BLE 2017 Marks Record Attendance 2

EUROPE–Brand Licensing Europe, which took place last month, Oct. 10-12, at London’s Olympia, surpassed its targets with a record-breaking event.

April 6, 2018

UBM’s European licensing event marked its largest, best-attended show to date.

BLE is part of the Global Licensing Group, organized by UBM and sponsored by LIMA.

Statistics from the 2017 show include:

The total number of attendees rose by 4 percent year-over-year, attracting more than 7,500 licensing professionals;
There was an 11 percent increase in the number of online retailers attending the show;
There was significant growth in the number of visitors from outside the U.K., specifically France, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S.
The show also grew in size, with 289 exhibitors occupying 8 percent more floor space compared to last year.

“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,” says Anna Knight, brand director, BLE. “We’re very happy to say we’ve ticked all of those boxes and are already brainstorming plans to build on this year’s successes next year. We’re hoping to announce a new theme for 2018 early in the new year, so watch this space.”

In addition, UBM has confirmed that BLE will return to London’s Olympia from Oct. 9-11, 2018. Heading into its 20th year, the show will expand into the National Hall, allowing exhibitors from all three

sectors of the show floor–Character & Entertainment, Brands & Lifestyle and Art & Design–to be situated together on one floor.