Brand Licensing Europe Details 2019 Sessions

With presentations, interviews, demonstrations and panel discussions bringing the world of character, entertainment, brand, lifestyle and art and design licensing to life, this year’s Brand Licensing Europe educational program is the most inclusive in the event’s 21-year history.

BLE’s License Global Theatre will feature 25 sessions across the show’s three days on sustainability, publishing, animation, gaming, eSports, food and beverage, heritage, fashion, influencers, digitalisation, retail, Brexit and more. Keynotes are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 3 and will be announced in September.

“We are incredibly proud of this year’s conference programme – it’s comprehensive and cohesive and considerate of everyone visiting BLE. With sessions on gaming, publishing and heritage licensing, we have tied the educational content to this year’s themes, delivering rich, deep content that’s of real value to retailers and licensees,” said BLE event director Anna Knight. “We cannot wait to announce this year’s two keynotes – one focusing on animation and the second on eSports – we just know they are going to be packed out. All BLE sessions are free to attend – just the like the show itself – and space will be available on a first come first served basis. When it comes to the keynotes, we recommend that visitors arrive at least 10 minutes before they start to avoid disappointment.”

BLE will be held at ExCel London from Oct. 1-3. Registration is now open.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

• Introduction to licensing Kelvyn Gardner, managing director, Licensing International UK
• Panel discussion: Why you can’t afford to ignore the impact of sustainability on licensing Panellists include Trudi Bishop, director, Bee Licensing Consultancy
• Panel discussion: Innovations in food and drinks – how licensing is helping deliver excitement in consumables Moderated by Louise French, Beanstalk VP business development and marketing; panellists include Richard Benjamin, director, Manchester Drinks and James Rae, co-founder, Pops
• Opportunities in kids licensing Melissa Symonds, director UK toys, EuroToys
• Panel discussion: How can toy licensing recover its sparkle? Moderator: John Baulch, publisher and managing editor, Toy World; Panellists TBC
• 1+1=3: Strategies for Creating Effective Collaborations Brought to you by Licensing International with Roz Nowicki, executive VP, Peanuts Worldwide and Christine Cool, international brand licensing manager, Perfetti van Melle Group
• Accessible luxury: How can fashion boost the different categories of licensing Maurizio Distefano, president & owner, Maurizio Distefano the Evolution of Licensing

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2

• Preparing for Brexit Brought to you by Licensing International and featuring Victor Caddy, partner, Wynne-Jones
• UK book brands: Trends and bestsellers in the children’s and food and drink genres Hazel Kenyon, book research director UK & Ireland, Nielsen Book
• Heritage brands: How they evolve to stay relevant while seamlessly weaving stories of the past into the present Helen Webster, licensing director, and Ellie Walton, licensing designer – brands, Style Library
• Panel discussion: Successfully navigating the changing retail environment Moderated by Richard Pink, managing director, Pink Key Licensing. Panellists include: Ruth Golightly, senior buying manager, George Childrenswear – girlswear and babywear, Asda; Gabrielle Sims, head of licensing, Fat Face; Will Stewart, founder and managing director, The Point. 1888; Rachel Wakley, general manager consumer products, UK & Ireland, Warner Bros.; Holly Oldham, managing director, Rubie’s UK
• How brands can succeed in location-based entertainment Ella Baskerville, business development manager, Blooloop
• The increased digitalisation of the kids’ ecosystem and the opportunities and challenges INXP (in-experience purchasing) offers the licensing industry Nick Richardson, CEO, Insights People
• Influencers 2.0: What You Need to Know Delivered by Licensing International with Katie Bohm, head of EMEA, HYPR and Ian Shepherd, founder, The Social Store
• Panel discussion: From page to product Panellists include Susan Bolsover, licensing and consumer products director, Penguin Random House UK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3

• Introduction to Licensing Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, Licensing International UK
• Panel discussion: From console to consumer – retail activation in the gaming world Moderated by Ian Joynson, VP brand development, Tinderbox; Panellists TBC
• The Theatre of Gaming in 2019 – An Industry Pauses for Breath Dorian Bloch, Senior Client Insight Director, GfK
• License This! Finale Watch the six finalists battle it to win one of two License This! Awards in front of a panel of widely-respected judges from all areas of licensing and manufacturing.