Together, the Global Licensing Group and NRF will showcase the value licensing offers the retail industry and educate retailers on ways to forge strategic relationships to reach a wider audience and engage their consumers.

“NRF’s Retail’s Big Show is a dynamic event that we are extremely proud to be a part of,” says Jessica Blue, senior vice president, Global Licensing Group, UBM. “Retailers have always been a vital pillar within the licensing ecosystem. Every year, we are fortunate to see growth in our industry, which is made possible by the strategic partnerships and unique products shaped by retailers. We’re thrilled to work alongside NRF to promote licensing amongst a wider retail audience and help retailers drive both in-store and online traffic by delivering experiences consumers seek.”

Global retail sales from licensed goods and services in 2017 grew to $271.6 billion, a 3.3 percent increase over 2016, according to the 2018 LIMA Annual Global Licensing Industry Survey.

Consumers are looking to connect with products in more engaging ways. Brand licensing has proven to be a lucrative strategy for retailers by meeting their customers’ need for exclusive product and experiential offerings.

The Global Licensing Group’s presence at NRF 2019 will help promote licensing as a valuable business strategy in the evolving retail landscape, one that is central to consumers’ increasing expectations around unique selection and experience.

To demonstrate the power of licensing, the Global Licensing Group will be joined by Licensing Expo exhibitors “Sesame Street” and Build-A-Bear Workshop, where each will hold an experiential activation showcasing licensed products.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Global Licensing Group, who have established themselves as the foremost authority in brand licensing worldwide and have made a huge impact on the retail industry,” says Susan Newman, senior vice president, conferences, NRF. “The Global Licensing Group’s commitment to the education and promotion of strategic licensing programs for retailers embodies our mission to support retailers and help them cater to their consumer’s evolving expectations.”

NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show sets the tone and focus in retail for the next year. Retailers can evaluate best-in-class experiences and services, learn from the biggest players transforming the industry and develop nontraditional strategies.

As consumers seek to connect with brands and products in more immersive ways, the timely collaboration between NRF and the Global Licensing Group will showcase how licensing programs can drive the consumer experience and inject an emotional connection with brands and products.

The showcase will be held inside the NRF 2019 Expo Hall and will be open to all retail attendees of the event. For more information about NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, please visit https://www.nrfbigshow.nrf.com.