Mattel President and COO Richard Dickson to present BLE day one keynote: ‘Barbie x Fashion’

Iconic global brand Barbie will be the star of Brand Licensing Europe’s day one keynote, ‘Barbie x Fashion’, delivered by Mattel President and COO Richard Dickson.

“Barbie is one of the world’s greatest fashion and licensing icons, collaborating with everyone from Balmain, Karl Largerfeld, Moschino and Diane von Furstenberg, to M.A.C. and River Island,” says Informa Markets SVP of Licensing Anna Knight. “And, like all fashion icons, she has evolved, disrupted, inspired and led from the front – she is the perfect star to take centre stage during BLE’s fashion themed year and it’s no surprise she was labelled ‘The forever icon’ by Italian Vogue. Thank you, Mattel and Richard Dickson – we can’t wait for your keynote at BLE in September.”

During his Barbie x Fashion keynote, taking place at 1pm on Tuesday 20 September, Richard Dickson, Mattel President and Chief Operating Officer, will take BLE visitors on a rollercoaster ride, looking at Barbie’s amazing legacy to date and heralding the remarkable runway that lies ahead.

Brand Licensing Europe is Europe’s leading trade event and takes place from 20-22 September 2022 at ExCeL London. Registration is free and open now.

Richard Dickson first joined Mattel in 2000 and, in his role, he leads Mattel’s portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development, and brand marketing. He also oversees franchise management, which includes licensing and merchandising, episodic content, live events, and digital gaming.

During his time at Mattel, Richard Dickson has grown some of the world’s most powerful and purpose-driven brands, including Barbie – the most diverse line of fashion dolls – and Hot Wheels. In 2021, Barbie was the #1 toy property globally, Hot Wheels was the #1 vehicle property globally, and Fisher-Price was the #1 Infant, Toddler, and Preschool property globally, per The NPD Group.

Brand Licensing Europe unveils packed agenda for 2022 event

Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension – Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) – has announced a packed schedule of networking, educational and experiential events for its 22nd show, which takes place from 20-22 September 2022 at ExCeL London.

Welcoming thousands of European retailers, manufacturers and brand owners, BLE 22 will present the latest brand collaborations, inspire future product ranges, display the hottest product design innovation, showcase new and emerging IPs, and highlight the endless opportunities for brands to extend into new categories and markets.

Attendees can register for free to join Amazon, Aykroyd & Sons, Tesco, Moonpig, Panini France, Jakks Pacific, HMV, Danilo, Paladone Products, Clementoni Spa, Spin Master, Ravensburger and more, already registered to visit.

More than 150 exhibitors have confirmed their participation including Mattel, NBCUniversal, TF1 Licensing, Acamar Films, Pokémon, Sophie La Girafe, Difuzed, Crunchyroll, Bravado, The Smurfs, AC Milan, Asterix, Formula E, Paramount, BBC Studios, Hasbro, Gallimard Jeunesse, Ubisoft.

Attendees can enjoy the following experiential, educational and networking highlights:

  • 10 choreographed catwalk shows forming part of BLE 2022’s fashion theme focusing on Footwear, Kids, Food & Beverage, Collabs, Sports & Athleisure, Culture & the World and Sustainability
  • 4 branded cafes and bars offering immersive experiences, product installations and additional meeting space
  • The much-loved character parade, taking place at 11.30am on 20 and 21 September – follow the characters as they walk through the show before emerging outside the West entrance of ExCeL.
  • The Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition Finale returning on 22 September from 10:30am until 12:00pm. Watch the shortlisted entrepreneurs battle it out to win the 2022 Character & Animation and Brand & Design awards. Plus, last year’s winners Sophie Jonas-Hill with Tea for Tattoo and Joel Mercer’s Seed Folk exhibiting on the main show floor.
  • A new sustainability and diversity programme spotlighting new and diverse brands and voices, with 22 September (final day of the show) exclusively dedicated to bringing this to life through activations and education
  • An exclusively curated Retail Lounge designed for retail attendees to mingle, gain product inspiration and host meetings

