Key Facts:
Licensing industry worth 356 billion globally. 13.4 billion in Australia ( 2023)
Sales continue to grow at 4.59% annually versus non-licensed sales at 3.7%
There is no formal education for people entering the industry in either Australia or overseas.
1.10.25 The Licensing ANZ Awards has announced its finalists following a record response from the industry. More than 120 submissions were received, representing outstanding work across apparel, FMCG, hardlines, live experiences, retail marketing, and brand excellence. The quality of entries made judging highly competitive, with our international, independent panel commending the innovation and execution across the board.
Category highlights include collaborations such as Wicked x Camilla, The White Lotus x Camilla, Bluey in apparel, Violet Crumble in corporate and FMCG, and dynamic live experiences including Harry Potter, LEGO Star Wars, and Sesame Street with Bromley. Retail excellence features Peter Alexander, EB Games and Zing Pop Culture, Allkinds, Culture Kings, and Smiggle. Hall of Fame honourees Paul Cannon and Alan Schauder will be recognised for their significant contributions to the industry. Full shortlists appear on the awards site.
LICENSING AWARDS FINALISTS
Quotes "Submissions surged this year, not only in volume, but in the depth of creativity and commercial impact," said Lisa Sweeney MD ANZ Licensing International.
"The calibre set a new benchmark for the region, and the finalists demonstrate the strength of licensing as a driver of growth, culture, and retail innovation." Says Maura Regan
Despite the last year being a tough trading period for retailers, licenses continued to drive customer traffic and engagement well above normal shopping. Live Entertainment based activations saw the most growth in the market. Great examples of these were Chadstone's Hello Kitty celebration, Harry Potters Forbidden Forest experience in the Botanical Gardens or the Lego Star Wars attraction at the Melbourne Museum.
About the Licensing ANZ Awards The Licensing ANZ Awards celebrate excellence across the licensing ecosystem, recognising brands, retailers, manufacturers, agencies, and talent delivering outstanding results.
For a complete list of finalists https://licensinganzawards.com/judges/
