Tesco, Asda, River Island, Character.com and more are set to participate in BLE’s Retail Mentoring Program.

EUROPE–Brand Licensing Europe has revealed a score of retailers and retail delegates that have joined this year’s Retail Mentoring Program.

This year, the Retail Mentoring Program will welcome more than 74 delegates and seven new retailers including River Island, Asda, Hamleys, Ann Summers, Halfords, Absolute Cult and Beija London. Returning retailers include: Character.com, John Lewis, M&Co., Matalan, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Entertainer, TruffleShuffle.com and Toymaster.

“There is no limit on the number of delegates who can take part in the program,” says Jenny Purves, brand manager, BLE. “So, we really are encouraging as many buyers and retailers as possible to apply for a place. The program is CPD accredited, jam packed full of content and valued at £499 per delegate, but we are so passionate about opening retailers’ eyes to the potential of licensing, that we offer these places for free.”

The Retail Mentoring Program is run as part of BLE, which is organized by UBM and sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association. The program is designed to give buying and merchandising professionals a deeper understanding of the licensing industry through seminars, workshops, one-to-one consultancy sessions and live events.

This year’s participants will also receive a place at the Licensing Essentials Course, May 3; the chance to judge the product categories at the Licensing Awards, organized by Max Publishing; a place at the program’s closing conference; and access to the exclusive Retail Lounge at BLE.

“Licensing has always been a hard task to train people on and a hard task to delegate, meaning it’s always been performed by the senior management team, who aren’t able to devote the correct level of attention to it,” says Pat Wood, managing director, TruffleShuffle.com. “With the introduction of the Retail Mentoring Program, we now have three team members who are better informed, trained and qualified in licensing than we as a senior team ever have been. We’re already seeing a more empowered approach to licensing and one of our delegates, James, has already signed two new licenses that wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for his participation in the program.”

Now in its 20th year, BLE 2018 will feature more than 300 exhibitors showcasing more than 2,500 brands, characters and images. BLE will take place at Olympia in London, Oct. 9-11.

Additionally, the Retail Mentoring Program is still accepting applicants. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 13. To apply, click here.