Greetings brands make Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards nominations list
Greetings industry brands and products have been recognised in the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards as the 2024 finalists have officially been revealed.
Across the Product, Property, Retail and Rising Star categories this year’s B&LLAs attracted the largest yet number of entries, from companies large and small, with the judges declaring the quality of the highest level.
With Tache, Sara Miller London, Carousel Calendars, I Like Birds, Moonpig, The Works, Blueprint Collections, Moleskine, and Meg Hawkins all appearing in the finalists’ list, the greetings and stationery industry is well represented – and there’s also recognition for the sterling efforts of a swathe of heritage institutions which work with publishers to produce great cards and wrap.
The main product categories were judged by a panel comprising retail buyers from right across the spectrum including Ann Summers, Asda, Character.com, DFS, FatFace, HMV, John Lewis & Partners, Moonpig, My First Years, Next, Sainsbury’s, Scribbler, Selfridges, Tesco, The Hut Group, Vanilla Underground and ZSL.
Products Of Change, the global education hub aimed at driving sustainable change across consumer products markets and beyond, also lent its expertise, while a dedicated Retail Validation Panel – chaired by Richard Pink, md at Pink Key Licensing, and including leading brand owners, licensors and agents – decided on the shortlist for the Retail categories.
The winners will be revealed at a glittering afternoon ceremony at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday, 25 April, and he event will culminate with the crowning of the Brand Licensing Ambassador Of The Year.
“As we approach the ninth Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards, it is gratifying to see the sector continue to grow, with this year’s finalists underlining the breadth of innovation, talent and product excellence for which it has become known,” commented Ian Hyder, ceo at Max Publishing which owns and organises the B&LLAs.
“The quality and standard of the entries this year – including some amazing collaborations and products from companies and brands new to the B&LLAs – has been exceptionally high, and making the shortlist is a real achievement in itself.
“We cannot wait to celebrate with all the finalists and the brand licensing community next month.”
The full list of B&LLAs 2024 finalists is available here, the categories with greetings industry connections are:
PRODUCT AWARD CATEGORIES
Best Brand Licensed Fashion Accessories or Lifestyle Product Or Range
- Haribo Capsule Collection from Vans
- I Like Birds Glasses Cases and Cloths from Opticaid
- Kikkoman Mini Bucket Bag from Anya Hindmarch
- Mr Potato Head Collection from Anya Hindmarch
- The National Gallery Reusable Bags & Accessories from Eco Chic
- Pusheen Footwear from Koi Footwear
- Sara Miller London Haveli Garden Collection from Portico Designs
- Smiley Footwear from Dr. Martens
- Squishmallows Slipper Range from Poetic Brands
- V&A AW23 Collection from Olympia Le-Tan
- Van Gogh Museum Bags & Accessories from Eastpak
Best Brand Licensed Health & Beauty Product Or Range
- Chupa Chups Health & Beauty Range from Corsair Toiletries
- Chupa Chups Read My Lips Strawberries & Cream Lip Gloss from Amber House
- Haribo Beauty Range for Primark from Fizz Creations
- Hawaiian Tropic Tropi-cool Cooling Mists Collection from Designer Parfums
- Jolly Rancher Read My Lips Lip & Hand Care Range from Amber House
- Nerf Range for Boots from H&A
- Playboy Body Mist Collection from SA Designer Parfums
- Sara Miller London Haveli Garden Bath & Body Collection from Heathcote & Ivory
- Style Sisters Home Fragrance Range for Aldi from Sebnini Trading
- Van Gogh Museum Sweet Almond Blossom Fragrance from Floral Street Fragrances
Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product Or Range
- Emma Bridgewater Collection from Carousel Calendars
- Gilbert Gift Toiletries Collection for Boots from SLG
- Keith Haring Collection from Caran D’Ache
- Kraft Heinz Greeting Cards from Tache Crafts
- Morris & Co Pet Beds from Rosewood Pets
- NASA Gift Collection from Fizz Creations
- Prima Crafting Range from The Works
- Radley Beauty & Lifestyle Collection for Boots from SLG
- Van Gogh Museum 50th Anniversary Range from Blueprint Collections
- Van Gogh Museum Collection from Moleskine
Best Brand Licensed Homewares, Kitchen & Tabletop Product Or Range
- Kate Heiss SS23 Collection from Half Moon Bay
- Kellogg’s Vintage Aprons from Dexam
- Laura Ashley Cookware from Pendeford Housewares
- Lenor Laundry Aids Collection from StarBrands
- Mary Berry At Home Cook & Bakeware from Captivate Brands
- MissPrint Homewares from Pure Table Top
- Morris & Co Tableware from Spode
- National Trust Acorn & Oak Leaves Collection from Sophie Allport
- Sanderson Very Rose & Peony Collection from Elite
- Sara Miller London Artisanne Noir Tableware from Portmeirion
RETAIL AWARD CATEGORIES
Best Specialist Brand Licensed Retailer Execution
- B&Q
- Claire’s
- DFS
- Homebase
- The Hut
- Lakeland
- Moonpig
- Superdrug
PROPERTY AWARD CATEGORIES
Best Licensed Fashion Or Talent Brand (open to all licensed fashion or talent brands including celebrities and name brands across sport, music, cookery, art/design or icons that executed licensing activity including in the UK between 1 Jan-31 Dec 2023)
- Billie Faiers
- Emma Bridgewater
- Lucia Heffernan
- Mary Berry
- Meg Hawkins
- Nadiya Hussain
- Sara Miller London
- Style Sisters
- Temperley London
Best Licensed Heritage Or Institution Brand (open to all licensed heritage or institution brands including museum, gallery, heritage, charity or visitor attraction brands that have executed licensing activity including in the UK between 1 Jan- 31 Dec)
- Ashmolean Museum
- English Heritage
- Historic Royal Palaces
- Liberty
- Morris & Co
- The National Gallery
- National Trust
- Natural History Museum
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
- Van Gogh Museum
- Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
- Yale University
The B&LLAs 2024 Rising Star Award
- Oliver Gilding, exclusive brands manager, Iceland Foods
- Jack Hendy, licensing development executive, Royal Horticultural Society
- Carrie Hickman, publishing & licensing manager, The Ashmolean Museum
- Natasha Holford-Edwards, manager brand management, The Beanstalk Group
- Mary Lewis, retail manager, The Point.1888
- Elspeth Monro-Smith, senior licensing partnerships manager, Hearst UK
- Lucy Orton, brand licensing account manager, V&A
Headline sponsor of the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2024 is Brand Licensing Europe, while it is also supported by Licensing International. Category and associate sponsors include Beanstalk, Brandcomply.com, CAA Brand Management, Emoji, Golden Goose, Hearst UK, Lisle Licensing, Metrostar, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Perfetti Van Melle, Pink Key Licensing, Poetic Brands, Products Of Change, RHS, Sanderson Design Group, Sara Miller London, Seminal, Smiley, Spring Fair 2025, and Start Licensing.
Tables and tickets for the B&LLAs 2024 are available by contacting Clare at Createvents on clare@createvents.co.uk or 0118 334 0085. You can reserve and pay online at the Max Publishing Digital Box Office.
