Lulu by Renée Graef Named as the 'One to Watch' at Licensing Expo

The Lulu brand (www.reneegraef.com) was selected from over 35 submissions, all of which are brands making their debut into the licensing marketplace this week at Licensing Expo. The winner and four finalists were selected by the editorial board of License Global magazine, the official publication of UBM's Global Licensing Group, which organizes Licensing Expo, among other global brand licensing events. In order to be considered, brands must be exhibiting at Licensing Expo for the first time this year and cannot have been licensed on more than two products prior to Jan. 1, 2016.

Graef's Lulu concept features a friendly fox, who explores the world's cities with her two sidekicks: Pufferson, a well-informed owl and Lars, a reluctant penguin. Lulu relishes both the famed highlights and the unexpected corners of each town she visits, with the help of a local guide, and through her travels, brings the world to children's homes.

Steven Ekstract, Global Publisher, License Global: "The Lulu brand really stood out among the entries we received because of its detailed brand concept. Beyond being beautifully executed and visually appealing, Lulu's adventures around the world will foster a vital sense of curiosity and exploration in children. Retailers and parents today are looking for more than just a cute brand, they want products with a philosophy and a purpose, and Lulu, as well as all of our 'One to Watch' finalists, deliver on that demand."

As the winner of the 'One to Watch' competition, Renée Graef's Lulu will receive a range of promotional support from License Global magazine both during and after Licensing Expo.

The four finalists of the One to Watch competition include:

• A Tiny Teddy Named Cuds (www.tinyteddypress.com) 
  Cuds is a teddy bear with a unique beginning. His creator, artist Robert Aragon, suffered a stroke at age 33. When he sat down to draw again after two years of artistic inactivity, he discovered that drawing straight, steady lines was difficult, and as a result, the squiggly cuddly Cuds was born. The character is now a champion of the belief that everyone can overcome difficulty to pursue their dreams.
• The F2 (www.thef2.com)  
  The F2 Freestylers, Billy Wingrove and Jeremy Lynch, are the No. 1 football YouTubers in the world. They blend technical difficulty with stunning synchronization, humor and unrivalled access to some of the true icons of the sport to create engaging and entertaining digital content. They have amassed a huge online following with 3 million Facebook fans, 4 million Instagram followers and 850 million views on YouTube.
• Lolli Swim (www.ilovelolli.com)
  Lolli is a fun, flirty and fresh swim brand that has been making a splash in the specialty and department channels. The brand's diffusion capsule with Target, Sugar Coast by Lolli, was one of the retailer's best-selling swim lines in early 2017 and kick-started the Lolli licensing program, which looks to extend the brand into other apparel and accessory channels.
• Susan Rand (www.susanrand.net) 
  Rand creates bold and textural art using a range of mixed media including fabric, magazine collage and plywood. Her artwork celebrates the feminine in elegant lines and appeals to forward-thinking, educated Millennial women looking for a bold, unconventional approach to art and beauty.

About Licensing Expo (www.licensingexpo.com)
Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual trade show dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The show floor is merchandised into two zones: Characters and Entertainment and Brands, Agents and Design. More than 16,200 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents attend the Expo from more than 67 countries. Licensing Expo is organized by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM.

About UBM's Global Licensing Group (www.licensingexpo.com/global)
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the global licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide opportunities around the world to bring brands and products together to explore and cement licensing partnerships. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group: Licensing Expo (May 23-25, 2017), Brand Licensing Europe (October 10-12, 2017), Licensing Expo Japan (April 28-30, 2017), Licensing Expo China (July 18-20, 2017), NYC Summit (March 2-3, 2017), License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV. 

About UBM
UBM plc is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world.  In an increasingly digital world, the value of connecting on a meaningful, human level has never been more important.  At UBM, our deep knowledge and passion for the industry sectors we serve allow us to create valuable experiences where people can succeed. At our events people build relationships, close deals and grow their businesses.  Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors – from fashion to pharmaceutical ingredients.  These global networks, skilled, passionate people and market-leading events provide exciting opportunities for business people to achieve their ambitions. For more information, go to www.ubm.com; for UBM corporate news, follow us on Twitter at @UBM

SOURCE UBM

Related Links

http://www.ubm.com