Tag Archives: Licensing International

Licensing International heralds its German event, Day of Licensing a virtual success

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Licensing International has heralded its Day of Licensing – its premier German licensing event usually held in Cologne – as a virtual success, having transposed the conference to an online only event last week.

Over 600 registered visitors attended the virtual show – a change of pace from its usual gathering in Cologne due to the ongoing covid-19 measures – where they got a better look at the franchises and properties driving the industry forward in the near future.

The event hosted a number of brand presentations, many of which are still available for registrants to download, with one presentation bringing in 3,000 views. All together, the Day of Licensing boasts 3.8 terabytes of data for 9.5 hours of content.

“Overall a fantastic, smooth running day, thanks in no small part to the excellent platform-build and back-end support from Blank Promotion,” said Peter Hollo, external lead consultant for Licensing International in Germany. “It’s never easy to translate a physical gathering into a virtual setting, but I’m proud of what we were able accomplish. With this Digital Day of Licensing, I think we’ve set a high bar for future events – a great template for more events of this kind.”

Gisela Abrams, SVP global partnerships, Licensing International, added: “Ensuring that this important event could happen virtually was crucial to us to support our members and the industry. I am grateful to all the participants who engaged with the platform and more importantly, with each other, to make this event such a success.”

The event saw the likes of Alibaba/Alifish executive Alex Tsai offer insights into the world of a giant of commerce in the keynote session, while anchoring the day were video streams from exhibitors including Bavaria Media, CAA-GBG, Edel Kids, Euro Lizenzen, Hasbro, Jochen Schweizer, KIDDINX, Mattel, Playmobil, Pokemon Company, ProSieben Sat1 Licensing, Studio100 Media, Studio71, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, WDR mediagroup, Wildbrain CPLG and ZDF Enterprises.

Attendees also had access to a Matchmaking Area and the Licensing Lounge, which allowed attendees to share fun snapshots into their home offices and pet “colleagues.” All presentations are still available in the “Mediathek,” where they can be downloaded at www.tagderlizenzen.de until July 24, even for new visitors who register now.

 

Licensing International to unveil findings of its diversity in the industry study this August

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The industry trade association, Licensing International, will unveil the findings of the first global study into diversity within the licensing industry in special webinar to be held on Monday, August 3rd. The study was conducted by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media at Mount Saint Mary’s University and was commissioned by Licensing International’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee in February this year.

Licensing International will use the research to benchmark the industry and evaluate progress in the years ahead. The study also serves as the starting point for development of a Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit, providing guidance and resources for companies as they tackle this important issue.

The study is part of the ongoing work of the Licensing International IDEA committee, which is sponsored by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), with additional support provided by Sony Pictures, Sybo Games and USAopoly.

“The findings of this study bear out what I think we all already know – there is work to be done when it comes to ensuring inclusivity and equal representation across our industry,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “This is a moral and a business imperative. Our goal is to provide the leaders of our industry with the knowledge and tools they need to take action and change the status quo. Sharing the findings of our research is just the first step in that process.”

“We applaud Licensing International for taking a leadership role by committing to this ground breaking research, which can serve as a blueprint as they build a more inclusive and equitable environment for their members,” said Madeline Di Nonno, CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

“Given the global reach and impact that the licensing industry has on consumers, and particularly children, embracing and building a culture of cultural equity and inclusion will drive relevant strategies around product development which will ultimately benefit our global society.”

Licensing International member companies from around the world participated in the study, and their responses were combined with supplemental research and data analysis by the Geena Davis Institute. Key learnings include:

  • 30.2 per cent of survey respondents report that their organization has a D&I program.
  • 17.8 per cent of small organizations (1-50 employees) have a D&I program, compared with 67.5 per cent of large organizations (501+ employees).
  • In the U.S., people of colour account for 38 per cent of the population, but only 13.5 per cent of CEOs among member organisations.
  • Women make up 51 per cent of the global population, yet 24 per cent of member organization CEOs are female, compared with 76 per cent who are male.

The full results will be presented by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media at Mount Saint Mary’s University in a free webinar Monday, August 3 at 9 am PDT / Noon EDT.

The event will also include a discussion about the path forward with experts and corporate leaders. Licensing International’s new Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit will be made available after the event and is also being shared with a number of other related trade associations.

Formed last June, the Licensing International IDEA committee, chaired by Jamie Stevens, Sony Pictures Entertainment EVP of Consumer Products and Licensing, also plans to launch a diversity recruitment program that will attract and grows a diverse talent pool to brand licensing right out of college. Through partnerships with universities, Licensing International aims to develop and implement a targeted internship program, formalized mentorship opportunities and quarterly speaker series.

