UBM’s Global Licensing Group, organizers of Licensing Expo, has come out with the initial results of its inaugural licensing trade show in Tokyo, Licensing Expo Japan.
On the whole, Licensing Expo Japan brought 400 international and Japanese brands as well as 13,200 licensees and retailers to Tokyo Big Sight for three days of networking and deal making.
The exhibiting brands and agents who took part in the Expo included Astro Boy, B. Duck, Betty Boop, CAA-GBG, Capsubeans, Caterpillar, Copyrights Asia, Corvette, The Dark Tower, Dwell Studios, Gaia, Hoppe-chan, IMG, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kangol, Maisy, Maui & Sons, NECA, Nissan, Paddington Bear, Panda no Tapu Tapu, Pokopan, Popeye, Poppy Cat, Cynthia Rowley, Sesame Street, Shaun the Sheep, Sumikko Gurashi and Where’s Waldo, among many others.
Sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), Licensing Expo Japan was co-located with the first edition of IFF Mag Japan.
“We were thrilled to bring the Licensing Expo brand to Japan working with our UBM Japan colleagues. Our goal was to deliver a high-quality licensing event, showcasing a diversity of brands, attracting the right mix of licensees and retailers across all product categories,” says Jessica Blue, senior vice president, licensing, UBM.
“The feedback from exhibitors demonstrates that we did just that and we are already working on the next edition to make it even bigger and better. The adjacency with MAGIC worked extremely well with a healthy crossover of attendees between the shows, which is no surprise given that apparel is the largest licensed product category in Japan and globally,” she adds.
Furthermore, all 25 educational seminars were well attended with many having had to stand and listen.
Additionally, the second night cocktail party was also well attended and Licensing Expo Japan reports that many business relationships were cracked and nurtured there.
Incidentally, the Expo was held from April 26 to 28.
