Attracting over 7,500 licensing industry professionals from across the globe, Brand Licensing Europe 2017 has been termed as the biggest show to date.
The total number of attendees rose by four per cent year on year with a rise of 11 per cent in the number of online retailers and a significant growth in the volume of visitors from outside the UK.
Attendees from France, Spain, South America, Asia and the US made for a global event that also grew considerably in size, with 289 exhibitors occupying eight per cent more floor space.
The event will now return to London’s Olympia in 2018 and will run from October 9 to 11 at the National Hall allowing exhibitors from all three licensing categories – Character & Entertainment, Brands & Lifestyle and Art & Design – to be situated together on one floor.
“This year’s objectives were to attract more visitors and exhibitors from Europe, expand our European content, bring in more online retailers to meet exhibitors and celebrate and shine a light on two of the untapped areas of licensing – brands & lifestyle and gaming,” said Anna Knight, BLE brand director.
“We are very happy to say we have ticked all of those boxes and are already brainstorming plans to build on this year’s successes next year. We are hoping to announce a new theme for 2018 early in the new year, so watch this space.”