 

Licensing International helps small businesses impacted by COVID-19 with Small Business Global Grants Fund launch

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Licensing International is looking to lend a helping hand to the industry’s small business employers that are struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak with the launch of its Small Business Global Grants Fund.

With small businesses making up 59 per cent of its membership, Licensing International recognises them as the ‘foundation of the industry’s communities, economy, and its lifeblood.’ The new Licensing International Small Business Global Grants Fund will therefore provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers across the globe as possible.

The aim is to create and maintain safe, healthy, and sustainable work environments in response to the global pandemic.

The grants program is being funded by donations made to Licensing International’s foundation (operating under the name LIMA Foundation). Companies wishing to contribute to the cause can do so either by purchasing an ad in the programme for the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards (taking place virtually on August 13th), or by making a direct donation to the Global Grants fund for any amount.

“If recent events have taught us anything, it’s how absolutely vital community is,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “The central idea behind the Licensing International Small Business Global Grants fund is industry supporting industry – our hope is that these supplemental funds will give businesses in need a boost to get through the next days and weeks so that the licensing community as a whole emerges from this global crisis stronger and even more united.”

Funds will be available to small businesses in the brand licensing industry that employ between three and 20 people and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants will be asked to submit a short narrative explaining the impact of COVID-19 on their business and the steps they have taken, or plan to take, to mitigate that impact, as well as financial statements from 2019 and the corresponding months in 2020 that show year-over-year impact on your business.

Applications for grants are now being accepted at www.LicensingInternational.org.

Deadline to apply is September 15, 2020.

Licensing Week Virtual brings in more than 32,000 unique views and 2,900 digital meetings

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The Global Licensing Group is celebrating the success of the first Licensing Week Virtual event, a five-day online event that totalled more than 32,000 unique content views and 2,900 digital meeting and replaced the annual Licensing Expo in Las Vegas this year.

Run in partnership with Licensing International, the online event took place from June 15 to 19, bringing licensing industry professionals together from across the globe at a time when physical networking and deal making was made impossible by the global COVID-19 situation.

The virtual conference and exhibition secured 4,477 attendees globally from the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, among more. Noted attendees included Build-A-Bear, Guess, Primark, Selfridges, Target, and more world-renowned retailers. Furthermore, 2,933 virtual meetings were scheduled throughout the five-day period and on average, attendees spent 23 hours + on the event platform.

The virtual event showcased the timely need for developing new and nurturing existing industry connections, as well as future-looking and educational sessions for the licensing industry, which generated $292.8 billion in global sales of license goods and services in 2019, according to the Licensing International 6 th Annual Global Licensing Survey.

“This business is built from connections and the fact that the number of meetings coordinated during the event virtually mirrors the number set up in-person at our live events showcases the industry’s immense need for connections and learning, ” said Anna Knight, global licensing group vice president, Informa Markets.

“The most critical part of setting up a virtual event such as this was keeping our community needs at top-of-mind—also realising that not every single element of a live trade show can transfer over to a digital event beat-for-beat. We’re pleased with the results of Licensing Week Virtual and will continue to complement live events with digital offerings to continue to reach the broad and agile licensing community.”

According to the event’s analysis, most attendees engaged with seven pieces of content and averaged 23 hours and 23 minutes on the event platform, underscoring the need for industry education and network-building at this time. Each day of the event featured content mirroring the experiences and content commonly found at Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe and was organised into the following categories: Brands & Lifestyle, Character & Entertainment, Art & Design, and Emerging Categories.

Among the industry trends highlighted throughout the week, it was notably consumer brands such as Kraft Heinz that indicated a net sale growth of 3.3 per cent during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the role nostalgia plays in inspiring millennials and younger consumers to look to familiar brands during these uncertain times.

It was highlighted that brands that can showcase humility and values with conviction, and stand for causes such as human rights, sustainability, and support through strategic licensing partnerships can expect to see increased interest from a new set of conscious consumers.

In Character and Entertainment, video streaming is projected to reach $27.1 billion USD in 2020 and as the number of streaming subscription services significantly expands with movie studios launching their own services, coupled with traditional movie theatres unable to show films, more streaming properties have opened the door to vast licensing potential as a wider category of viewers are consuming more content than ever, due to stay-at-home orders, and are thus establishing deep-rooted connections with new properties.

