UK RISING STAR AWARD

This is a Licensing International UK award. The award is designed to recognise excellence among junior industry professionals in the United Kingdom under the age of 35.

Archie Harris-Eva, licensing manager of TSBA Group
Lauren Hilliard, licensing executive of Warner Bros
Anna McArdle, licensing executive of Historic Royal Palaces
Jessica Nioncel, licensing manager of The Pokémon Company International
Naomi Smith, licensing associate of Mattel UK
Sarah Sullivan, retail development coordinator of Forbidden Planet

RETAIL CATEGORY FINALISTS

BEST RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL LICENSED PRODUCTS (AGE GROUP 0-5)

Character.com
The Entertainer
George@Asda
John Lewis
Sainsbury’s Argos
Smyths Toys

BEST RETAILER OF KIDS’ LICENSED PRODUCTS (AGE GROUP 5-16)

Aldi
Amazon
Character.com
Next
Primark
Sainsbury’s Argos

BEST RETAILER OF ADULT LICENSED PRODUCTS

Amazon
Forbidden Planet
Game
HMV
Primark
Selfridges

THE RADAR AWARD

This award is for retailers who have come on the radar on the licensing front as they have considerably upped their licensing activities in the last year.

B&M
Card Factory
Get Trend
The Hut Group
Menkind
Nutmeg at Morrisons
The Range

BEST OVERSEAS RETAILER

This award is for retailers of any discipline selling licensed products whose main retailing activity is overseas (ie not in the UK), but which also has a physical or online presence in the UK.

H&M
Lidl
Pull & Bear
Uniqlo
Urban Outfitters
Zara

BEST LICENSED RETAIL MARKETING INITIATIVE

This award is for the most creative and effective marketing campaign run in a UK retailer to support a licensed brand or range of licensed products or individual product.

Friends Central Perk Cafe Launch at Primark Manchester
Natural History Museum Colour by Nature Campaign at Farrow & Ball
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas Thanks Mrs C Campaign at Barbour
The Roald Dahl Story Company x Natural History Museum Extraordinary Explorers Campaign at M&S
Stranger Things x Primark
Wallace & Gromit ‘Christmas at the Click of a Button’ Campaign at Joules

BEST LICENSED PROMOTIONS CAMPAIGN

This award is for a creative and effective use of a licence in the promotion of another brand or service.

Beano Time Travellers! exhibition at Mottisfont (Agency: Rocket Licensing)
Emoji Kindness Takes the Crown Anti-bullying Campaign with Burger King (Agency: The Emoji Company)
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at Le Méridien Hotel (Agency: Penguin Ventures)
Roald Dahl’s Splendiferous Summer Campaign with Mr Kipling
The Very Hungry Caterpillar RHS Summer Partnership (Agency: Rocket Licensing)
‘We’re On It’ Advertising Campaign with Direct Line (Agency: Born Licensing)

BEST LICENSED LIVE EVENT

This award is for a licensed live event where the public needs to pay to participate, either by paying to enter a venue where the licensed event takes place or to participate directly in the licensed event itself. Free-to-consumer experiential marketing events are covered by the Licensed Promotions Campaign award.

FriendsFest and FriendsFestive UK Tour from Comedy Central and Luna Cinema
Mr. Men & Little Miss On Stage Theatre Show from Rockefeller Productions
Paddington On Ice from Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Peaky Blinders The Live Escape Game Experience from Escape Live
The Next Step Themed Workshops from Pineapple Studios London
Shaun the Sheep Farmageddon Glow Trails Events from Forestry England
Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels Show from Carrot Productions

PRODUCT CATEGORY FINALISTS

BEST LICENSED TOYS OR GAMES RANGE

Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing GEN2 Car and eTrophy from LEGO System
Friends Central Perk LEGO Ideas from LEGO
Horrible Science Kits and Board Game from James Galt & Co
How To Train Your Dragon Interactive Hatching Toothless from Spin Master
Hey Duggee Wooden Toys Range from 8th Wonder
Peppa Pig Play-sets from Character Options
Star Wars The Child Pop! From Funko
That’s Not My… Soft Toys and Comforters from Rainbow Designs
Trolls World Tour Role Play Range from Flair Just Play

