Artist and designer Charlotte Reed – winner of the BLE (Brand Licensing Europe) License This! competition in 2016 with her brand May The Thoughts Be With You – is thrilled that her designs are on mugs, glassware, coasters and hydration bottles under the Shruti brand from Half Moon Bay.
Charlotte says she first noticed the competition when registering for the BLE show and hurriedly filled out an entry form on the last day of entry while selling artwork on her Portobello Road market stall. After winning and securing one of the judges as her licensing agent, the artist has secured three major deals and has lead to the home and gift range from Half Moon Bay, which was a finalist in the gifting category at the 2020 Licensing Awards.
BLE was immensely useful as Charlotte was first venturing into the world of licensing her designs back in 2016. She reflects: “I was nervous when I went along to BLE but I used the networking/meeting booking service they offered and booked meetings with licensing agents to discuss representation.”
Charlotte describes her May The Thoughts Be With You brand as “a collection of my own thoughts based on the theme of mindfulness and positivity.” She explains: “I have then illustrated each thought with a cartoon character or animal.”
- This year’s competition entries close 11 October for License This! The competition has been renamed the Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition in tribute to Kelvyn Gardner, the licensing industry guru who died earlier this year.
- Brand Licensing Europe takes place in-person November 17-19 , ExCeL, London
- Brand Licensing Europe online takes place between November 30 – December 1
Top: Drinkware from the home and gift May The Thoughts Be With You range by Shruti from Half Moon Bay.