Educational highlights include:

  • Free-to-attend keynotes on 20 & 21 September at 1:00pm in the License Global Theatre. Stay tuned for the first reveal next week.
  • A renewed partnership with Products of Change providing an educational platform for those looking for guidance on how to make their business more sustainable
  • A re-imagined experience for newcomers to the industry with orientation sessions, show tours, speed networking and expert mentoring alongside pre-event on-demand content .
  • Additional free educational sessions in the License Global theatre including category spotlights and conference sessions from the recently postponed Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit
  • Entertainment showcases on 20 & 21 September in the Platinum Suite

All sessions will be recorded and available on-demand in the online platform, available to all registered attendees and exhibitors. This does not include the invite-only entertainment showcases.

Networking highlights include:

  • Opening Night Drinks on the show floor on 20 September from 5:00pm – 7:00pm open to all attendees and exhibitors.
  • The return of the Online Meetings Service and Matchmaking Lounge allowing attendees and exhibitors to book meetings ahead of the event and maximise ROI from the show.
  • Exhibitor drinks reception on 21 September at the Novotel from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

“The calendar for BLE is firming up quickly and we want to give the industry as long as possible to start planning and block their diaries before the meeting requests start coming in. With so much going on through the exciting Fashion theme, the packed seminar programme and more, there’s something for everyone and we can’t wait to welcome the European licensing community to ExCeL this September,” says Informa Markets SVP of Licensing Anna Knight.

Upon registering, all visitors and exhibitors will gain access to the free online platform to setup their profile in preparation for the Meetings functionality opening mid-July to book meetings ahead of the event. All content will be available on-demand in the platform once the show ends.

 

Visitor registration for Brand Licensing Europe 2022 is now open

Hot on the heels of a triumphant in-person return for Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) opens online visitor registration today. The event brings together thousands of leading retailers and manufacturers to discover the widest range of brands from Europe available for license for three days of deal-making, networking and trend spotting and returns to ExCeL London from 20-22 September.

Over 120 companies from all over the world – with strong representation from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Lithuania, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK – are already confirmed to exhibit.

They include some of the world’s leading brand owners including Paramount, Warner Bros, Hasbro, NBCUniversal, Mattel, Aardman Animations, AC Milan, Acamar Films, Banijay Brands, Asmodee, Asterix, BANDAI NAMCO, Beanstalk, Brandgenuity, Bulldog Licensing, Caroline Mickler, Crunchyroll, Cyber Group Studios, Difuzed, FC Barcelona, Gallimard Jeunesse, IMG Licensing, LMI, Magic Light Pictures, Natural History Museum, Penguin Ventures, Perfetti Van Melle, Royal Museums Greenwich, Sanrio, SEGA, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, The National Gallery, The Pokémon Company, The Smurfs, V&A, Yale University and many more. Latest names confirmed include Euro Lizenzen, MGA Entertainment, Formula E, Ubisoft, UEFA Club Competitions, Van Gogh Museums, Creative Licensing Corp, KOCCA and more.

Thousands of brands are represented on the show floor, from animation to sports, heritage, arts, gaming and more, offering attendees the opportunity to secure the rights to  leading brands including My Little Pony, MTV, Top Gun, Chupa Chups, Asterix & Obelix, Paw Patrol, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Batman, Hello Kitty, Assassin’s Creed, Peter Rabbit, Barbie, Masha & the Bear, the Van Gogh Museum, Formula E, le Petit Prince, Kellogg’s, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sophie la Girafe, Far Cry, and many more.

“It was essential to bring BLE back as an in-person event last year – this industry is highly creative and collaborative and relies on  face-to-face networking as well as the ability to experience brands first-hand so we can’t wait to return even stronger this September,” says Anna Knight, Informa Markets SVP of Licensing. “We saw some great quality attendees there – and at Licensing Expo last month – including H&M, Pull & Bear, Primark, Asda, and so many more, which shows the strength and growing appetite for brand collaborations and licensing.

