27 July 2018 -- Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) opens its Matchmaking Service today following huge success in 2017. Nearly 3,000 business meetings were pre-arranged for BLE 2017 using the service, a 150 per cent increase. It connected 1,000 licensors with licensees, made 12,000 contacts available for meetings spread across a wide range of sectors and interests and attracted over 250,000 online user profile views. One Matchmaking Service user secured business worth $1.5m.
Introduced by BLE in 2016, the BLE Matchmaking Service is a free online tool that exhibitors and visitors can use to pre-book meetings to take place during the show.
It allows visitors to:
It allows exhibitors to:
BLE’s Matchmaking service also allows global partners and new exhibitors to take advantage of a free VIP concierge service, which offers support in setting up and building online profiles as well as booking meetings with a tailored wish list of relevant visitors.
BLE brand director Anna Knight commented: “2018 will be the third year of us running the Matchmaking Service and the rise in its use and popularity last year was incredible. BLE is a meetings event. People come here to do business. Exhibitors’ and visitors’ diaries are jam-packed from start to finish and the Matchmaking Service helps them to maximise their time at the show and also makes it possible for them to meet people they may have otherwise missed.
“To hear that one user secured $1.5m of business off the back of our Matchmaking Service is incredible – it’s exactly the reason we introduced it and here’s to more stories like that this year.”
Eye Candy Art Group managing director Mark Blackburn: “I’ve been coming to the show for seven or eight years and the Matchmaking Service is fantastic. You are now even telling me who I should meet; the wonders of technology!”
Endemol Shine Head of UK Licensing: “We have all used it. It’s our first show and its absolutely brilliant.”
Quantum Soup Studios visitor Chris Payne: “I go to loads of trade shows and this is the best matchmaking system I have used. Definitely.”
Ends
For media information:
Charlie Le Rougetel at BIGTOP, 07736 330676, charlie@bigtop-pr.co.uk
Editor notes:
BLE is the definitive event for the licensing industry in Europe, taking place 9-11 October 2018 at Olympia London. Over 7,500 retailers, licensees and marketers are expected to attend, over one third of whom will travel to London from overseas.
Registration is open now at www.brandlicensing.eu.
About Brand Licensing Europe
Part of UBM’s Global Licensing Group, Brand Licensing Europe 2018 (www.brandlicensing.eu) takes place from 9-11 October 2018 at Olympia London. It is the only pan-European event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Now in its 20th year, BLE 2018 will feature over 280 exhibitors showcasing over 2,500 brands, characters and images. A free educational programme runs alongside the show featuring advice and sector-specific sessions, workshops and panel discussions along with keynotes from industry trailblazers.
Brand Licensing Europe is organised by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.ubm.com and www.informa.com. It is sponsored by the international Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). License Global is the official publication.
Celebrating 20 years of BLE
Brand Licensing launched in 1999 as a small hotel-based event, before moving to London’s Business Design Centre and then Olympia; it is now a well-established date on the licensing industry calendar attracting key industry players from all over Europe. The show was re-branded as Brand Licensing Europe in 2007 to reflect the international nature of its exhibitors, properties and visitors.
About Global Licensing Group
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the global licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide opportunities around the world to bring brands and products together to explore and cement licensing partnerships. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV.
About UBM EMEA
Brand Licensing Europe is organised by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organiser in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM.