From the organizers of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, in partnership with LIMA, comes a new Tokyo-based networking and education event.

UBM, the largest business-to-business events and trade show organizer in the U.S., and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, the world’s leading trade organization for the global licensing industry, are partnering to bring a licensing and brand extension networking and education event to Tokyo, Japan, in 2017. 

With more than 1,100 member companies globally, including many leading brand owners, licensing agents and licensees in Japan, LIMA is committed to promoting the continued expansion of licensing around the world and is poised to reach a large audience in the Japanese market.

“As the leading association for the industry, we are dedicated to providing education and support for licensing professionals around the world,” says Charles Riotto, president, LIMA. “Our members have voiced their need for a high-quality event in Japan and we are excited to deliver it with our long standing partners at UBM.” 

UBM owns and operates the world’s largest and longest-running licensing trade event, Licensing Expo, taking place in Las Vegas, Nev., June 21-23; Europe’s largest licensing trade show, Brand Licensing Europe, which will take place at Olympia, London, Oct 11-13; and License! Global magazine, the most widely-read licensing trade publication in the world, reaching 80,000 licensing executives every month. LIMA is the exclusive sponsor of both trade shows. 

“Japan is the world's third largest market for licensed products after the USA and the United Kingdom, generating $700 million* in royalty revenues and nearly $12 billion* in retail sales each year. Our long-standing successful partnership with LIMA will enable us to deliver an event that meets the needs of the market in Japan as no one else truly can," says Jessica Blue, senior vice president, licensing, UBM.

Both UBM and LIMA have offices and teams in Tokyo and are well-positioned to bring a Licensing event to Japan in order to facilitate business connections between licensors, agents, licensees and retailers. More details about the event will follow in the coming weeks.

(*source: LIMA Global Licensing Industry Survey Report 2016.)