BLE Names License This! Judges

Kelvyn Gardner, managing director of the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association U.K., will chair the panel. He will be joined by Charlie Donaldson, joint managing director of Rocket Licensing; Tom Gunn, international brand director, EMEA, at MTV Networks; and Wendy Munt, consultant at Be Inspired Consulting. ?

Now in its sixth year, the License This! competition offers new creative concepts the chance to break into the global licensing industry. It is open to any new artwork, brand or character that has no merchandising deals in place or pending. The judges will shortlist four entries, which will then be pitched to them in front of a live audience at BLE Oct. 15.

This year’s prize is valued at more than £6,000. The winner will receive a fully furnished stand at BLE 2016, the opportunity to bring the property to market, along with LIMA membership for

“With licensing increasingly being recognized as an extension of the creative process, it's vital that we continue to encourage new talent to embrace consumer products at the nascent stage of new properties," says Gardner. "License This! is a rare platform, one that allows new talent access to experienced executives in a competitive format that we think really drives them to make their creations as good as they can be. I'm looking forward enormously to chairing this year's event.”

Last year’s winner was RaNT! a fun and irreverent character that has something to say about the bits of modern life that really get on our nerves. Created by Adam Bestwick at Fourth Wall Brands, RaNT! has developed a series of lunchware and stationery offerings since winning the award. In addition, a RaNT! microsite is currently in development and the team is exploring other product areas including babywear.

Entry forms and competition rules can be found at

BrandLicensing.eu

. Deadline for entries is Sept. 4. Brand Licensing Europe will take place from Oct. 13-15 at London’s Olympia exhibition hall.