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Sept
2009
 
JHS
WINS PRESTIGIOUS LICENSING AWARD WITH
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS REAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
With
its expanding range of SpongeBob SquarePants Real Musical
Instruments already proving a huge sales success across the
globe, exclusive distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co Ltd
has now added a prestigious Licensing Award for innovation
to its growing list of impressive associated credits.
In a ceremony held at the Lancaster London Hotel on September
10th, hosted by comedian Jason Manford, JHS scooped the Licensing
Source Book Award in the Innovation category in recognition
of the company's inspired efforts to promote music making
on real musical instruments amongst young people.
"JHS’ leap of faith in creating the category and
acquiring the worldwide rights to license SpongeBob SquarePants
Real Musical Instruments is turning in to a massive success
for JHS, domestically and in a growing number of export markets,"
responds a delighted JHS MD, Dennis Drumm, adding, "The
SpongeBob demographic is so broad that it appeals to both
genders equally, and across an incredibly wide age range."
Clair
Piggott, Vice President of Consumer Products, Nickelodeon
UK, was equally enthusiastic; "The SpongeBob SquarePants
licensing programme is a real focus for Nickelodeon and Viacom
Consumer Products, we work hard with our licensees to build
the brand and create quality product ranges. Our relationship
with John Hornby Skewes produced a ground-breaking range of
real musical instruments of which we can both be truly proud.
Not only was the concept a first to market, but the development
of the product range was approached with a vision and attention
to detail that brought out the fantastic qualities of our
much-loved aquatic hero. The fact that the product range retails
at both a mass market level, such as Littlewoods and Smyths,
as well as specialist retailers is further example of its
strength.
"Winning the Innovation Award at this year’s Licensing
Awards was a fitting recognition of the concept’s originality
and the good commercial sense that was generated from this
fantastic partnership."
With over 4,500 individual products presented across all the
Licensing Award categories, the judging panel, consisting
of retail buyers from Amazon, Tesco, Bhs, Sainsbury's, M&S,
Mothercare, Play.com, Tammy, Hamleys, Waterstones and WHSmith,
faced much deliberation on their way to selecting the product
award category winners.
With each product being judged on factors such as excellence
of design, innovation and originality, consumer targeting
and quality of manufacture and packaging, and to succeed in
such a competitive environment must be considered a huge fillip
for the Garforth, UK-based music distributor's work in developing
the sensational SpongeBob SquarePants instrument range.
Below: JHS Executive Director of Sales &
Marketing Alan Smith (centre) accepts the
Licensing Award trophy for Innovation from a representative
of category sponsor
Turner CN Enterprises, while comedian and show host Jason
Manford (left) looks on.
Below:
the impressive Licensing Award trophy in all its glory...
>
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