London-based Charlotte Liebling has one goal in life: to “save the world, one teddy at a time.” The creative spirit and stuffed animal lover was volunteering at a charity shop when she realized how many second-hand soft toys were being donated. “These pre-loved toys, often handed over with cherished memories and sentimental significance, were carelessly cast aside, sometimes relegated to becoming dog toys, or even more dishearteningly, destined for landfill,” Liebling wrote on her company’s website. And she was right: Plush toys or stuffed animals are often made with synthetic materials that can take hundreds of years to decompose. Not to mention, the mass production of these toys requires heavy amounts of oil, natural gas, and water.

Toy Fair® exhibitors are encouraged to mark their calendars for six upcoming Exhibitor Academy sessions, which will provide valuable insights and practical tips for a successful Toy Fair, taking place March 1 to 4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. Key contacts will receive an email when sessions are open for registration. In the meantime, exhibitors are invited to save the following dates (please note that dates are subject to change): June 12: Basics & Beyond&nbsp— This session will cover Exhibitor Kit essentials, critical deadlines, show initiatives, and more to guide companies through planning their exhibit space. July 16: Visual Merchandising Initiative & Reimagination Awards&nbsp— This Academy session will review what exhibitors need to know about the Visual Merchandising Initiative and Reimagination Awards, including booth requirements, award categories, and more. August 20: Your Map Your Show Profile&nbsp— This walkthrough will cover optimizing Map Your Show profiles to attract attention, book appointments, and showcase brands and products effectively. October 21: PR Bootcamp&nbsp— This webinar will equip companies with the knowledge and tools they need to highlight their in-year priority items, connect with industry-leading buyers, gain exposure with global media, accelerate partnerships, and offer select press previews on products, lines, and partnerships. December 3: Freshman Class&nbsp— First-time Toy Fair exhibitors will get all the information they need to ensure a smooth and rewarding exhibit experience, covering everything from shipping product and setting up a booth to standing out at the show and more. January 9: Toy Fair Checklist&nbsp— This comprehensive session will review essential dates, deadlines, and everything included in the Exhibitor Kit to help companies prepare their exhibit space and materials. “Our Exhibitor Academy sessions help companies seize every opportunity at Toy Fair and optimize their time at the show,” said Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association™. “Join us as we equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to make the most out of Toy Fair, ensuring your experience aligns seamlessly with your business objectives." &nbsp General exhibitor applications are currently open&nbspfor Toy Fair 2025. Interested companies can contact The Toy Association’s Senior Account Executive,&nbspStacy Liebensohn, with any questions. &nbsp Toy Fair® will take place March 1 to 4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. Attendee registration will open in October. Visit&nbspToyFairNY.com&nbspto learn more.

Licensing International Announces 2024 Excellence Awards Finalists &nbsp New York (April 15, 2024) — Licensing International is proud to announce the full list of finalists for the prestigious Excellence Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation in the global brand licensing industry. &nbsp This year’s Excellence Awards feature 197 finalists in 32&nbspcategories. More than 800 submissions were reviewed by a panel that includes 200 judges from 20 countries. &nbsp A new category was introduced this year for Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Brand, which honors print, radio, TV, cinema, and outdoor media advertisements where a property is used to elevate and promote another brand. Also, for the first time, each individual member of Licensing International had the chance to vote for The Members’ Choice Award, which celebrates licensed offerings that extend a brand in unexpected and innovative ways. &nbsp “The finalists for this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards represent the remarkably innovative nature of the industry as whole,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “From established brands with a rich history to emerging properties breaking new ground, we applaud the finalists’ dedication to storytelling, brand building, and engagement, and look forward to honoring their achievements.” &nbsp The winners will be announced during the Licensing International Excellence Awards ahead of Licensing Expo. The ceremony will take place on Monday, May 20th at 5:30pm PDT at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor. Licensing Expo will take place from May 21– 23 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. &nbsp More information about the finalists is available online. Finalists were presented by sponsors Alifish, Jazwares, SEGA, Spirit Halloween, and Stumble Guys. &nbsp The full list of nominees includes: &nbsp Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand Coca-Cola's Global "Masterpiece" Campaign – The Coca-Cola Company CoComelon Toys at Smyths superstores – Smyths Toys Superstores Comcast/Xfinity Gig Internet -“Red Flags” – Comcast/Xfinity Discover Imagination – tonies Golf's Happy Place – PGA TOUR Superstore (Born Licensing) It's OK I'm with The AA – The AA (Born Licensing) &nbsp Best Brand: Animated&nbsp Bluey – Ludo Studio & BBC Studios Gabby’s Dollhouse – Universal Products & Experiences Naruto – Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Studio Pierrot Peanuts – Peanuts Worldwide LLC Peppa Pig – Hasbro South Park – Paramount Global &nbsp Best Brand: Art, Design, or Museum Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (Jewel Branding & Licensing) Keith Haring (Artestar) Natural History Museum, London New York Botanical Garden (Jewel Branding & Licensing) The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Beanstalk) V&A &nbsp Best Brand: Corporate Scholl's – Scholl's Wellness Company (Brandgenuity) Girl Scouts of the USA (Earthbound) Hershey's – The Hershey Company Kodak – Eastman Kodak Company Scotts, Miracle-Gro – The Scotts Company (Seltzer Licensing Group) United States Postal Service (Global Icons) &nbsp Best Brand: Food, Beverage, Restaurant Cinnabon (Global Channels) Coca-Cola – The Coca-Cola Company Entenmann's – Bimbo Bakeries USA (Brand Central) M&M’S – Mars Wrigley (Brand Central) PEEPS – Just Born Quality Confections (Brand Activation Consulting) Stranger Things Scoops Ahoy – Netflix &nbsp Best Brand: Interactive or Digital Brand Bored of Directors – NFIP Holdings (Brand Central) Chefclub emoji - The Iconic Brand – emoji company GmbH (Retail Monster) Five Nights At Freddy's – Scott Games (Striker Entertainment) Minecraft – Microsoft (CAA Brand Management & Merchantwise) Sonic the Hedgehog – SEGA &nbsp Best Brand: Live Action&nbsp Disney The Little Mermaid – The Walt Disney Company Monster Jam! – Feld Entertainment Ted Lasso – Warner Bros. Discovery Teletubbies – WildBrain Yellowstone – Paramount Global &nbsp Best Brand: Music Artist, Celebrity, or Fashion&nbsp Drew & Jonathan – Scott Brothers Global Gloria Vanderbilt – One Jeanswear Group (The Brand Liaison) Grateful Dead – Warner Music Experience Laura Ashley – Gordon Brothers MARTHA STEWART – MARQUEE BRANDS &nbsp Best Brand: Publishing, Stationery, or Social Expression Afro Unicorn – April Showers (Retail Monster) Black Paper Party (Brand Central) Crayola Seuss – Dr. Seuss Enterprises Moomin – Moomin Characters Oy Ltd (Rights & Brands) Strawberry Shortcake – WildBrain World of Eric Carle/Very Hungry Caterpillar – Penguin Random House (The Joester Loria Group) &nbsp Best Brand: Sports, eSports, or Collegiate 24H LE MANS – Automobile Club de l'Ouest (IMG) Formula 1 NASCAR NFLPA S. Polo Assn. – USPA Global Yale University (ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG) &nbsp Best Brand: Toy&nbsp Barbie – Mattel NERF – Hasbro Squishmallows – Jazwares TRANSFORMERS – Hasbro &nbsp Best Collaboration: Hardlines or Packaged Goods Caran d’Ache x Keith Haring – (Artestar/CAA Brand Management) Krispy Kreme x Elf LEGO x PAC-MAN Montblanc x Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence GmbH) Pringles x The Caviar Co. (Beanstalk) Rubik's Cube x Stranger Things Ted Lasso x Jeni's Ice Cream &nbsp Best Collaboration: Softlines Frank Lloyd Wright x New Balance x Kith (Jewel Branding & Licensing) Kenneth Cole x Sesame Street Marvel x Christian Louboutin Squishmallows x H&M Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat (Artestar) The Met x Todd Snyder (Beanstalk) Tommy Jeans x Keith Haring (Artestar) &nbsp Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative Hasbro Gaming at Changi Airport – Q’s Advertising Pte Ltd (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd) KISS New York City Takeover – Pop Up Mob; Modern English; Tactical Manoeuvre; Alex Coletti Productions (Bravado) Paris by Emily – Dharma Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Shrek x Airbnb Snoopy x Mega Adventure – First Asia Realty Development Company (WildBrain CPLG) Squid Game: The Trials – Superfly The Friends Experience: The One in Melbourne (Original X Productions) &nbsp Best Licensed Promotion 7-Eleven x Brown & Minions – CP ALL PUBLIC COMPANY (7-ELEVEN) (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd) Lviv Croissants x MAVKA – Lviv Croissants (Nerd Agency) Paddington at Langham Hotels – Langham Hospitality Group (CAA Brand Management) Peanuts x Kellogg's – Kellogg's Squishmallows x McDonald’s Happy Meal Program – Jazwares, McDonald’s &nbsp Best Product: Apparel, Footwear, or Accessories for Corporate Brands Eastpak – Van Gogh Museum FILA Golf – McLAREN (CAA Brand Management) Loungefly – McDonald's (The Joester Loria Group) Modern Works – Kodak Nowhere Co., Ltd. – Coca-Cola (itochu fashion system) Over The Pitch – Coca-Cola (CAA Brand Management) PacSun – The Met (Beanstalk) Uniqlo – MoMA, PAC-MAN, Katamari Damacy, SimCity 2000, Space Invaders, TETRIS &nbsp Best Product: Apparel, Footwear, or Accessories for Entertainment Brands&nbsp Adidas – The Simpsons AKILA – The Beatles (Bravado) Anya Hindmarch – Mr. Potato Head Crocs – Shrek Eton Shirts - The Beatles (Rights & Brands) GUCCI – Gremlins Pandora A/S – Game of Thrones (Nordic Licensing Company A/S) &nbsp Best Product: Appliances, Housewares, or Electronics for Corporate Brands&nbsp Aristocrat Gaming – NFLPA ByTech – Bugatti (IMG) Car Off Shore S.r.l. – FIAT 500 (IMG) Cloth & Company – Bendolph, Bennett, Pettway & Wilson (Artists Rights Society) Custom Accessories – Dr. Scholl's (Brandgenuity) Muli – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Alfilo Brands) Samsung – The Met, The V&A, and Van Gogh Museum &nbsp Best Product: Appliance, Housewares, or Electronic Product for Entertainment Brands&nbsp Dalstrong – Batman Davolink – Minions Dragon Glassware – Barbie (Ann McNeill) Stern Pinball, Inc. – JAWS Thai Honda Co.,Ltd. – Minions (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd) Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd. – Harry Potter Zara – Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG) &nbsp Best Product: Food or Beverage for Corporate Brands&nbsp B&G Foods – Buffalo Trace, Fireball, Southern Comfort (Brandgenuity) Ferrero/The Coca-Cola Company – Sprite (CAA Brand Management) Frankford Candy LLC – Kraft Mac & Cheese, Oscar Mayer, Lunchables, Claussen, Bagel Bites (Brand Central) GS Retail – Netflix Namyang – Mentos (Infiniss) &nbsp Best Product: Food or Beverage for Entertainment Brands Athletic Brewing – The Witcher Brach's – Friends Brewdog – Elf FoodStory Brands – Yellowstone Treasury Wine Estates – Universal Monsters Witor's – Bridgerton Witor's – Harry Potter &nbsp Best Product: Health & Beauty Hismile – Wonka Kmed – Sex Education Mad Beauty – Disney100 Premier Brands of America, Inc. – Arm and Hammer Viking Brand – Route 66 (Ispartner) &nbsp Best Product: Home Decor Crown Baccara – Bridgerton (CAA Brand Management) Eichholtz – The Met (Beanstalk) Bloom's – Crayola Flowers Paladone Products – Barbie Select Blinds USA – V&A ZeWood – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey &nbsp Best Product: Interactive or Digital Product&nbsp Actionary: The Conqueror – Scooby Doo Apple – Peanuts Borderleap – Van Gogh Museum (Licensing Link, UK) Faurecia Aptoide, Mercedes-Benz – Angry Birds (IMG) Tafi/Coinbase – Coca-Cola &nbsp Best Product: Publishing, Social Expression, or Back-to-School&nbsp Compactor – Mentos (Destra) Insight Editions – The Beatles (Bravado) Moleskine – Van Gogh Museum (Art Studio 3, Italy) MONTEGRAPPA – Warner Bros Discovery Random House – Bridgerton Scholastic – Harry Potter &nbsp Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 0-8)&nbsp Clementoni S.p.A. – Disney Baby, Disney Classics Fashion Angels – Me and The Bees (The Brand Liaison) com – Disney Pixar Melissa & Doug – National Park Foundation WowWee – MONOPOLY &nbsp Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 8+)&nbsp Big Potato Games – U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Global Icons) Hasbro – Barbie Hot Toys – John Wick (IMG) Märklin – Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence GmbH) Ruz – Peanuts The LEGO Group – Disney &nbsp Best Retailer: Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, or Sports Brands AEROPOSTALE – Coca-Cola Allkinds – Chupa Chups (Asembl Brands) Kohl's – Crayola (Retail Monster) Peter Alexander – Moulin Rouge (Asembl Brands) Primark – Dr. Seuss Enterprises Ripley – Bored of Directors (Brand Central & The Business Hub) &nbsp Best Retailer: Entertainment Brands Bloomingdale’s – Wonka Hamleys – Wizarding World Miniso Development Hong Kong Ltd./ Miniso (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. – Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG) Miniso Group Holding Limited – Sanrio Characters (Alifish) Rinascente: Roma tritone – Pokémon The Natural History Museum, London – Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Walmart – Kids Apparel Spinners Williams Sonoma – Bridgerton &nbsp Best Sustainability Initiative Delipap – Moomin (Rights & Brands) GROUNDTRUTH – Ed Stafford (Brandgenuity) Minions x Bottled Water Narwhal Ocean Research Center – ERDOS (Alfilo Brands) Recycle to Read x Tesco The Landmark Project – National Wildlife Federation (Jewel Branding & Licensing) &nbsp Members’ Choice Award&nbsp Barbie x Zara BISSELL – Eggo Lick x Heinz LiQ – Malibu (ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG) oVertone x Franzia Peaky Blinders Live Performances – Immersive Everywhere, Rambert Ballet Company Seda & Princess Tiana – Seda The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch &nbsp Most Impactful Service Provider Dependable Solutions Fabacus MyMediabox Octane5 Pottick Law / Protect for Success &nbsp About Licensing InternationalLicensing International is the leading trade organization for the $340+ billion global licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit LicensingInternational.org&nbspfor more information and to utilize licensing’s definitive online resource.&nbsp &nbsp About Licensing ExpoLaunched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world’s largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Every year, more than 5,000 brands and 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors, and licensing agents attend Licensing Expo from more than 70 countries. Licensing Expo is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. &nbsp Press Contact Licensing International Elizabeth Foster efoster@licensing.org