Licensing International announces multi-year partnership with The Insights Family

Licensing International and The Insights Family today announced a multi-year partnership that will launch a series of collaborative initiatives to help inform the licensing industry as well as provide Licensing International members with exclusive content focused on identifying consumer behaviour within the “Kid Economy.”

The Insights Family, a global leader in kids, parents, and family market research and intelligence, provides organisations with real-time, independent data to help clients understand and define their audiences using their proprietary data, data science, and machine learning algorithms through their groundbreaking real-time portal.

Research into the attitudes, behaviours and consumption patterns of these audiences will enable Licensing International to identify and share relevant trends across categories to its members. Real-time data will be pulled from 22 countries across six continents through the following services:

  • Kids Insights surveys 7,780 children aged 3-18 each week or 469,000 a year
  • Parents Insights surveys more than 3,800 parents of children aged 1-16 each week or 228,000 a year

“With a significant number of member companies servings kids and families, our partnership with The Insights Family will deliver best-in-class research to help them better reach and connect with consumers,” says Maura Regan, President, Licensing International.

Nick Richardson, Founder & CEO of The Insights Family, commented: “We are delighted to have partnered with Licensing International. Since we launched in 2017 we have made it our mission to set a new standard in market intelligence for the licensing industry and this partnership will enable us to demonstrate our support to the industry and how we can help licensors, licensees and retailers drive ROI, maximize opportunities and mitigate risks.”

Licensing International members will receive access to this exclusive content through several formats including joint participation at events like Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, white papers, webinars, ongoing educational programs, and a global annual report.

Further details on these exclusive content offerings will be available at a later date.

To download The Insights Family 2022 Future Forecast report click here: https://get.theinsightsfamily.com/futureforecast/

Licensing International and Spielwarenmesse to launch joint licensing fair

Spielwarenmesse eG and Licensing International have announced a co-branded event that combines their skillsets to provide the German-speaking region with a licensing event of its own. Licensing-X Germany will offer the licensing sector across Germany, Austria and Switzerland a new platform and will coincide with Insights-X, the established stationery event, from 5 to 7 October 2022 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. 

“With Licensing-X Germany, we are building our portfolio in a market that shows strong growth, that we are very familiar with, and that is active in many different sectors,” says Christian Ulrich, Spokesperson of the Executive Board, about the new launch by Spielwarenmesse eG. According to Licensing International, global sales of licensed goods and services amount to some US$ 293 billion, of which about US$ 11 billion are accounted for by the German market. This diverse spectrum includes product categories such as clothing, toys, fashion accessories, video games, home decoration, foods, footwear, cosmetics, sports and gifts.

Founded in 1985, Licensing International has had an active presence in Germany since 2001 through its LicenseMarket event. “Our primary mission is to grow awareness of the licensing industry worldwide, along with its many benefits,” says Maura J. Regan, President of Licensing International. “Licensing-X Germany will foster growth and expansion in Germany as we continue to align with key practitioners across the licensing community at large.”

Through this new licensing event, Spielwarenmesse eG is expanding its existing partnership with Licensing International. “Our shared objective is to be the leading platform for the licensing business in the German-speaking region,” says Peter Hollo, who is responsible for Licensing International’s activities in Germany.

Licensing-X Germany will build on the success of LicenseMarket and introduce new programming and networking opportunities across categories for the entire licensing industry. New trends in the market, including streaming services and NFTs, will be a focus as the event highlights licensing opportunities on the horizon.

Licensing International France Awards winners revealed

The nominees and winners of the Licensing International France Awards were revealed today at a ceremony held at TF1. The ceremony was hosted by Christophe Drevet, from the FJP, Florence Ayem and Laurent Taieb, co-presidents of Licensing International France, and brought together nearly 150 participants.

The YPN committee (Young Professionals Network) rewarded Noam Lhote (The Pokémon Company Intl) as the winner of the Rising Star category in France.

A total of 129 entries were submitted, an increase of 25% over last year, demonstrating the dynamism and adaptability of the licensing industry despite this troubled period.

At the end of the ceremony, Informa, the organiser of Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo presented, in partnership with Licensing International France, announced a new networking day – France Licensing Day – which will take place on the day of the Awards in March 2023. Those wishing to find out more about the event can register their interest by clicking here.