“For 2022, we can’t wait to bring the industry back together again and help to drive the conversations that lead to the creation of innovative new products that consumers love. This year’s fashion theme aims to showcase collaborations first-hand and will let retailers and licensees experience brands and products in a more meaningful, engaging way.”

This year’s BLE theme is fashion, which will be woven throughout the show’s content and spotlight the incredible creativity happening in this sector and its impact on the licensing industry as a whole, from brand collaborations to innovations in the metaverse, retail experiences and sustainability with the continued partnership with Products of Change, will include daily fashion shows on the central catwalk, inspirational product showcases, a high-profile keynote and complementary conference sessions.

Kirsty Schaper, Senior Brand Licensing Manager, Royal Museums Greenwich, says: “We are absolutely delighted to be returning to BLE in 2022 to exhibit our unparalleled collections in astronomy, art and British and maritime history and technology. Visit our stand to discover opportunities and inspiration for working with our exceptional, world-class collections to create unique products in association with our prestigious heritage brand.”

BLE closes applications for Retail Mentoring Programme after record intake

Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) has officially closed applications for its Retail Mentoring Programme (RMP) for the first time in its 12-year history, following a record uptake with 82 buyers from 19 different retailers. 
The annual programme kicked off last week when 78 RMP delegates attended Licensing International’s Licensing Essentials course in central London. This year’s programme will culminate at BLE after a day hosted by a brand owner or agent, and another licensing for retail conference in September. Hosts this year are selected from BLE exhibitors and include Acamar, Beanstalk, Bulldog, Bravado, Hasbro, NHM, TSBA, The Point 1888, Warner Brothers and Wildbrain CPLG.
This year’s RMP participants are as follows, including first timers Next, Pets at Home, DFS and New Look:
1.      Asda George
2.     Character.com
3.     DFS
4.     Fat Face
5.     John Lewis
6.     M&Co
7.     Marks & Spencer
8.     Matalan
9.     Moonpig
10.   Morrisons
11.     New Look
12.    Next
13.    Paultons Park
14.   Pep & Co
15.    Pets at Home
16.   Sainsbury’s
17.   Tesco
18.   The Entertainer
19.   Truffle Shuffle
Truffle Shuffle Brand Director Aby Sollitt-Davis says: “After 10 years working in licensing there is always something new to learn. Even if it is how to get a better deal. You have to know what to look and ask for in the deal memo to be able to make it work best for you. Business is a two-way street, and all agreements require both sides to understand what is at stake for both parties to come to a happy agreement. Finding creative freedom in a world of rules needs a course like the Retail Mentoring Programme to allow creative minds and business sense to come together in a fun and relaxed environment.”
A further 27 delegates, the majority RMP alumni from retailers including Tesco, Selfridges, The Very Group, Sainsbury’s, Groupon, character.com, Pep & Co, Marks & Spencer and The Entertainer, were also in London on 12 May to attend the first ever Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy masterclass.
BLRA is a joint partnership between BLE and Licensing International and attendees heard sessions on children’s licensing from experts including:
·       Jenny Kieras, Chief Revenue Officer and Matthew Smith, Head of Industry Foresight at Insights Family
·       Gary Pope, Co-Founder and CEO at Kids Industries
Plus, a panel on toys featured Andrea Gornall, Sales and Licensing Director, 8th Wonder; Melanie Beer, Licensing Director EMEA, Amscan International and Richard Hollis, Licensing Consultant.
Head of Retail, Licensing at Global Licensing Group, Laura Freedman-Dagg says: “We’re delighted with the range of retailers on the Retail Mentoring Programme this year. It’s the biggest group we’ve ever had, and the buyers have already shown such enthusiasm for licensing. The Licensing Essentials Course was the perfect start to the programme, and I know that the licensor host days will once again be a highlight.
“It was also exciting to host the first Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy, which we launched in partnership with Licensing International earlier this year. The majority of the academy delegates have previously completed our mentoring programme so it’s fantastic to be able to provide ongoing learning opportunities in the lead-up to BLE. I’d like to thank all of the retailers who took the time to attend – we know how difficult it can be to secure time out of the office, but I hope they returned to work feeling reinvigorated and ready to discover their next big licensing opportunities.”

