2017 CATEGORIES

AWARD CATEGORIES & CRITERIA

RETAIL BUYING TEAM OF THE YEAR (Major/Multiple)
This award will be given to the buying team at a major/multiple retailer which has demonstrated a strong commitment to licensed products over the past year, with judges looking at range, merchandising design and layout, promotional activity and innovation.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of commitment to excellent product knowledge and industry commitment
  • Detail surrounding product range and versatility, and the strategy behind said range
  • Commercial strategy and projections
  • Up to 3 testimonials from partners attesting to the excellence of the buying team 
RETAIL BUYING TEAM OF THE YEAR (Independent/SMB)
This award will be given to the buying team at an independent or small to medium sized retailer which has demonstrated a strong commitment to licensed products over the past year, with judges looking at range, merchandising design and layout, promotional activity and innovation.
Entries should include:
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of commitment to excellent product knowledge and industry commitment
  • Detail surrounding product range and versatility, and the strategy behind said range
  • Commercial strategy and projections
  • Up to 3 testimonials from partners attesting to the excellence of the buying team 
RISING STAR - LICENSEE
This award will be presented to any individual aged 30 or under who has demonstrated that he or she is a Rising Star within a licensee, from any area of the industry.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of excellence within a role at a licensor and commitment to the licensing industry
  • Up to 3 testimonials attesting to the excellence of the individual and his/her achievements within the licensing industry over the last year 
RISING STAR - LICENSOR
This award will be presented to any individual aged 30 or under who has demonstrated that he or she is a Rising Star within a licensor.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of excellence within a role at a licensor and commitment to the licensing industry
  • Up to 3 testimonials attesting to the excellence of the individual and his/her achievements within the licensing industry over the last year 
LICENSING AGENT OF THE YEAR
Literally the middle men (and women) of the business, the Licensing.Biz People Awards will recognise the individual or team which has had enjoyed an outstanding year.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of development over the year, be it successful campaigns or new clients
  • Evidence of strong service to clients
  • Up to 3 testimonials demonstrating strong trade relations 
LICENSING SOLUTIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Not given the credit they often deserve, this award celebrates the work of the solutions firms, an often integral source for many in the licensing space. 
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of development over the year
  • Evidence of strong service to clients
  • Up to 3 testimonials demonstrating strong trade relations 
BRAND EXTENSION & BEYOND
Lightsaber BBQ tongs, Fifty Shades sex toys, Game of Thrones beer. This accolade will reward the team behind the more quirky licence deals of the past year.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of sales success; including detail around exceeded targets
  • Evidence of innovation in the design of a product
  • Detail regarding how said deal was orchestrated, and what about its execution made it a successful brand extension
LICENSEE TEAM OF THE YEAR
We’re celebrating the licensee team which has demonstrated the most innovation and business nous over the past 12 months
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of development over the year
  • Evidence of strong product quality
  • Up to 3 testimonials demonstrating strong trade relations
  • A marketing case study illustrating a successful product strategy and subsequent impact translating into commercial success
LICENSOR TEAM OF THE YEAR (Enterprise)
This year's Licensing.biz People Awards is splitting the Licensor category to give both large and smaller firms a greater chance of recongnition. This award will put the spotlight on a major licensor which has achieved a stellar past year.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of sales development over the year ideally including sales projections and figures
  • Evidence of strong product quality from a brand owner
  • Up to 3 testimonials demonstrating strong trade relations
  • A marketing case study illustrating a campaign strategy and subsequent impact translating into commercial success
LICENSOR TEAM OF THE YEAR (SMB)
This year's Licensing.biz People Awards is splitting the Licensor category to give both large and smaller firms a greater chance of recongnition. This award will put the spotlight on the small to medium sized licensors which have achieved a stellar year.
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of sales development over the year ideally including sales projections and figures
  • Evidence of strong product quality from a brand owner.
  • Up to 3 testimonials demonstrating strong trade relations
  • A marketing case study illustrating a campaign strategy and subsequent impact translating into commercial success
LICENSING DEAL OF THE YEAR
This award will celebrate the stand-out licensing deal of the year, and the teams responsible for making it happen. 
Entries should include:
  • Evidence of sales success against initial projections; including detail around exceeded targets
  • Detail regarding how said deal was orchestrated, including, but not limited to, marketing campaigns and sales strategy development and execution
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
This award, new for this year, shines a spotlight on the industry’s most outstanding leaders across all areas of the licensing space. Nominees must have been a manager for at least 18 months by the time of the awards ceremony in June.
Entries should include:
  • Up to 3 case studies illustrating particular successful projects and initiatives
  • Evidence of market knowledge
  • Up to three testimonials from colleagues
  • Figures to demonstrate the contribution of said individual to the commercial success of the stores they manage
UNSUNG HERO 
R&D departments, design agencies and others are often forgotten – yet are a vital cog in the licensing machine. This award will honour an individual from the UK licensing industry who hasn’t been in the spotlight but should have been! This is your chance to put forward someone who has been instrumental in the success of a company, product or campaign, or the wider licensing industry, but simply hasn’t had the credit. This is not specific to an activity form the last year, but is ideal for those with committed long-service records in the licensing business.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO LICENSING
This award will honour an individual from the UK licensing industry who has been a stand-out achiever, either in terms of driving forward a product, raising awareness about an issue or topic, influencing at all levels, or simply being a notable licensing industry professional. This is specifically an activity in the past year and any key successes in 2016.