The nominees and winners in the 13 categories awarded are as follows:

Licensed Product nominees:

  • Pokémon Dresser Guess / Zanzoon
  • The Queen’s Gambit x Netflix Game / Asmodée
  • Super Mario Construction Range / Lego
  • The Cabinet of Curiosity x Harry Potter / d’arpèje

Winner: The Queen’s Gambit x Netflix Game / Asmodée

Licensed Collab nominees:

  • Baccarat x Pokémon / The Pokémon Company International
  • Tag Heuer x Super Mario / Nintendo
  • Casio x Pac-Man / Bandai Namco
  • G-Shock x Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris / Arboresens

Winner: G-Shock x Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris / Arboresens

Retail or Digital Activation nominees:

  • SpaceJam – Nike @ Citadium / Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • Disney Megafan @ PicWicToys
  • Return to Hogwarts @ Fnac / Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • Live Shopping / The Walt Disney Company

Winner: Return to Hogwarts @ Fnac / Warner Bros. Entertainment

Category Promotion / Event nominees:

  • Vinted x Demain nous appartient & Ici tout commence / TF1 Licensing
  • One Piece 1000th episode / Toei Animation
  • Kaiju n°8 / Crunchyroll

Winner: Vinted x Demain nous appartient & Ici tout commence / TF1 Licensing

Experiential Activation nominees:

  • Deep Game – The Bureau / DamaDreams
  • TFOU Parc / TF1 Licensing
  • The Rabbids @ Versailles / Ubisoft

Winner: The Rabbids @ Versailles / Ubisoft

Digital Brand nominees:

  • Les Mini Mondes
  • Chefclub
  • Pokémon / The Pokémon Company Intl

Winner: Chefclub

Sport/eSport Brand nominees:

  • Tour de France / A.S.O.
  • 6 French League / Ubisoft

Winner: 6 French League / Ubisoft

Lifestyle, Corporate or Celebrity Brand nominees:

  • Sophie the Giraffe / Deliso
  • Peanuts / WildBrain cplg
  • The Laughing Cow / Bel Group

Winner: The Laughing Cow / Group Bel

Licensee nominees:

  • Abysse Corp
  • Asmodée
  • Lego

Winner: Lego

Brand Entertainment nominees:

  • Paw Patrol / Paramount Global
  • Spider-Man / The Walt Disney Company
  • Captain Tsubasa / Crunchyroll

Winner: Paw Patrol / Paramount Global

Rising Star nominees:

  • Antoine Coucoureux & Charlie Caumon / Monument
  • Cécile Chevallier / TF1 Licensing
  • Estelle Choucair / Cyber Group Studios
  • Lucile Hamiche / Crunchyroll
  • Noam Lhote / The Pokémon Company Intl
  • Salima Bousalham / Funko
  • Sophia Ferrandier / Zanzoon

Winner: Noam Lhote

Licensor / Agent nominees:

  • Crunchyroll
  • The Pokémon Company International
  • WildBrain cplg

Winner: The Pokémon Company International

This year’s “Licensing International Special Prize” was awarded to Zanzoon

 

 

 

Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing International launch Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy

The all-new Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy is a series of six masterclasses specifically designed for experienced retailer professionals.  The year-round programme, developed by licensing industry experts Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing International, will feature leading licensing executives sharing their expertise, including how licensing drives enhanced customer engagement, key consumer insights behind licensed product purchase intent, and exclusive access to the data behind emerging industry trends.

The series will kick off with an in-person half-day event in central London on 12 May.

The BLRA programme, which includes a membership to Licensing International, is exclusively for retailers but space is limited, and participants are encouraged to enrol now.

“We are excited to launch this complimentary masterclass series developed specifically for senior retail professionals. Licensing International is rooted in retail and merchandising, and these classes are a natural extension,” says Maura Regan, president of Licensing International.

“This joint programme with Licensing International builds on our commitment to engage with retailers year-round and support them as they continue to develop their licensing expertise,” adds Anna Knight, SVP of Licensing, Informa Markets. “It is the perfect complement to our Retail Mentoring Programme, and we’re excited to further enhance our roster of opportunities for retailers to engage with the world of brand licensing.”

