Meet the Nominees for Licensing International’s Excellence Awards: Best Licensed Products, Home Décor

As part of the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards, nine companies from the U.K., Australia, France, China and the U.S. have been nominated in the licensed product, home décor, category.

Across all categories, more than 600 entries were received this year from companies in 22 countries and were judged by a panel of 152 executives from 20 nations. To highlight the nominess for 2020, Licensing International has developed a "Spotlight On" segment. The series started earlier this week with a focus on the home décor category.

“We have created the 'Spotlight On' segment to showcase the creativity and innovation that is part of our industry’s DNA,” says Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “During these difficult times, we want to make sure that we don’t forget about the importance of celebrating the companies and people behind these successes. This weekly segment allows us to highlight and spotlight the different award categories, and their nominees.”

In 2018, licensed products in the home décor category made up seven percent of global retail sales of licensed merchandise, which was a four percent jump forward from the year prior. Since then, licensed home décor has continued to make an impact on the licensing industry, and Licensing International’s Excellence Awards have taken notice. Here are the nominess for this year's Licensing International’s Excellence Awards: Best Licensed Products in Home Décor.

Beast / ‘The Little Prince’

“The Little Prince,” represented by Medialink in China, has collaborated with Beast to develop merchandise like fresh flower gifts, tableware and bedding items. The annual sales of Beast x Le Petit Prince top more than 5 million dollars per year.

CWM Homewares / May Gibbs

Australian homewares distributor CWM Homewares develops the May Gibbs by Ecology homewares collection, and following a successful 2018 launch, the two partnered again for a second launch in October 2019. The collection features tabletop pieces, children’s dinnerware, kitchen textile pieces and garden gifting items. To date, the collection has boasted sales in excess of 60,000 units, making more than $1.5 million.

Dreamtex / Nat Geo Bedding

Dreamtex is the first type of bedding to promote and market itself as a recycled home décor collection. The brand teamed with National Geographic to further its eco-conscious message, creating the collection with Repreve, a fiber created to promote the ethical use of plastics rather than allowing them to end up in a landfill.

Larousse / ‘Peaky Blinders’

Endemol Shine Group is currently building its licensing franchise for “Peaky Blinders.” The first product launch in France went to publishing and product specialist Larousse, which launched products such as cocktail books, poker sets and drinkware. The products have seen strong sales across France.

Jay Franco & Sons / HI & ‘The Little Mermaid’

HI Designs, launched by Jay Franco, teamed with “The Little Mermaid” for a teen bedding collection at Bed Bath and Beyond. HI Designs, in collaboration with teen entrepreneurs Hayley and Ivy, designed the collection to be a beachy, “mix-and-match” style.

Little Greene / National Trust

Little Greene Paint company teamed with the collection of National Trust paint, and the results have garnered more than 500,000 sales. Through the sales, Little Greene has donated at least £25,000 to the National Trust toward their conservation projects.

Modernica / “SpongeBob SquarePants”

To celebrate the “SpongeBob SquarePants’” 20^th anniversary, Chicago-based visual artist Louis DeGuzman and reggaeton musician J Balvin teamed with Modernica to create furniture inspired by SpongeBob. The limited home collection combines Modernica silhouettes with the unique designs of Guzman and Balvin, making a splash on news outlets.

Selamat / Morris & Co.

Selamat and Morris & Co.’s licensed products have received multiple awards since the collection launched. From winning awards from Interior Design Magazine to the International Furnishings & Design Association, this collection has been noticed by many.

Skechers USA / BOBS for Dogs

Petco stores took on the BOBS for Dogs brand into their pet accessories arsenal, and the licensed products carry a donation back to the Petco Foundation, much like original BOBS for Dogs footwear does. The line is currently expanding.