Moose Toys to create more Magic at Licensing Expo

Moose Toys has found ‘magic’ in the licensing of its popular brands, and it is poised to do so again with Magic Mixies Mixlings, a collectible line based on global sales phenom Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, as well as The Legend of Akedo, an action-packed line of collectibles that represents the toymaker’s biggest boys’ brand launch to date.

WildBrain CPLG, licensing agency for the two brands, will be hosting the toymaker at its booth (#E154) during the Licensing Show in Las Vegas, May 24-26, 2022, for vendors interested in partnering with the brands. WildBrain CPLG represents Magic Mixies Mixlings in the U.S. and Canada from its dedicated North America office; the company has the global licensing rights for The Legend of Akedo.

“We are looking to WildBrain CPLG to work its magic with both of these brands to create imaginative, clever products that incorporate the inherent brand personalities of Magic Mixies Mixlings and The Legend of Akedo,” says Menal McGrath, vice president, global licensing, Moose Toys. “We’re thinking outside the ‘cauldron’ for ways to incorporate the surprise and delight of Magic Mixies. For The Legend of Akedo, with its impressive array of collectible action figures and action-packed content that brings them to life, licensed products are the logical next step and something fans of the brand will be looking for Moose to bring to the experience.”

Magic Mixies Mixlings, a mesmerising line of more than 40 collectible figures, each with their own interactive wand and magic feature, will be supported by original content on the Moose TubeSquad YouTube channel. The 11-minute Mixlings mini movie debuts on May 13; two teasers were previously released. Additional episodes can be expected in June and throughout summer.

Working together, Moose and WildBrain CPLG will develop a range of products for Magic Mixies Mixlings that infuses innovation and real magic to continue the momentum and excitement of the Magic Mixies product, which was so successful it was the No. 1 item in Special Feature Plush in December and the Fall season and continued to be through March ’22 as per NPD. Mixies also was recognised as The Toy Foundation’s Creative Toy of the Year in 2021.

The Legend of Akedo, with its epic warrior figures, provides an expansive gallery of unique characters from which to draw ‘wild’ inspiration, including ninjas with swords, a teddy bear with a chainsaw and a big baby ruling with his gavel, as well as robots, gladiators, Vikings, dinosaurs and clowns. For both brands, the initial focus for the consumer products roll out will be on apparel, sleepwear, publishing, accessories and homeware categories.

“Moose Toys delivers incredibly imaginative toys, and we have the pleasure – and fun – to develop products that are complementary in style, form and function to the distinctive characteristics that make these two brands immensely popular,” says Jasen Wright, VP North America, WildBrain CPLG. “They are a wonderful collaborative partner, and we are delighted to work with them to deliver very special products for Magic Mixies Mixlings and The Legend of Akedo.”

Licensed merchandise for Magic Mixies Mixlings will weave in key spellbinding features of the brand that will bring magic to the clothes kids wear and the everyday accessories they use.

“While we still are in the development stage, I can say for Magic Mixies Mixlings there are plans for hidden reveals, secret compartments, colour change and many more magical touches,” says McGrath.

Since launching in autumn 2021, Magic Mixies has become a global sales phenomenon. In the U.S., Magic Mixies is the #2 brand in Total Plush YTD, as per NPD. The toy is continuing to grow in popularity with demand for Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron at retail staying high, and it has new-found celebrity on social media. The recently introduced line of Mixlings collectibles and a newly released content about the magical creatures coupled with several upcoming new product releases have the brand poised to catapult to even greater success.

WildBrain CPLG/Moose will be at Licensing Expo, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, from 24-26 May 2022. 

BLE confirms first roster of exhibitors for September event

Brand Licensing Europe – Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension, organised in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International – has announced the initial list of companies confirmed to exhibit at the 2022 event, which runs from 20-22 September at ExCeL London.

