Brand Licensing Europe 2011 - License This! Judging Panel Announced & Call for Entries

LONDON, August 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Brand Licensing Europe, the Advanstar organised licensing exhibition, has announced the judging panel for this year's License This! challenge. The challenge is now open for entries at http://www.brandlicensing.eu.

The License This! panel for 2011 will be chaired by Andrew Kerr, Managing Director, Aoh!k Commercial Ltd, previously of Classic Media and Ragdoll. Andrew will be joined on the panel by Oliver Dyer, Managing Director, Skew Studio; Eric Huang, Publishing Director, Media and Entertainment, Penguin Group and Patricia de Wilde, Licensing Director, Marathon Media and President, F2D2.

License This! was launched in 2010 to great acclaim, attracting entries from all over the world. The "Dragons' Den" style challenge is open to any new creative idea with its roots in publishing, art & design, television or digital media. The panel will review all entries before creating a shortlist of four properties. These are pitched to the panel in front of a live audience at the Licensing Academy on Thursday 20th October. The panel will listen, question and offer critique before choosing a winner based on originality, commercial potential and suitability for licensing into other product categories.  The winner will receive a fully furnished stand at Brand Licensing Europe 2012, worth an estimated 4,500 pounds Sterling, so that the new property can be brought back to market next year.

Andrew Kerr, Managing Director of Aoh!k, said, "I am delighted to be chairing such a strong panel to judge the License This! challenge this year. Last year's finalists have all gone on to achieve licensing success with their brands, so we know that this is a valid and useful platform for emerging properties.  It's also a great way for licensing companies to learn about new brands and their creators.  I look forward to reviewing this year's entries and to helping to celebrate new talent."

Property creators/owners can submit their property now to be part of the License This! by completing the entry form, found at http://www.brandlicensing.eu. Last year's finalists presented the following properties:  Bondiband, The Land of Me, Gombby and Animaru. The winner was the graphic design property Animaru, which returns to exhibit at Brand Licensing Europe 2011, which takes place over 3 days from 18-20 September 2011 at London's Grand Hall, Olympia.  

For more information please contact Braben at ble@braben.co.uk or +44-0207-025-8021

Notes to editors:

About Brand Licensing Europe:

Brand Licensing Europe 2011 (http://www.brandlicensing.eu) - taking place October 18 - 20 at Olympia in London is the only pan-European event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Now in its 13th successful year, Brand Licensing Europe 2010 hosted 236 exhibitors and 5,634 retailers, manufacturers and sales promotion professionals from 63 countries. The event hit mainstream media in 2010, featuring on BBC Breakfast, Sky News, MediaGuardian and more.  

About Advanstar Licensing:

Advanstar Communications Inc. (http://www.advanstar.com), producer of Licensing International Expo, Brand Licensing Central & Eastern Europe and Brand Licensing Europe is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for the Fashion, Life Sciences and Powersports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 147 events, 68 publications and directories, 267 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovative, quality products and services enables Advanstar to "Connect Our Customers With Theirs." Advanstar has approximately 1,000 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.