6 February 2019 -- 1-3 October 2019, ExCeL London
Brand Licensing Europe, which takes place 1-3 October 2019 at ExCeL London, has opened applications for this year’s Retail Mentoring Programme, following a record take up by UK buyers from a cross section of retail in 2018.
BLE’s Retail Mentoring Programme educates retailers about the benefits of licensing – which include new customer acquisition, increased customer loyalty, the opportunity to stock wider and exclusive product ranges, and enhanced margins and profitability - and helps them make more informed decisions when negotiating licensing deals and discovering new brand partners.
Delivered through a series of seminars, workshops and 1-2-1 consultancy sessions, the £499 programme is CPD-accredited and delivered free of charge to qualifying retailers, who receive:
“With bottom lines getting squeezed and competition fiercer than ever, retailers are under increasing pressure to differentiate themselves by delivering products that consumers love, want and can’t buy anywhere else – this is where brand licensing can help, by leveraging loyal fan bases for retailers to tap into,” commented BLE event director Anna Knight.
“By enrolling in our Retail Mentoring Programme, retailers gain a better understanding of what brands are a good fit for them through a range of practical, hands-on events that are designed to immerse them into the world of licensing and really get under its skin. We know how time-poor buyers are, and this programme has been designed to be as productive as possible and deliver maximum return on their time.”
Marks and Spencer assistant buyer Lauren Leyh described the 2018 programme as ‘hugely beneficial’, saying, “It opened my eyes to the vast licensing industry that exists beyond the apparel category. It was very insightful; the guest speakers were inspiring, and it was great to network with other retailers.”
Morrisons girlswear designer Caroline Smith added: “Taking part in the programme was a great experience for me as I hadn't had much experience with licensing on a day to day basis in my role. It gave me a lot more experience and knowledge of this field. I was able work with other delegates from different companies and roles and work as a team collectively to think up new concepts and ideas for licensed product. Having seminars with industry experts was really beneficial and probably one of my highlights.”
Retailers can apply to take part in the programme online at https://www.brandlicensing.eu/retail-mentoring-programme and BLE welcomes applications from:
Last year, 54 buyers from 18 retailers completed the programme, receiving full CPD accreditation, an increase of 29 and 20 per cent, respectively. Participating retailers were:
Ends
Launched in 1998, Brand Licensing Europe is the only pan-European annual event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The London event features over 2,500 brands and more than 7,500 licensees, manufacturers, retailers, distributors and licensing agents. Brand Licensing Europe is a part of the Global Licensing Group at UBM, the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organiser and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together.
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at UBM: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Licensing Summit, License Global magazine and License Global Daily E-News. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA).
The Global Licensing Group is organized by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.ubm.com and www.informa.com.
About LIMA
LIMA – the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association – is the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry. LIMA’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, LIMA maintains offices in the United States (headquarters), Australia, Brazil (ABRAL) China, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom, with representatives in Canada, France, India, Italy, Korea, Russia and the Middle East. Over 1,200 member companies in 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. LIMA is the exclusive sponsor of events organized by UBM’s Global Licensing Group: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, and NYC Summit. Visit licensing.org for more information and to utilize licensing’s definitive online resource.