Interested retailers can register here.

Licensing Expo heads to Las Vegas with 170+ exhibitors and growing

Licensing Expo is gearing up to host what promises to be the consumer product industry’s most productive in-person get together in three years, with a growing roster of brands signing on daily to exhibit at the in-person event to be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, May 24-26, 2022.

Produced in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, the event continues to lock in cross-category brands from around the world, from sports to gaming, entertainment, corporate brands and artists, with 17 countries represented to-date.

With 40 new companies confirmed in the past four weeks alone, the event now comprises more than 170 exhibitors signed on to date. The exhibitor list is now available online and is accessible here.

“Licensing Expo returns in-person for the first time since 2019, and excitement among the industry is palpable,” says Anna Knight, SVP of Licensing, Informa Markets. “This is a business-critical time in the calendar for brands, manufacturers and retailers alike – they’re coming with a pen in hand ready to ink new deals and discover the new trends that will line their shelves in the coming years, but also to reconnect in-person possibly for the first time since the pandemic.”

Commenting on Licensing Expo’s return, Knight also remarked: “The licensing industry is built on relationships, and we’re delighted to be able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for people to reconnect, strengthen existing partnerships, celebrate successes and do business at scale face-to-face for the first time in three years. We’re also extremely excited to showcase Location-Based Experiences as the event’s theme, creating even more opportunities for brands to engage and inspire attendees in new ways.”

The event is on track to showcase brands from all major and emerging categories, including character and entertainment, fashion and apparel, gaming and eSports, FMCG, attractions and theme parks, sports, art and design, non-profits, and museums.

Latest exhibitors confirmed include Banijay Brands, Legendary Entertainment, Hasbro, MGA Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Epic Story Media, Mattel, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Lego, Joester Loria Group, Beanstalk, Buzzfeed, The Pokémon Company, Falcon’s Beyond, TOHO, Bravado, Zag, Ubisoft, Wildbrain CPLG, NFL Players Association, Shell Oil Company, Crunchyroll, Buzzfeed, Games Workshop, Jazwares, King Features, WWE, Moonbug Entertainment, Peanuts Worldwide, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America, Frida Kahlo, Yale University, MGM Studios, Spin Master, BBC Studios, Crayola Properties, and many more.

“Excitingly, we’re seeing a robust selection of brands represented from across the globe, including Europe, the U.K., Japan, South America and the U.S.,” Anna Knight says. “We’re taking every measure possible to ensure non-domestic exhibitors and attendees are fully equipped with the latest health and safety measures in place, in addition to providing logistical information that will simplify international travel to Las Vegas.”

Thousands of retailers and manufacturers have already secured their free ticket to attend and meet with these brands, including Amazon, AMC Theatres, Bioworld, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Concept One Accessories, Difuzed, Funko, GAP, Hallmark Cards, Hot Topic, It’Sugar, Jakks Pacific, Jazwares, Kellogg’s, Macy’s, Moose Toys, Old Navy, Pacsun, Paladone Products, Primark, Spin Master, Zulily and many more. Attendance to Licensing Expo is free and tickets can be secured here.

Licensing International appoints new Director of Content and Communications

Licensing International, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry, has announced the hire of Elizabeth Foster as Director of Content and Communications. In her role, Foster will lead editorial planning and development for the organisation along with media relations, and social media strategy.

Based in Toronto, Foster has more than a decade of experience in journalism, having started her career in newspapers before making the move to magazines. She has worked at Thomson Reuters, and most recently served as Copy Chief & Special Reports Editor at Kidscreen, the leading international trade publication serving children’s entertainment professionals.

“Following a successful career in journalism, we’re proud to add Elizabeth’s talents to our organisation,” commented Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Her expertise will be critical as we look forward to the continued growth of Licensing International’s editorial and communications departments.”

Following the recent announcement of the return of Licensing Expo to Las Vegas in May, Foster joins the Licensing International team at an exciting time. Her expertise will be invaluable to the organisation in developing data-driven content, analysis, and insights across industries to help Licensing International members grow their businesses.

“I am ecstatic to be joining the team at Licensing International and begin this new milestone in my career,” said Foster. “It will be a privilege to work alongside some of the most respected individuals in the licensing industry.”

