Brand Licensing Europe: 30 September – 1 October 2009
Visit www.brandlicensingeurope.com to register

• Brand Licensing Europe – a truly European event
  Brand Licensing Europe is Europe’s leading exhibition for the licensing industry and takes place on 30 September and 1 October at Olympia’s Grand Hall in London, UK. Around 200 companies, 2,000 properties and over 4,000 retailers, licensors and sales promotion agents are expected to attend.
  
  In 2008, 190 exhibitors (including 60 first timers) and 4,279 visitors from 60 countries attended during its 10th anniversary year. The increasing European visitor base and properties on show proves that Brand Licensing Europe is now widely regarded as the leading business and networking platform for the European licensing industry.
  
  Retailers accounted for 15 per cent of all visitors in 2008, including buyers from Almedahis, Auchan, Carrefour, Dreamland Mavedra, Dunnes, Handelsges, Kaufhof, Smyk and Sonak. There was also an eight per cent increase in retail buyers attending from major multiples. 1,430 visitors attended Screening Suite presentations, including Amazon, ASDA, Bhs, C&A, Debenhams, HMV, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Mothercare, NEXT, Play.com, Primark, Russell & Bromley, Tesco and Toys ‘R’ Us.
  
  Looking forward, organiser Advanstar Communications is planning a host of exciting new features for visitors to the 2009 show. The hugely successful Screening Suite and TV Lounge will return for another year, and the Licensing Academy seminar programme – which attracted 581 visitors in 2008 – will reflect the increasingly international tone of the show.
  
  
• Brand Licensing Europe visitor registration opens
  Visitor registration for Brand Licensing Europe 2009 has gone live: to save £15 off entry and skip the queues, register now at www.brandlicensingeurope.com
  
  
• It’s Game On for Brand Licensing Europe
  Brand Licensing Europe is embracing the European interactive entertainment industry with the launch of the Interactive Game Zone: a new exhibition zone dedicated to promoting video games licensing opportunities and introducing retailers and licensors to the market’s profit potential.
  
  
• Brand Licensing Central & Eastern Europe launches in 2010
  Advanstar Communications – global leaders of licensing events, including Licensing International Expo and Brand Licensing Europe – is launching Brand Licensing Central & Eastern Europe in 2010.
  Brand Licensing C&EE will take place at the VAM Design Center in Budapest, Hungary, on 8-9 March 2010. Licensors, Agents and support companies will exhibit, while licensees, retailers, marketers and sales promotion professionals will attend the inaugural event.
  
  
• Sales up eight per cent for Brand Licensing Europe
  Sales for Brand Licensing Europe 2009 are up by eight per cent on last year with the equivalent of over 80 per cent of the 2008 floor space already claimed.
  
  Licensing giants Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide, Classic Media, ITV Global Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Chorion are among more than 100 exhibitors already signed up. And despite the current economic conditions, many exhibitors are increasing their stand size for 2009 to accommodate longer-term strategies for 2010-12. These include Contender, Coolabi, JAST, Ludorum, Rainbow SpA, RDF Rights, Toei Animation, Turner Enterprises (Cartoon Network), TV Loonland and Vipoland.
  
  Bruno Schwobthaler, senior vice president sales and business development EMEA, explained why: “The growth of Brand Licensing Europe – specifically the significant increase in retail attendance and European visitors – makes it a ‘must attend’ show for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
  
  “As an entertainment licensor the Screening Suite, coupled with the stand, provided the perfect environment for us to showcase our key brands and the initiatives supporting them. This resulted in substantial new business across the whole portfolio and specifically an acceleration of the roll out of Looney Tunes Active, Tweety and Scooby Doo across Europe. We congratulate Advanstar on the investment they have made in the show and look forward to returning in 2009.”
  
• Brand Licensing Europe launches Retail Buyers Centre
  Brand Licensing Europe is launching the ultimate advice point for retailers attending the event in 2009 - the Retail Buyers Centre – where retailers will receive complimentary and impartial assistance from a seven-strong stable of licensing experts; irrespective of the nature of their query, the company they represent, and whether they are new to licensing or industry aficionados.
  
  Led by Keith Pashley (The Keith Pashley Project), the independent panel consists of Karen Addison (Karen Addison Associates), Fiona Macleod (Fred and Ginger), Chris Muggleton (Licensing Advice.com), Richard Pink (Pink Key Consulting), Gill Thomas (Consulting GT) and Melanie Wood (director of training, Advanstar Communications).
  
  Retailers are recommended to make an appointment in advance by emailing Keith Pashley at buyerscentre@advanstar.com, but are also welcome to drop in at the Retail Buyers Centre on site.
  
  
• Brand Licensing Europe launches toy, health & beauty and lifestyle product showcases
  Brand Licensing Europe is launching three product showcase areas for 2009 designed to highlight to retailers, licensees and sales promotion agents how today’s licensing opportunities can translate into tomorrow’s merchandising programmes. The showcases are The Toy Store, The Salon and Lifestyle Licensing.
  
  “While retailers and manufacturers are becoming more aware of the business opportunities the licensing industry offers, with over 2,000 properties on display, it’s impossible to know each one inside out,” added Jessica Blue. “Housewares buyers, for example, may be interested in Antony Worrall Thompson products, but don’t know to visit The Partnership stand. Or health and beauty manufacturers may want to discover new licensing opportunities, but be unsure which properties are appropriate for that category.”
  
  
• Advanstar launches Global Partner Programme to reward exhibitors
  Advanstar Communications has launched a new Global Partner Programme to reward licensing companies exhibiting at both the European and US shows.
  
  Companies that sign up to exhibit directly – i.e. not through a licensing agent – at concurrent Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing International Expo events will be recognised as Global Partners and be entitled to a multitude of benefits.
  
  There are currently 47 Global Partners, including 4 Kids Entertainment, BBC Worldwide Licensing, The Beanstalk Group, Chorion, Classic Media, HIT Entertainment, ITV Global Entertainment, The Lego Group, Marvel Entertainment, MGL, Nickelodeon and Viacom, Preziosi Group, Rainbow SpA, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Natural History Museum, Turner Enterprises, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
  
  Global Partners will have access to an exclusive and complimentary promotional programme designed to add value to their presence at both events and boost their profile internationally.