Ryan Beaird, Pitch Smarter Brands & Retail Conference Event Director (and former Licensing International UK Marketing Manager) has announced a new screening event for the UK licensing industry launching in January next year.

The Pitch Smarter Conference 22 will take place at the British Library on 20 January, from 9am till 6pm, and is free for licensees and retail buyers to attend. Registration is set to open soon at www.brandsretail.uk

“In the seven-plus years in the licensing industry I always felt, as did others in the business, the need for a screening day for the UK licensing industry,” says Ryan Beaird. “Feedback from the industry was positive so I felt that, given my years of event experience, the time was right to launch a new event in the calendar. Also, cementing it in the diary as the ‘first’ event in 2022, and before the toy show season started, just made sense. It also fits nicely into the retail calendar by being held in January.

“Our new Pitch Smarter Conference will get everyone in one place, together, on both sides of the licensing industry, making life easier for retail buyers and licensees to see what 20 character and entertainment brands have planned for their existing IPs – but more importantly, the opportunity to see new content and what IP owners and agents have planned for 2022 and going forward. If a brand taking part wants the audience to sign NDAs we can organise this, giving them piece of mind in showing under-wraps content as well.”

Brand owners and licensing agents can book slots of 15 minutes (30 minutes back-to-back slots are available) to screen and showcase their properties on stage in the 250-seat capacity British Library theatre, which has a giant front projection screen. There are only 20 slots available on the day.

There will also be a VIP party after the event for attendees. Details will be announced soon in the licensing press.

Anyone interested in booking a screening slot can email Ryan directly at ryan.beaird@brandsretail.uk