Biggest ever Brand Licensing Europe event heads to London next week

Brand Licensing Europe 2014 will take place at London’s Olympia next week from October 7 to 9 and is set to be the biggest in its 16 year history.

The show is also gearing up to be the busiest yet, with more announcements, educational sessions, celebrity appearances and new properties available than ever before.

This year’s show will feature over 2,500 brands, characters and images on display from more than 280 exhibitors.

Highlights will include:

· Over 70 new exhibitors including The Jim Henson Company, Boj, Von Dutch, Ann Edwards, Chelsea Football Club, UEFA EURO 2016 and Bond 24.

· Over 17 free educational sessions, and a brand new Brands & Lifestyle Education theatre – run in partnership with Brand Jam.

· Among the new characters on show, Clangers costume characters, Small and Tiny, will be revealed for the first time on the Coolabi stand ahead of its return to the BBC in early 2015, after a 45 year absence.

·  Withit Licensing will be exhibiting products that have been entirely designed and developed in-house for the first time ever for three of its key brands; Phizzogs, Joey & Joy and Kitties in the Cities.

· New pre-school series The Furchester Hotel characters Phoebe and Furgus will make an appearance on the Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd stand.

· Celebrity appearances include Dave Benson Phillips, the voice of Dr Woof in the Boj TV series, who will be on its stand to mark the property’s first appearance at BLE on day one at 10am.

· Britain’s Got Talent Winners, Ashleigh & Pudsey, will celebrate Pudsey the Dog’s global licensing deal on the Carte Blanche stand on the first day.

· Pip Ahoy! narrator and singer Stacey Solomon will be on the Lisle International stand to promote the series.

· Sam McBratney, author of Guess How Much I Love You, will be on the Walker Books stand to mark the book’s 20th anniversary.

· On day two, Redan Alchemy will be revealing whether Sooty or Sweep is the nation’s favourite in its poll by Golden Bear, with owner/presenter Richard Cadell.

· Pink Key Consulting will exhibit Pringles, available for licensing for the first time, seeking licenses across Europe which can take the brand into apparel, accessories, gifting and houseware items.

· Moomin’s stand will honour author Tove Jansson, celebrating 100 years of her stories, and will also reflect the launch of the new feature film Moomins on the Riviera.

· Historic Royal Palaces will showcase its award-winning gardening range from Briers.

· The final of the License This! Contest will take place on the last day of the show, featuring the four finalist properties: Ailsa Black Artwork, Chef and Sue, Give a Hoot and RaNT!

· Throughout the show, a celebrity Table Dennis tournament will run raising awareness of the sport as an effective therapy for the early stages of Dementia, in partnership with property owner DC Thomson Consumer Products, Bounce Alzheimer’s Therapy (BAT) Foundation and Table Tennis England (TTE).

Darren Brechin, BLE event director, said: “This year’s show looks set to blast all records in terms of floor space and activity. There is so much going on in every area, make sure you register now to take advantage of the free entry and use our show planner to organise your visit in advance.

“Once at the show, you will find the floor marked into three distinct zones to help you navigate. Make sure you meet the official BLE mascot Squirt the Staffie on the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home stand, and don’t forget to try your hand at Table Dennis and register for complimentary Extreme Drift Allstars European Series 2015 tickets and win an all expenses paid trip for two to one of the 2015 Extreme Drift Allstars European Grand Prix.”

For more information visit www.brandlicensing.eu