Licensing Industry

AKG Images
Stand 588

The specialist photo agency covers all aspects of cultural, social and political life with an emphasis on the arts, fashion, personalities and music. It is currently expanding its travel section with images covering ethnology, archaeology, religions and customs. Its comprehensive selection of black and white images remains one of its biggest assets, while its searchable website provides access to over 350,000 images online from over ten million held in its Berlin office.

Alchemy Licensing
Stand 230

Since 1977, Alchemy has been producing spectacular art, design, concepts and products, each covering alternative, fantasy and goth, as well as rock n roll images. Its brands are Alchemy Gothic and Alchemy England, with the firm constantly looking to develop new partnerships in further categories and territories.

American Retro Museum
Stand 225

ARM has accumulated what is probably the most comprehensive retro toon property portfolio around - including Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland and Jack and the Beanstalk, plus hundreds of other favourite characters from songs and nursery rhymes.
Having successfully launched in the US and Japan, ARM is also now available in Europe.

Andrea Jayne Illustrations
Stand 282

The art and image licensing company specialises in character ranges designed for the gift market, paper goods, housewares, clothes and books.
Previously an artist for Hallmark cards, Andrea Jayne illustrated the Forever Friends bear and Winnie the Pooh before moving on to create her own characters. Hot Diggity Dog (18 designs of dogs, frogs, cats and mice), Pink Sorbet (contemporary designs of quirky animals and stylised flowers in soft water colours) and Panda Days will be showcased at Olympia and can be seen in the likes of John Lewis, Waitrose, The National Trust and Wyevale Garden centres among other outlets.

Ann Edwards Art
Stand 295

The firm handles licensing and marketing for The Family Pets, the popular range of animal characters created by artist Ann Edwards. Since its creation in 2004, the brand has been successfully licensed onto products such as kitchen textiles, melamine place mats, coasters, mugs, stationery, t-shirts and limited edition prints, many of which will be showcased at BLE.
New collections One Big Happy Family (featuring bejewelled elephants, painted ponies and colourful songbirds), The Blewbury Flora (a 21st century version of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady) and Vegelicious (featuring fruit, herbs and vegetables) will be launched at the event.

Cathay Creative
Stand 454

The firm operates in three areas: image licensing, product development and branded product agency and distribution. Launching at the show will be Ancient China artwork sourced from Taiwan National Central Library, plus Ming Dynasty Stones, Insects and Plants artwork series.

Clare Davis
Stand 778

Following success with Baa Baa Wellies, with books soon to be published, Clare Davis is now working on some homewares with Enesco. She is also working on greetings cards and other giftware.

The Crafthouse Press
Stand 698

The firm primarily develops artwork and products for the craft industry. Its two main brands - Jolly Nation and Patchwork Kingdom - are now being marketed in the gift industry.
While Jolly Nation is already well established, new character range Patchwork Kingdom will officially launch at BLE. Plus, to celebrate the achievement of selling over one million branded products in one day, Crafthouse will be giving away a special memento to everyone who visits the stand during the show.

David Severn
Stand 290

Having spent a number of years in Tokyo, David Severn has returned to the UK and will be showcasing Percy and his Friends for the first time at BLE. The images are tailor made for the publishing, product and decorative markets.

Heidi Sturgess Illustration & Design
Stand 393

Alongside the development of the Heidi Sturgess Accessories brand, the design company specialises in artwork, illustration and product design. Clients include event designers and retailers, publishers, media and film companies. Heidi is also currently writing and illustrating her first children's books, which will be previewing at the show alongside her latest artwork and designs.

Kate Knight
Stand 581

Knight's floral artwork is already popular within the fine art and greeting card markets, while she has also formed successful licensing arrangements with manufacturers producing craft, homewares, cross stitch and textile products. Her stand at Olympia will feature a number of new designs which have been created specifically for the show.

Malenda Trick
Stand 683

Trick's impressionist work is reproduced on the likes of plates, napkins, cutting boards, tapestries, gift bags, jigsaw puzzles and t-shirts. She has recently expanded with a line of hairbrushes including a Biker Diva.

M.ily Designs
Stand 693

A first timer to Brand Licensing Europe, M.ily Designs creates surface designs for a number of industries. The firm will be looking to attract potential new clients at the show.

Pauline Alice Designs
Stand 293

New for this year are Yummy Mummies and Daniel's Friends. The brands apparently take the drudgery of day-to-day life and focus on a completely escapist route and an alternate animal point of view.

Science Photo Library
Stand 580

The world's leading source of specialist imagery, holding a collection of over 250,000 pictures ranging from x-rays, thermograms and scanning electron micrographs to aerial views and nature shots, SPL is another newcomer to the show. The firm's images have enhanced such brands as Paul Smith, Clipper tea and Guinness, as well as being integral to many of Damien Hirst's recent paintings. Images from SPL have also been used as album covers, perhaps most famously by The Chemical Brothers.
The Library will launch new images in an exclusive preview at the show.

Sublevel Studios
Stand 283

The firm will be showcasing two of its own brand products at the event, including Starfighter Academy, a 3D trading card game aimed at the boys market, and its War Stars brand for the male giftware sector.
The team will apparently will packing its stand space with some hot graphics including fabric backdrops, pop up displays, a custom built display showcasing new Starfighter Academy product and six foot character standees.

Tom n Ellie Cards
Stand 788

One of the market leaders within the greetings card industry, Tom n Ellie will be looking to licence its Doughnuts Sprinkled with Magic brand into various categories. The doughnuts have been turned into characters including Heidi, Twinkle and Uncle Albert.
Also available to licence are images from the Goodie Gumdrops range, the sophisticated Arty and Vinyl, plus adorable puppy Poppy.

Tony Fernandes
Stand 489

Self-taught fine artist and designer, Fernandes has painted cartoons, tall ships, classic yachts and nautical ephemera for over 30 years and his work is now available for licensing.
Fernandes boasts a number of famous fans - his work apparently hangs in places such as The White House, The House of Lords and Commons, Highgrove and Kensington Palace. He has also presented his work to the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Princess Anne.

Tosh Licensing
Stand 790

Following the successful launch of the Global Ikon last year, Tosh is set to introduce two new properties this year. Local Folk is a range of bold characters representing iconic people from across the globe. London characters Buz, Bob and Yeo are joined by Tex, Lib and Sam from the US, while Jock, Andy and Willy are from Scotland.
Characters from Mexico and Australia will also be available in 2009 and the firm is looking to target the apparel, travel and souvenirs sectors.
Meanwhile, Street Speak combines quirky, amusing and risqué street names from the UK and US and is looking to place them on gifts, greetings cards, stationery, kitchen, home and barware.