Companies such as Universal Studios, with its early video-on-demand release of its “Trolls World Tour” animated movie, are releasing licensed products more closely aligned with the entertainment property itself and are able to promote product hand-in-hand with early digital launches.

The retail and licensee communities turned to e-commerce to slow the loss of revenue caused by COVID-19. With companies now focusing product rollout efforts through an e-commerce channel, the need for companies to be highly visible digitally and make online shopping a viable alternative to in-store shopping is a scalable and viable strategy, as the pandemic forced non-digitally native and hesitant consumers to understand the e-commerce landscape, from mobile kerbside orders to delivery groceries. Due to the shift, direct-to-consumer opportunities will be a larger segment even as retailers begin to open.

Across the Art & Design sector, “label-slapping” is becoming a method of the past that is now being replaced by a deeper and profound brand collaborations with arts and designers. As consumers seek a greater connection to art through social media and online, licensing affords artists the opportunity to extend their brand to a wider audience through products that fall outside of their traditional product domain.

Product categories that have seen growth and are crucial to the art and design licensing community include home décor, footwear, and accessories. These categories have grown in part to the COVID-19 shutdown as consumers spruce up their home and work-from-home stations. During Licensing Week Virtual, merchandisers across the spectrum reported strong sales in those categories during the early part of 2020.

Of the emerging categories highlighted once again it is the rise in video game play that has led consumers to a growth in interest toward eSports and video game influencers. Fandom has gone beyond the basics of playing singularly and now extends into an entire video game ecosystem. Companies that have creatively leveraged the massive fanbase in the gaming sector have shown promise in such partnerships. For instance, Epic Games’ “Fortnite” partnerships with brand owners for in-game digital concerts and licensed character releases have extended the brand’s popularly into other audience non-gaming audiences.

Finally, the Pitch the Brands contest, in partnership with InventHelp, gave inventors the chance to present their product directly in front of a live executive panel from today’s leading brands.

The 2020 winner of the contest was the Gentle Soother developed by husband and wife team Adam and Misti Fyffe that aims to help parents get the rest they need. The Fyffes were among the ten chosen contestants in the submission-based contest. The grand prize included a one-on-one consultation package, worth more than $1,500.

Licensing International welcomes six new members to its Board of Directors

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Licensing International has elected six new members to its Board of Directors, each taking up their post from July 1st this year.

LMCA’s Alan Kravetz, Miller Kaplan’s Vincent Leoni, and Sesame Workshop’s Valerie Mitchell Johnston join Peanuts Worldwide’s Roz Nowicki, Encantos’ Steven Wolfe Pereira, and IMG’s Miki Yamamoto in taking up the new roles.

On top of this, Jay Asher, partner at Brandgenuity, was elected as Chairperson of the Board for a two-year term, while Steve Scebelo, vice president at the NFLPA was elected as Vice Chair for a one-year term.

“I’m pleased to welcome the six new members of our Board, whose diverse voices and experience will be invaluable as we look for new, agile ways to serve the members of the global licensing community in these challenging times,” said Licensing International president, Maura Regan.

“I’d also like to thank the outgoing members of our Board for their time and dedication – JJ Ahearn, Cindy Levitt, Marc Mostman, Celso Rafael and Jamie Stevens.”

As president and COO of Leveraged Marketing Corporation of America, Kravetz has spent more than 30 years growing brands and monetising IP across the globe. He is an active member of INTA and a frequent speaker on trademark licensing and strategy conferences, trade shows, and continuing legal education seminars.

Meanwhile, Vincent Leoni is a partner at Miller Kaplan with more than 30 years of experience in entertainment, media and technology. He provides royalty, contract compliance, profit participation, litigation support and consulting services on behalf of licensors, licensees, owners of intellectual property, film studios, production companies, recording artists, music publishers, profit participants and software developers.

Valerie Mitchell Johnston, vice president and deputy general counsel at boasts past experience which includes the role of deputy general counsel of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, as well as vice president, business and legal affairs for HIT Entertainment. During her tenure at HIT, the company was acquired by Mattel, Inc. and Valerie served as lead counsel for the Entertainment Distribution Group and head of the New York legal team.

Roz Nowicki, EVP at Peanuts Worldwide  has extensive experience in licensing management in larger corporations. From her early formative years at Disney, and high growth years at Universal, to a longer stint with 4Kids Entertainment she has gained vast knowledge and global licensing contacts.

