LEGO, Microsoft Xbox, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Studiocanal, Hasbro, Perry Ellis and Chefclub Among Brands Speaking at Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

The LEGO Group, Microsoft Xbox, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Studiocanal, Perry Ellis, Hasbro and Chefclub are among the many brands represented by speakers at this summer’s Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit, taking place online from June 9-11. Early bird registration for the summit remains opens until April 16, and three-day passes can be purchased for as little as £175 (£158 for Licensing International members).

Stephanie Freeman, global licensing manager – outbound, The LEGO Group and Mark Bezodis, licensing managing director, Perry Ellis International, will contribute to an opening day panel, “Brainstorming the Future of Licensing in Retail and Vice Versa” alongside Karen Hewitt (Character.com), Susan Bolsover (Penguin Random House) and Licensing International managing director Graham Saltmarsh.

“I am honored to join a panel at B&LIS and provide my insights and experiences over my time in licensing and also during the last year,” says Stephanie Freeman, global licensing manager – outbound, The LEGO Group. “Touchpoints for people within the industry are essential during these times, to ensure we all keep connected and feel a sense of being part of a larger team, and I am looking forward to learning from fellow panelists and it will be great to engage with people I wouldn’t necessarily cross paths with.”

Day one, sponsored by Custom Gateway, focuses on Trends and Retail, and the five experienced panelists will cover huge questions being asked at retail right now, including:

●          Whether and how to pivot online;

●          How stocking and selling licensed product could change in the future;

●          The benefit of adapting to ins-tore experiential offerings;

●          How to reinvigorate returning customers to brick-and-mortar stores; and

●          The impact digital strategies are having on IP.

“BL&IS is an important event for the licensing industry because, for many, it’s an opportunity to pause and listen to the pioneers of the industry and the only event which seems to have its finger on the pulse of all things licensing and retail,” says Mark Bezodis, licensing managing director, Perry Ellis International.

The second day of BL&IS is all about sustainability and CSR with content curated by Products of Change and speakers from Hasbro, George at Asda, Lyfcycle, DNA Brands and Brands In Limited will address the damaging effects of the fashion industry on the planet and how the industry is transitioning to a sustainable future.

John Friend, head, Halo and Xbox consumer products, Microsoft, will join a day three panel alongside Dan Amos, gaming and esports head, Difuzed and Scott Macrae, new business and partnerships manager, Asda.

The summit’s third day takes a deep dive into content and digital transformation, with Friend’s panel, “Next Level: Why Gaming and Esports is Dominating the Entertainment Leaderboard.” He and his fellow panelists will help delegates to understand:

●          The types of games on the market and their relative franchise strength/accessibility to consumer products markets;

●          The role of community and evangelism in gaming consumer products;

●          Navigating rapid speed of consumption to capitalize on opportunity and maximize longevity; and

●          Tapping into the potential of streaming.

BL&IS is a three-day virtual event that has been designed specifically to help middle-management, business leaders and owners to navigate the changing retail, content and consumer landscape by:

●          Addressing the latest industry trends and topics by providing actionable, inspiring insight on the future of brands and licensing;

●          Tackling the changes in licensing and facilitating conversation around digital transformation, the rise of sustainability and why and how businesses need to adapt; and

●          Bringing the community to exchange, debate and share trends, insights and challenges.

Online registration for the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits is now open at www.brandlicensinginnovationsummit.com. Early bird discounts of 30 percent are available until April 16. A three-day delegate pass at the early bird rate will cost just £175 (£158 for Licensing International members). Qualified retailers are invited to register for free.