For more information and updates from Licensing International, visit LicensingInternational.org.

Entries are invited for Licensing Expo’s License This! competition

Entries are now open for Licensing Expo’s License This! competition, which aims to help designers, illustrators and animators break into the $292 billion global licensing industry.
The competition launched 12 years ago in Europe and premiered in the US in 2021 as part of Licensing Expo Virtual. This year, for the first time, the finale will take place in person in front of a live audience of manufacturers, retailers and brand owners on May 26.
Licensing Expo, which is run in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, is the world’s largest licensing trade show and is taking place in person at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from May 24–26, 2022.
Through its two categories – Character & Animation and Brand & Design – the License This! competition aims to give unlicensed brands from across the globe a welcome leg-up into the world of licensing and consumer products by helping them secure new deals or agent representation.
The competition is free to enter online; the cut-off date is Friday, March 25, and the judges are looking for new, creative concepts that have the potential to be applied across multiple product categories.
Judge Steven Ekstract says: “License This! does a fantastic job of bringing together innovation and opportunity by helping designers, illustrators and animators to succeed in the wonderful world of licensing. The creativity of last year’s License This! entrants was a joy to behold, so I’m really looking forward to viewing this year’s entries and meeting the finalists in person at Licensing Expo for the first time in May.”
Each category winner will receive:
·       A free-of-charge 100 sq ft booth at Licensing Expo 2023, worth $2,500
·       One-year Licensing International membership, worth $1,000 for a small business
·       One-year Products of Change membership, worth up to $450 for a small business
·       One-to-one consultation with the License This! judges
Last year’s winners – Emily Blumenthal and Lindsay Kaye Lippman’s The Charmsters (Character & Animation), Xavier Smith’s Kujifunza Kids (Brand & Design) and Lawrence Canada, The Goodie Jar – will be exhibiting at Licensing Expo.

Licensing Expo to return to Las Vegas in May 2022

Licensing Expo to return to Las Vegas in May 2022

Licensing Expo, the world’s largest licensing trade show, will return to Las Vegas from May 24-26, 2022, reconnecting the global licensing industry in person for the first time since 2019.

Organised by Informa Markets in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International (which has served as the exclusive Licensing Expo sponsor since its inception), Licensing Expo reconvenes following a two-year hiatus to celebrate its 40th live edition with safety very much at the heart of the experience.

“While we are still living and working during a pandemic, the health and safety of everyone attending Licensing Expo will remain our number one priority, and this year’s event has been specifically designed to account for varying levels of attendee comfort with a range of options to suit, whether that’s a preference for one-on-one interaction or to maintain physical distance,” says Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets.

Robust safety measures
All Licensing Expo participants will be required to wear a face mask while indoors at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC) and present proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test. Mask wearing will be monitored by the Informa organising team, who are also recommending that participants take a Covid-19 test before leaving their destination to travel to Las Vegas. These safety rules will be in place regardless of Nevada state mandates. Onsite testing will be available off the show floor at the participants’ expense, and this can be used to enter the show or to fulfil any international or domestic pre-departure testing requirements.

“Health and personal wellbeing remain a top priority for us all. As we continue to review and implement vigilant health protocols during this time, we’re excited for the all-important and safe return to Licensing Expo in Las Vegas,” says Licensing International President Maura Regan.

“Bringing licensing professionals from around the world back together in person affords us all opportunities for new partnerships, networking, and learning – and a critical chance to move businesses forward. We’re confident Licensing Expo 2022 will bring the industry back together for a long-awaited reunion!”

Industry support
With four months still to go, the industry is throwing its full support behind Licensing Expo, with exhibiting companies already confirmed, including ViacomCBS, Hasbro, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Mattel, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Lego, Joester Loria Group, Beanstalk, Buzzfeed, The Pokémon Company, NFL Players Association, Games Workshop, Peanuts Worldwide, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America, Frida Kahlo, Yale University, MGM Studios, Spin Master, BBC Studios, Crayola Properties, BrandComply fuelled by Octane5, and TOPPS/Garbage Pail Kids.