CEO and co-founder of Encantos, Steven Wolfe Pereira is an accomplished media, marketing and technology executive who established the current business to inspire kids to learn 21st Century skills through play. Focused on kids 12 and under, Encantos’ family brands include the Emmy-nominated and two time Kidscreen award-winning No. 1 bilingual preschool brand Canticos, the food-focused Issa’s Edible Adventures, the Day of the Dead-inspired resilience brand Skeletitos, and the adventure-based travel brand Tiny Travelers.

A female-owned B-Corp that puts diversity, equality, and inclusion at the heart of all it creates, Encantos brings its brands to life via digital and physical offerings including apps, books, consumer products, music, subscription services, videos and more.

Finally, Miki Yamamoto is senior vice president of IMG and is responsible for the development and management of various licensing programs and clients that IMG represents in Asia, including Sesame Street, MGM, Care Bears, Pepsi, NFL, Jeep, Volkswagen, and many other properties.

Prior to IMG, Yamamoto worked for Calvin Klein Japan, managing the local licensing program with more than 500 branded retail shops and related fashion and accessory items.

Licensing International to host a virtual UK Licensing Essentials Course this summer

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Licensing International, the trade organisation for the global licensing industry is bringing its UK Licensing Essentials Course to the virtual sphere this summer, hosting a two-day event from Wednesday, July 29th to Thursday, July 30th.

Designed as a crash course in all aspects of brand licensing, the event is targeted to all brand licensing professionals, with a focus on retail executives, as well as other professionals looking to break into or expand their profile in the $293 billion licensing industry.

Typically held in London, this year’s course will be fully online, opening up the opportunity for professionals outside of the UK to easily participate for the first time ever. Also for the first time, there will be no cost to attend.

The programme will take place over two, half days from 13:30 to 16:00 GMT each day, and will feature both live and pre-recorded sessions broken up by a series of fun networking activities, including virtual roundtables and a happy hour at the Virtual Licensing Bar.

Content will be tailored for everyone from industry newcomers to accomplished veterans while sessions will cover best practices, basic licensing know-how and new industry standards in light of recent global events. Among the topics to be covered are:

  • It All Starts Here: How IP Comes to Life – a deep dive into the path new IP follows to make it to store shelves
  • Reality Check: License Agreements for Non-Lawyers
  • Who’s Shopping? A Profile of the Children’s Market
  • The New Normal for Licensing – a look at how licensing has been impacted by COVID-19 and how to take advantage of new opportunities

Confirmed speakers include Susan Bolsover of Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House); Andrew Carley of TILT Global Brand & Licensing Solutions, Dave Collins of PowerStation Studios, Rob Corney of Bulldog Licensing, Steven Ekstract, Informa’s Global Licensing Group, Louise French of Beanstalk, and consultant Aysha Kidwai.

They will be joined by Adrienne Mirviss of Wildbrain CPLG, Holly Oldham of Rubie’s UK, Gary Pope of Kids Industries, Claire Potter of Metrostar Media, Julia Redman of Buyers Eye, consultant Graham Saltmarsh, commercial strategist Pete Selby, and Will Stewart of The Point.1888.

“The decision to host Licensing Essentials Course online this year has allowed us to not only open it to a global audience, but also make it free to attend for the first time ever,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International.

“This event truly is a must-attend for anyone looking to expand their understanding of the brand licensing industry, especially retail executives who may be exploring new ways to adapt or enhance their business models in light of the disruption we’re currently seeing.”

Kelvyn Gardner departs Licensing International’s UK chapter

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Industry veteran, Kelvyn Gardner, has departed from his role as the head of the UK chapter of the industry trade body, Licensing International, it was confirmed yesterday.

Gardner had been the recognised face of Licensing International’s UK operations for the past 12 years and a recipient of a Licensing.biz People Awards Outstanding Contribution to Licensing back in 2017.

In a message issued to Licensing International members, president Maura Regan, said: “We thank him for his many years of devoted service to you, our members, and the industry at large. At the same time, I want to assure you that nothing will change in how we service and support you.”

Regan detailed that Licensing International’s Gisela Abrams and Maria Ungaro will join her in handling day-to-day operations and coordination of all upcoming events on the organisation’s event calendar.

“We are well into our search for local support to best serve this important market, and are confident that we will be able to make an announcement before spring is over,” Regan added.

Licensing International’s Young Professionals Network 2020 breakfast cancelled over coronavirus outbreak

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Licensing International has announced the cancellation of this week’s Young Professionals Network 2020 breakfast event in London due to the escalating coronavirus outbreak and the latest Government advice.

The event was due to be held at the Club at the Ivy on Covent Garden this Friday, March 20th, but has since been cancelled in accordance to the latest Government advice concerning travel, public gathering and social distancing issued in an attempt to flatten the curve of the outbreak of Covid-19.

The breakfast event was organised to help young professionals in the licensing industry network and learn more about the popular and ever-growing video game licensing sector. The event has since been postponed indefinitely, with no word of a new date.

Kelvyn Gardner, managing director a Licensing International, said: “We had been very much looking forward to kicking off our Young Professionals Network 2020 programme at the Club at the Ivy this coming Friday. Very sadly, the latest advice from the Government concerning travel and public gatherings during the continuing pandemic have left us with no choice but to postpone the event indefinitely.

“All those who have booked to attend will receive refunds of their ticket prices, and I would like to place on record my thanks to all who planned to attend, our splendid line up of speakers, and the LI UK YPN committee for their work and dedication in the planning of this event.”

Licensing International kicks off 2020 Young Professionals Network programme with video game licensing breakfast

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Licensing International is kicking off its 2020 Young Professionals Network programme of events with a deep dive into the world of video game licensing this month.

Taking place at the prestigious Club at the Ivy in Covent Garden, the event – sponsored this year by Flowhaven – will treat young professionals in the licensing space and attendees to a continental breakfast accompanied by talks from some of the most prominent companies in the video game licensing sector.

Bits and Pixels’ Sandra Arcan and Su-Yina Farmer will be joined by Difuzed’s Dan Amos, Global Brands Group’s Sye Austin, and Power Station Studios’ Claire Bradbury in delivering the event’s curated talks and discussions.

The Licensing and Video Games themed event will kick off from 8am on Monday, March 20th and run until 9.30am. The venue is the exclusive Loft at the Club at the Ivy found at: 9 West Street, London WC2H 9NE.  

Tickets, including continental breakfast, cost £15 for Licensing International members and £25 for non-members.  Members please contact kgardner@licensing.org for members’ discount code.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here 

Martha Stewart welcomed to the 2020 Licensing International Hall of Fame

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Licensing International has the named longtime licensing powerhouse, Martha Stewart as the 2020 inductee to the Licensing International Hall of Fame.

Stewart will be honoured at the Licensing International Excellence Awards, taking place May 19th, 2020 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV in conjunction with Licensing Expo.

Stewart was one of the pioneers of the modern licensing model, beginning with her trailblazing direct-to-retail deal with Kmart in the late ’90s.

Stewart founded the diversified media and merchandising company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which is owned by brand management firm, Marquee Brands. Over the last two decades her branded products have graced the shelves of top-name retailers such as Macy’s, Staples, Michaels, TJX Companies and QVC.

The business has also expanded to include major e-commerce retailers, Amazon and Wayfair. With a product line that has touched almost every category from fashion to food, paint to pet products, and a wide variety of home goods, Stewart continues to launch innovative, lifestyle-based brand extensions.

Most recently the brand announced plans to develop branded real estate communities in markets around the globe, among many other projects in the housewares, food and beverage, pets, crafts, fashion, garden and travel markets.

“I am very honoured to be inducted into the Licensing International Hall of Fame. I have spent my life’s work creating high-quality, practical, functional, and innovative products at an affordable price to enhance one’s lifestyle and home,” said Martha Stewart.

“I look forward to sharing more of the expertise we have developed over the years and to expanding our product categories and distribution worldwide.”

The Licensing International Hall of Fame is home to the most esteemed global brand licensing executives of the last three decades, individuals like Stewart who have helped to shape this $280.3 billion industry.

Inductees are chosen through a rigorous nomination and review process, with the final selection being made by a vote of the Licensing International Board of Directors, which is comprised of global executives representing all aspects of the brand licensing industry.

Past inductees include Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji; Star Wars creator George Lucas; sports business pioneer Mark McCormack; Chairman and CEO of Hasbro Brian Goldner; Walt Disney; Peanuts creator Charles Schulz; and many others.

 “Choosing one individual to recognise from the vast pool of talented, dedicated professionals in this industry is never easy. Martha epitomizes everything this honour represents – her legacy of innovation and constant evolution, which continues to this day, showcases brand building at its best,” said Licensing International president, Maura Regan.

“I look forward to celebrating Martha’s achievements alongside other pioneering work from leaders across our industry at the Licensing Excellence Awards in May.”

“We are beyond proud of Martha for receiving this honour from Licensing International,” said Carolyn D’Angelo, president of the Home Division at Marquee Brands. “She founded an incredible company that has since become a renowned and widely distributed brand, transcending across various media channels, product categories and industries.

“We are excited to continue growing the brand and bringing Martha’s expertise into more homes around the world.”