Reflecting the event’s truly European nature, the list boasts a large number of companies already confirmed from Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, including The Smurfs, Chefclub, Gallimard Jeunesse, GO-N, Le Petit Prince Licensing, Perfetti Van Melle Group, Planeta Junior, Sophie La Girafe, Spain Licensing Pavilion, Asterix, AC Milan, TF1 Licensing, Toei Animation Europe, Tour de France & Dakar, Alpha Group, Ferly, Mediatoon Licensing, Roadsign, Millimages, Sagoo, Xilam Animation, Rights & Brands and many more. See the full list here.

Brand new to the show this year are Van Gogh Museum, License This! winners Sophie Jonas-Hill and Joel Mercer of Seed Folk, Le Petit Prince Licensing, Chefclub, Outfit7 and Nelly Jelly World.

Marijn Veraart, Licensing Manager, Van Gogh Museum, says: “We are tremendously excited to connect with our industry peers in real life again and look forward to showcasing opportunities to celebrate the Van Gogh Museum’s 50th anniversary together in 2023. You will find us at BLE, where we invite you to explore the inspiring world of Vincent van Gogh through his world-famous art and life story

Thomas Riviere, Brand Manager, Le Petit Prince, says: “The Little Prince is back at BLE! On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of The Little Prince in 2023, we’re inviting BLE visitors to come and meet The Little Prince Licensing team on Stand C150 to discuss new licensing opportunities. An anniversary celebrated all over the world: exhibitions, shows, new products, new licenses, new 2D animated TV series!”

The event sees many familiar names return this year, showcasing some of the world’s biggest brands and capturing the breadth of the industry with a wide variety of names confirmed across all key sectors of licensing ranging from entertainment to sports, and gaming to heritage. Exhibitors include:

  • Character & Entertainment: Aardman Animations, Acamar Films, Animaccord, BANDAI NAMCO Europe, Banijay Brands, Bulldog Licensing, Caroline Mickler, Crunchyroll, Cyber Group Studios, Hasbro, Le Petit Prince, Mattel, NBCUniversal, NECA, Penguin Ventures, SEGA, Sanrio, Rocket Licensing, Rainbow, The Pokémon Company, The Smurfs, Warhammer, Studio 100, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, TF1 Licensing, Toei Animation, Walker Books, Wildbrain CPLG, WWE, and more.
  • Brand & Lifestyle: Admiral Sportswear, art ask agency, Imperial War Museums, Metrostar, Natural History Museum, The National Gallery, Tour de France & Dakar, V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum), Yale University, Beanstalk, Tinderbox, TSBA, Pink Key Licensing, Perfetti Van Melle, AC Milan, Metrostar, Dorna Sports, Roadsign, Brandgenuity, Golden Goose, and more
  • Art, Design & Image: Caroline Mickler, Vicki Thomas Associates, Scatterbrain Studios, Sophie Jonas-Hill and more. 

The event returns to London this September with a new fashion theme, which will include a world-renowned keynote, daily themed catwalk shows, product showcases and conference sessions.

Companies wishing to find out more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please email greg.mcdonald@informa.com or cassius.anderson@informa.com

Visitor registration is open now at www.brandlicensing.eu

BLE confirms first roster of exhibitors for September event

Brand Licensing Europe – Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension, organised in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International – has announced the initial list of companies confirmed to exhibit at the 2022 event, which runs from 20-22 September at ExCeL London.

Reflecting the event’s truly European nature, the list boasts a large number of companies already confirmed from Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, including The Smurfs, Chefclub, Gallimard Jeunesse, GO-N, Le Petit Prince Licensing, Perfetti Van Melle Group, Planeta Junior, Sophie La Girafe, Spain Licensing Pavilion, Asterix, AC Milan, TF1 Licensing, Toei Animation Europe, Tour de France & Dakar, Alpha Group, Ferly, Mediatoon Licensing, Roadsign, Millimages, Sagoo, Xilam Animation, Rights & Brands and many more. See the full list here.

Brand new to the show this year are Van Gogh Museum, License This! winners Sophie Jonas-Hill and Joel Mercer of Seed Folk, Le Petit Prince Licensing, Chefclub, Outfit7 and Nelly Jelly World.