BEST LICENSED DRESS-UP OR PARTYWARE

The Addams Family Dress-up from RH Smith & Son
Disney Princesses Dress-up for George@Asda from Christys By Design
Harry Potter Party Range for Primark from Amscan
The Joker Suit from OppoSuits
Miraculous Dress-up from Rubies
Peter Rabbit TV Dress-up Range for George@Asda from RH Smith & Son
Trolls 2 Dress-up from Amscan International
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Butterfly Dress-up for George@Asda from Christys By Design
The World of David Walliams Dress-up from RH Smith & Son

BEST LICENSED PRESCHOOL APPAREL RANGE (0-5 YEARS)

Gruffalo Collection from Cribstar
Miffy Collection for Next from Dennicci
Mr. Men Little Miss Collection from Lil Cubs
Paddington Collection for Nutmeg from Dennicci
Peanuts Collection from Cribstar
SpongeBob Collection from H&M
Toy Story Baby Sleepsuit Range for Character.com from TDP Textiles
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Range for TU Clothing from Dennicci
Winnie the Pooh Baby Range from Tesco

BEST LICENSED CHILDREN’S APPAREL RANGE

Barbie Girls’ Apparel from River Island
Frozen 2 Range from Marks & Spencer
Harry Potter Mini Boden Collection from Boden
Hello Kitty x Liverpool FC from Liverpool FC
Peanuts Girls Collection for Next from Fashion UK
Peanuts Nightwear from Aykroyd & Sons
PlayStation Collection for Next from Global Licensing
Snail and the Whale from FatFace
Toy Story 4 Range from Primark

BEST LICENSED ADULT APPAREL RANGE

Barbie Collection from Somerbond
Coca-Cola The (Re)Collection from Diesel
Friends Collection from Primark
The Grinch Collection from Primark
Harry Potter Jewellery from Pandora
Looney Tunes Space Jam Collection for PrettyLittleThing from Brands In
Natural History Museum Collection from Finisterre
Peanuts Collection from Lazy Oaf
Stranger Things Collection from Primark

BEST LICENSED WRITTEN, LISTENING OR LEARNING RANGE

Aardman Colouring Heaven Range from Anthem Publishing
Baby Shark My First Calendar from Danilo Promotions
Baby Shark Range from Centum Books
Build-a-Bear How We First Met Personalised Book from Signature Gifts
Hey Duggee Electronic Learning Toys from Trends UK
Mr. Men Little Miss At Work from Egmont
Paddington – The Adventure Series from HarperCollins Children’s Books
Peppa Pig Range from Penguin Random House
Rainbow Hand Puppet Fun from Sweet Cherry Publishing

BEST LICENSED PAPER PRODUCTS OR STATIONERY RANGE

BBC Earth Calendar and Diary Range from Danilo Promotions
Emma Bridgewater Greeting Card Range from Woodmansterne Publications
Friends Collection from Danilo Promotions
Harry Potter Collection from Moleskine
Harry Potter Pop-Up Cards from Cardology
Mickey Mouse Disney Pride from Moonpig
Peter Rabbit Wrap and Gift Bags from UK Greetings
The Tiger Who Came To Tea Range from Museums & Galleries
Trolls World Tour Colour Burst Collection from Pyramid International

BEST LICENSED GIFTWARE RANGE, HOME DÉCOR, TABLEWARE OR HOUSEWARES RANGE

BBC Earth Bottle Collection from S’well
Disney Desert Rose Home Textiles Range for Primark from Character World
The Elf on the Shelf Food Gifting Range from Kimm & Miller
Friends Toiletries Collection from Mad Beauty
May The Thoughts Be With You Giftware Range from Half Moon Bay
Natural History Museum Colour by Nature Paints Range from Farrow & Ball
Peaky Blinders Drinkware from GB eye
Peter Rabbit Signature Collection from Rainbow Designs
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Gardening Range for the RHS from Robert Frederick

