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WIDDOP and Co.’s gifting range with Imperial War Museums, the ‘Words of Winston’ Collection, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Brand Licensed Gifting Range category in 2017’s B&LLA awards.

The partnership saw its first ranges launch in the Autumn of 2016. Amongst these was a comprehensive line of gifting products featuring iconic imagery and memorable phrases from Winston Churchill.

The range, entitled ‘Words of Winston’ includes notebooks, storage boxes, mugs, wall plaques, key rings and cufflinks which combine a contemporary and original design with an important part of world history.  The clever combination of memorable phrases and iconic images of Churchill make this a meaningful product with a powerful story behind it.

In addition to the Winston Churchill range, WIDDOP and Co. has also produced a range of Spitfire, Lancaster and Vulcan inspired products with IWM, as well as a collection featuring First World War Home Front posters.

Stephen Illingworth, Product Development Director at Widdop & Co said ‘We are thrilled to be working with IWM. Even with our wealth of experience in this category, it has been so refreshing to work with a licensing programme that understands and supports our direction and that goes out of their way to facilitate the best results on products and sales. The range we have built is an exciting interpretation of a historic era in British history and in such volatile times we are proud to launch a collection that is packed with encouraging and inspiring imagery and quotes across innovative new formats.’

David Fenton, Head of Retail and Licensing at IWM said, ‘We’ve seen a surge of interest in Winston Churchill in recent years. He is one of the most positive political figures of our time and a national icon. The wealth of archival material we have here at IWM means that we are perfectly positioned to respond to the rising consumer demand for British nostalgia and  WIDDOP and Co. has successfully demonstrated how this can translate to a great product line.’

IWM is delighted to have also been shortlisted as a finalist for Best Licensed Heritage Brand in  2017 – our  Centenary year.  With three new licensing deals already signed in 2017 and a further exciting business proposal on the table, IWM is looking forward to a busy year ahead.’

The B&LLA Brand and Lifestyle Award Winners will be announced at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the 27 April.

Notes to Editors

IWM
IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since 1914.

Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events.  Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force.  We challenge people to look at the conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact of people’s lives.

IWM’s five branches are IWM London, with six floors of exhibition and displays; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain’s best preserved war-time airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast moored in the Pool of London.