Licensing Expo will also adopt a theme for the first time ever, with 2022 spotlighting Location-Based Experiences: immersive, interactive out of home experiences like theme parks, escape rooms, gaming arcades, amusement parks, bowling alleys, VR worlds, and much more. LBE will be the focal point for one of Licensing Expo’s two in-person keynotes, in addition to interactive LBE activations on the show floor highlighting the creativity and consumer engagement possible when brands and experiences collaborate.

“LBE really suffered during the pandemic lockdowns, but experiences have now reopened to customer delight and the sector is predicted to boom,” explains Anna Knight. “It’s been interesting to note the increasing number of collabs between brands and LBE in recent years. We’re keen to shine a light on this growing licensing category and excited to investigate its future with Licensing Expo attendees.”

Licensing Expo online platform
This year’s event will be supported by the Licensing Expo official online platform, available to all exhibitors and visitors pre, during and post-show, allowing them to browse exhibiting brands & IPs, see who’s attending, view exclusive content and schedule meetings to take place both in-person in Las Vegas and online post-event until June 3.

The platform garnered extremely positive feedback at Brand Licensing Europe in November 2021, which reunited the European licensing community in London after a two-year break.

Anna Knight concludes: “Thousands of retailers, manufacturers and designers attended BLE to meet close to 200 brands, and we received really positive feedback about the importance of BLE and Licensing Expo in driving business for the licensing industry. Hundreds of deals were signed at BLE, so we’re very much looking forward to bringing back Licensing Expo in-person and welcoming everyone to Vegas in May.”

Register for free for Licensing Expo here.

 

Licensing International appoints Steve Manners as Head of Marketing

Licensing International has announced the appointment of Steve Manners as Head of Marketing. Based in the UK, Manners will oversee global marketing efforts for Licensing International, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry.

Manners brings extensive industry experience to his new role, having held senior management positions at leading companies including 20th Century Fox, Universal and Beanstalk. Most recently, Manners worked with WildBrain CPLG, where he spent more than ten years as VP Business Development, overseeing strategy development, marketing and client services.

“I am thrilled to be working with Licensing International at a time when the industry is going through significant change due to the challenges of Covid,” Manners says. “Together with [Licensing International President] Maura Regan and the team, we’ll be looking at ways to further support LI members and add even greater value whilst continuing to elevate the industry across the broader business community.”

“We are at a pivotal time within the licensing industry, and Steve brings both new perspective and deep understanding of the industry to our organisation,” says Maura Regan. “Having worked with Steve for years in his previous roles, I am thrilled he’s joined our team, and confident he will help us better serve Licensing International members worldwide.”

For more information and updates from Licensing International, visit LicensingInternational.org.

 

Licensing International launches global mentoring programme

In honour of National Mentoring Month, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry, Licensing International, and its sponsor Octane5, have announced today the licensing industry’s first ever global mentoring programme, aimed at bringing the expertise of global industry veterans to young professionals.

With an initial focus on regions including the United States, UK, France, Germany, Japan and China, industry professionals and Licensing International members can sign up to join the programme directly at LicensingInternational.org beginning today. Following sign-up, participants will be matched up by Licensing International with their mentor or mentee through the programme.

Licensing International’s new programme will allow mentees to build skills and knowledge while working toward attaining career goals. At the same time, it will provide an opportunity for mentors to further enhance skills and knowledge areas through exposure to fresh perspectives.

Most importantly, the Licensing International Mentoring Program aims to bring value and career growth to licensing experts of all levels across a multitude of businesses and categories. Participating mentees will have an opportunity to gain wisdom from an experienced professional, while mentors have the chance to invest in an up-and-coming professional who can benefit from their skilled guidance.

“Knowledge sharing and mentoring are such powerful tools that have the potential to transform lives, and so we knew as industry leaders we wanted to create a platform to encourage just that,” says Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Our mentorship programme will not only build meaningful connections between longstanding professionals and young newcomers, but also offer important opportunities for growth and development.”

“When we connected with Licensing International to sponsor the upcoming mentorship programme, we were delighted to be able to facilitate connections between professionals in our industry,” says Mike Dunn, Co-Founder and President of Octane5. “Partnering with Licensing International allows us to offer a space where professionals new and old can form working relationships that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”

For more information, visit LicensingInternational.org or contact Licensing International SVP, Global Partnerships, Gisela Abrams at gabrams@licensing.org.