Marijn Veraart, Licensing Manager, Van Gogh Museum, says: “We are tremendously excited to connect with our industry peers in real life again and look forward to showcasing opportunities to celebrate the Van Gogh Museum’s 50th anniversary together in 2023. You will find us at BLE, where we invite you to explore the inspiring world of Vincent van Gogh through his world-famous art and life story

Thomas Riviere, Brand Manager, Le Petit Prince, says: “The Little Prince is back at BLE! On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of The Little Prince in 2023, we’re inviting BLE visitors to come and meet The Little Prince Licensing team on Stand C150 to discuss new licensing opportunities. An anniversary celebrated all over the world: exhibitions, shows, new products, new licenses, new 2D animated TV series!”

The event sees many familiar names return this year, showcasing some of the world’s biggest brands and capturing the breadth of the industry with a wide variety of names confirmed across all key sectors of licensing ranging from entertainment to sports, and gaming to heritage. Exhibitors include:

  • Character & Entertainment: Aardman Animations, Acamar Films, Animaccord, BANDAI NAMCO Europe, Banijay Brands, Bulldog Licensing, Caroline Mickler, Crunchyroll, Cyber Group Studios, Hasbro, Le Petit Prince, Mattel, NBCUniversal, NECA, Penguin Ventures, SEGA, Sanrio, Rocket Licensing, Rainbow, The Pokémon Company, The Smurfs, Warhammer, Studio 100, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, TF1 Licensing, Toei Animation, Walker Books, Wildbrain CPLG, WWE, and more.
  • Brand & Lifestyle: Admiral Sportswear, art ask agency, Imperial War Museums, Metrostar, Natural History Museum, The National Gallery, Tour de France & Dakar, V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum), Yale University, Beanstalk, Tinderbox, TSBA, Pink Key Licensing, Perfetti Van Melle, AC Milan, Metrostar, Dorna Sports, Roadsign, Brandgenuity, Golden Goose, and more
  • Art, Design & Image: Caroline Mickler, Vicki Thomas Associates, Scatterbrain Studios, Sophie Jonas-Hill and more. 

The event returns to London this September with a new fashion theme, which will include a world-renowned keynote, daily themed catwalk shows, product showcases and conference sessions.

Companies wishing to find out more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please email greg.mcdonald@informa.com or cassius.anderson@informa.com

Visitor registration is open now at www.brandlicensing.eu

Brand Licensing Europe announces fashion as main theme for 2022

This year’s theme for Brand Licensing Europe, taking place on 20-22 September at ExCeL London, will be fashion. Visitors and exhibitors will be able to enjoy interactive features showcasing some of the biggest fashion licensing deals over the past year.

 

The fashion theme will weave its way throughout the event, including:

  • High-end product showcases on display close to the catwalk and in the main entrances, featuring products modelled in the catwalk shows
  • The License Global Theatre is moving back to the show floor for 2022 and will include several sessions and two keynotes dedicated to fashion
  • Products of Change make a very welcome return to Brand Licensing Europe and will be a powerful driver behind communicating the importance of sustainability in fashion

Ten 15-minute fashion shows will hit the central catwalk across three days, themed around key licensing categories. Retailers, designers and manufacturers can expect professional, expertly made-up and choreographed models (covering both kids and adult ranges) to be featured as brands’ collections are displayed on the catwalk.

The catwalks will cover multiple categories, including: Collabs, Food & Beverage, Footwear, Kids, Sports & Athleisure, Sustainability and Culture & The World.

Each show will also be live-streamed across the show floor and in both the central boulevard and West Podium at ExCeL London.

Anna Knight, SVP of Licensing, Informa Markets, says: “From Primark x Greggs, H&M x Keith Haring Mark II and Natural History Museum x Fat Face, to Selfridges opening as a fully-functioning online retailer in the Metaverse and amazing in-store experiences popping up all over the world, fashion is an incredibly exciting space to be in right now. The impact it can have on brands, and brands can have on it, is endless.”

For more details, enquire here.