Attendees to Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), which took place at ExCeL London last week, participated in 2,669 pre-booked meetings and hundreds more arranged spontaneous get-togethers during the three-day show, resulting in one exhibitor hailing the event a “triumphant returnâ€.Â
BLE was back in person after more than two years away to reconnect thousands of retailers, manufacturers and designers, with more than 150 exhibiting companies – and a marked increase in retailer attendees compared with 2019.
A further 870 (and rising) meetings have now been booked on the BLE platform for the follow up online event, which takes place from 30 November to 1 December. Attendees unable to attend BLE in person, and those who did attend but want to book overflow meetings, will be able to connect with most of the in-person exhibitors as well as 53 online-only exhibitors including Mattel, The Pokémon Company, Playmobil, ITV Studios, Bavaria Media, Brigitte Bardot, Edutainment Licensing, Metrostar, Mondo TV and Princess Sam.
The event’s online content programme will expand BLE’s ‘What’s Next’ theme with three online-only ‘In Conversation’ sessions with senior executives from ViacomCBS Consumer Products, a sustainability panel with Products of Change, and Licensing U – alongside the option to watch recordings of the Team GB and ViacomCBS live keynotes, five ‘What’s Next at Retail’ sessions and the Kelvyn Gardner License This! final which took place at the show. All of this content will be available to watch on demand for free until 28 February.
: “A massive thank you to everyone who not only made it possible for BLE to return in person this year, but who delivered a top-quality event that delivered on its promise to reconnect the European licensing industry for three days of incredible networking and content”
Anna Knight, VP licensing of Informa Markets
BLE is part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets. Anna Knight, VP licensing of Informa Markets, said: “A massive thank you to everyone who not only made it possible for BLE to return in person this year, but who delivered a top-quality event that delivered on its promise to reconnect the European licensing industry for three days of incredible networking and content. We couldn’t be prouder or more delighted with the feedback we’ve received from exhibitors, visitors and partners.
“Next stop: BLE online on Tuesday 30 November and Wednesday 1 December. This is the last real opportunity for the European licensing industry to connect en masse in 2021, so book those meetings now. Next year we’ll be travelling over to Vegas for Licensing Expo and finally – just 10 months from now – BLE 2022 will take place from 20 September to 22 September at ExCeL London. Despite the sore feet, we can’t wait!â€
