Licensing Expo China 2018, sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), kicked off July 25 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai–and nearly doubled the size of Licensing Expo China 2017.
The show hosted 123 exhibitors and 425 brands, and attendance grew a whopping 46 percent over last year, drawing in 14,000 attendees and attracting an additional 37,000 attendees from co-located event Children Baby Maternity Expo (CBME). Floor space grew 72 percent.
The second annual Licensing Expo China hosted popular properties Angry Birds, Emoji, Pancoat, Paul Frank, PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Rilakkuma, Shaun the Sheep, BBC Earth, British Museum, Caster, Produce 101, Song Yang Art and The King's Avatar, among others.
This year’s robust list of exhibitors reflects the significant growth of the licensing market in China and Hong Kong. According to the latest 2018 Report of Global Licensing Survey released by LIMA, retail and related revenue by the trademark licensing business in 2017 rose 3.3 percent to 271.6B USD.
"As people raise their living standards, culture and arts licensing is boosting consumption and brand extensions,” says Yizan He, founder and chief executive officer, Afilo Brands Co., Ltd. “Alfilo Brands introduced the British Museum, The National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, BBC EARTH at Licensing Expo China 2018.”
"It is an honor to exclusively sponsor Licensing Expo China, an international B2B trading platform embarking on its second year," says Maura Regan, president, LIMA.
Event highlights this year included:
- The China Licensing Awards
- The Neo-Cultural Creativity & New IP Licensing and Tencent Interactive Entertainment Licensing Partners Conference
- The 2018 Micro Animation Contest and awards ceremony
- The Film & Gaming Licensing Zone
- The Museum, Culture and Art Zone
- Matchmaking Service–a service that debuted at Licensing Expo China 2018 and facilitated over 3,300 on-site meetings