BEST LICENSED FOOD OR DRINK RANGE

Barratt Dip Dab Ice Lollies from Icefresh Foods
Coca-Cola Tic Tacs from The Ferrero Group
Downtown Abbey Gin and Whiskey from Harrogate Tipple
Gruffalo Snack Range from Organix
Original Stormtrooper Chocolate Helmet from Kinnerton
Peanuts Confectionery from Asvina
Peter Rabbit Chocolate Advent Calendar from Charbonnel & Walker
Pokémon Pikachu Party Cake from Finsbury Foods
Scooby-Doo Pet Snacks from Fred & Ginger

THE INNOVATION AWARD

Aardman Armatures Kit and Accessories from Animation Tool Kit
Doctor Who Range Build a Bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop
Harry Potter Funkoverse from Funko
Harry Potter Wizarding World Lumos Book Lamp from BB Designs
Jena Frumes Loves PS Vegan Cosmetics for Primark from Bravado
IT Liquid-reactive Umbrella from Bioworld International
Peaky Blinders Premium Men’s Grooming Range from Murdock London
Peppa Pig Pancake Day Bundle from Groupe Seb
Toy Story Interactive Range from Thinkway Toys

BEST SUSTAINABLE LICENSED PRODUCT

This special new product award is for one licensed item or range of any discipline and will recognise and reward a licensed product’s/range’s credentials on a sustainability front.

BBC Earth T Shirt Collection from Teemill
Gruffalo Organic Clothing Collection from MORI
National Geographic Repreve Recycled Bedding Collection from Dreamtex
Natural History Museum Clothing Range from Finisterre
Rebel Girls Jigsaws from Gibsons
WWF Baby and Kids Clothing from F&F Tesco

PROPERTY CATEGORY FINALISTS

BEST PRESCHOOL LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 0-5)

Baby Shark
Bing
The Gruffalo
Hey Duggee
Mr. Men Little Miss
PAW Patrol
Peppa Pig
Ryan’s World
Thomas and Friends
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

BEST CHILDREN’S OR TWEEN LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 5-12)

Barbie
Elf on the Shelf
L.O.L. Surprise!
Miraculous
Peanuts
Pokémon
Pusheen
Wizarding World
The World of David Walliams

BEST TEEN OR ADULT LICENSED PROPERTY

Barbie
Emoji
Friends
LINE FRIENDS
The Mandalorian
Marvel Universe
Peaky Blinders
Rick and Morty
Smiley Originals
Stranger Things
Wizarding World

BEST GAMING LICENSED PROPERTY

Animal Crossing
Call of Duty
Crash Bandicoot
Destiny
Fortnite
Minecraft
Pokémon
Roblox
Warhammer

BEST FILM LICENSED PROPERTY

Frozen 2
IT 2
The Lion King
Shaun The Sheep Farmageddon
Trolls World Tour

BEST MUSIC OR CELEBRITY LICENSED PROPERTY

The Beatles
Billie Eilish
BTS
Hearts by Tiana
Little Mix
Queen
The Rolling Stones

BEST SPORTS LICENSED PROPERTY

Arsenal Football Club
Chelsea Football Club
England Rugby
Liverpool Football Club
Manchester City Football Club
Manchester United Football Club
NFL
NFL Players Association
Rugby World Cup 2019
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

THE CLASSIC LICENSED PROPERTY AWARD

This award is for properties that have stood the test of time (with at least a decade of licensing activity). The winner joins previous winners in The Licensing Classics Hall of Fame. Previous year’s winners are Barbie, The Beano, Peppa Pig, Peter Rabbit, Pokémon, Mickey Mouse, The Snowman, Star Wars and Thomas & Friends.

This year’s finalists are: