NEWS

The show that keeps on giving: BLE goes digital on 30 November and 1 December

Published on: 25th November 2021

Attendees to Brand Licensing Europe, which took place at ExCeL London last week, participated in 2,669 pre-booked meetings and many hundreds more arranged spontaneously during the three-day show, resulting in one exhibitor hailing the event a ‘triumphant return’.

BLE was back in person after more than two years away to reconnect thousands of retailers, manufacturers and designers with over 150 exhibiting companies and a marked increase in retailer attendees compared to 2019 (11 per cent to 15 per cent).

BLE 21 networking continues online

A further 870 (and rising) meetings have now been booked on the BLE platform for the follow-up online event, which takes place on 30 November and 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, Princess Sam, and more.

The event’s online content programme will expand BLE’s ‘What’s Next’ theme, including 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 2022.

 Online-only content includes:

‘D&I In Conversation’ sessions with ViacomCBS executives

  • Diversity in the Workplace
  • Diversity in Content
  • Diversity in Products

Brands for Social Change: Join Products of Change as they talk to Yellow Octopus, Newlife, Preloved Kilo and George at Asda to discuss how they are diverting clothes from landfill and building a fully circular fashion industry.

Licensing U: Featuring 14 presentations across three tracks – Basics, Spotlights and Tactics & Strategies – Licensing U is a one-stop-shop education programme about the $292bn licensing industry for newcomers and experienced professionals. Tickets start at £145 if purchased ahead of the event, or £160 in the platform, and can be purchased when registering for BLE. (Licensing International members can enjoy a 10% discount).

Anna Knight, VP licensing, Informa Markets, says: “What can I say? 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. And then next year we’ll be travelling over to Vegas for Licensing Expo and finally – just 10 months from now – BLE 2022, which will take place 20-22 September at ExCeL London. Despite the sore feet, we can’t wait.”

 

 

 

 

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