Time to shine for greetings and stationery licensed products
Eleven greetings and stationery products have been singled out as finalists in the hotly-contested Licensing Awards 2023.
The Best Licensed Paper Products Or Stationery Range category features Abacus, Danilo. UK Greetings, Ohh Deer, Robert Frederick, Tache, A2V Trade, Moonpig, Cardology, Blueprint Collections and Royal Mail – with Moonpig also appearing in The Innovation Award sector.
And in the Licensed Property awards, Me To You from Carte Blanche Greetings is among 12 finalists for the Classic Licenced Property Award, which covers properties that have stood the test of time with at least a decade of licensing activity, while the brand is also featured in the product category under Best Licensed Food Or Drink Range and Best Licensed Giftware, Home Décor, Tableware Or Housewares Range.
Over 3,500 products were entered across the 11 product awards categories, with the finalists being chosen by retail buyers from across the whole gamut of licensed and consumer products, and the full shortlist was revealed on Wednesday, 19 July.
“We had an exceptionally strong response from the industry for entries into this year’s product categories,” commented Ian Hyder, ceo of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Licensing Awards, as well as The Henries, The Retas awards.
“I didn’t envy the task of the judges as there were so many incredible products across all of the categories, underlining the innovation, passion and creativity of the licensing industry – and how this only continues to grow.”
The full list of Best Licensed Paper Products or Stationery Range finalists is:
- BBC Springwatch Greeting Card Collection from Abacus Cards
- Bluey Calendar and Greeting Card Collection from Danilo Promotions
- Disney D100 Sketch Quotes Greeting Card Collection from UK Greetings
- Eden Project x Papergang Stationery Selection Box from Ohh Deer
- Elmer The Elephant Children’s Stationery from Robert Frederick
- Heinz Greeting Card Collection from Tache Crafts
- Mr Men & Little Miss Advent Calendar from A2V Trade
- The National Gallery Master Painting Photo Upload Range from Moonpig
- Peter Rabbit Pop Up Card Range from Cardology
- Pokémon Besties Range from Blueprint Collections
- Transformers AR Stamp Collection from Royal Mail
In The Innovation Award, the Disney x Moonpig Licensed Flower Range is up against products featuring Finding Nemo, Jurassic World, McDonald’s French Fries, Peppa Pig, Super Mario Bros, Transformers and Wallace & Gromit.
In the Retail Awards sector, Card Factory and John Lewis & Partners have been picked as finalists in the Radar Award for retailers which have come on the radar having considerably increased their licensing activities in the year to 31 May, 2023.
Ella Haynes, event director at Brand Licensing Europe, commented: “BLE is delighted to return as headline sponsor for the 2023 Licensing Awards – it really is the Oscars for our industry and an unmissable night all round.
Congratulations to all this year’s finalists – what a line-up, and what a fantastic reflection of the breadth, accessibility and inclusivity of this industry, from classics to newbies and every demographic.”
The Licensing Awards 2023 takes place on Tuesday, 12 September, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Tickets and tables can be reserved quickly and securely online by visiting Max-Tickets.net or by contacting Clare Hollick at Create Events: clare@createvents.co.uk or 0118 334 0085.
