Event Focus: A look ahead to SILC & Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

June will see two major European licensing conferences come together to offer two days of education on crucial industry issues - from sustainability to retail, the metaverse to driving social change, the ever-changing content landscape to what is required of business to be ‘future fit’. PPS takes a closer look at what to expect from Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit and Sustainability in Licensing Conference.

A MEETING OF MINDS

The countdown is well and truly on to the uniting of two leading European licensing conferences this summer – with the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS), organised by Informa Markets, and the Sustainability in Licensing Conference, presented by Products of Change, set to take place on 21 and 22 June at London’s Royal Geographical Society.

The resulting multi-faceted event marks a critical date in the diary for global leaders and decisionmakers from the world of brands and consumer products to enjoy panel discussions, live Q&As and roundtables, as well as a lively networking reception on both evenings to build new connections in-person.

B&LIS will kick off the two-day conference package and will spotlight retail and future trends through interactive panel discussions as it tackles next-gen topics such as NFTs, the metaverse, the ever-changing content landscape, breakthrough licensing categories and how to maximise opportunities at retail.

A raft of speakers have been confirmed from companies including Liberty, Sainsbury’s, Hasbro, Penguin Random House, The Smiley Company, Abysse Corp, Difuzed, MDR Brand Management, TrendBible, The Point.1888, KidsKnowBest, Hunter Price and Asda.

“Retail disruption. Supply chain challenges. SVOD. Metaverse. Influencers. NFTs. Representation. Changing consumer trends. Meaningful retail experiences. Our industry is going through a transformation like we’ve never seen before, all led by an increasingly complex and demanding customer,” comments Anna Knight, svp licensing at Informa Markets. “The European Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit brings together 300+ brand licensing leaders and delivers thought-provoking content and networking opportunities to help drive the industry forward and get the business insights to address some of these critical topics.”

Above: Confirmed B&LIS speakers (top row from left) Daniel Avener, Emily Fawcett, Jeremy Orriss, Ruth Golightly, Marianne James, Allana Holmes, Hannah Craggs. (Bottom row from left) Nicolas Loufrani, Helena Mansell-Stopher, Will Stewart, Sian Rider, Susan Bolsover, Jalil Rahman, Trevor George, Abi Wilson. Left: SILC will bring sustainability to the fore on 22 June.

Inset: The Products of Change team, Rob Hutchins and Helena Mansell-Stopher.

Anna continues: “B&LIS and SiLC share the same ethos: a desire to deliver genuinely thought-provoking, action-led content that has the power to challenge leaders and drive positive and profitable decision-making in relation to everything from product development and distribution to consumer engagement and commerce. Uniting the two events means we can create a key moment in the summer when European licensing leaders can connect, learn and share, while also saving on time and travel.”

Sustainability in Licensing Conference, organised and owned by Products of Change, will make its in-person debut on 22 June, following two successful years as a virtual event.

Representatives from the United Nations will join a host of confirmed speakers including the global retail powerhouse Walgreens Boots Alliance and Primark Cares by Primark.

Delivering a talk on how businesses can be implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within their day-to-day operations, Caroline Petit, officer in charge and deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre will highlight the many ways in which the UN is partnering with businesses to drive awareness of its global framework.

“We are so excited to welcome Caroline from the United Nations to the Sustainability in Licensing Conference this year. It’s been a dream of ours to have the United Nations help convey the importance of sustainable development in business at the conference since its launch two years ago, so this is a wonderful moment for us,” said Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and ceo of Products of Change.

“It also goes to highlight the power and global influence that the licensing and retail landscape holds when it comes to the subject of sustainability in business. By heeding the message that Caroline will be delivering the licensing industry can play a key role in facilitating the positive and sustainable transformation of business the world over.”

Joining Caroline on the speaker roster will be George @ Asda’s sustainability and compliance expert Jade Snart and her colleagues Jessica Brown, design specialist and Helen Scobie, product development expert. Also taking to the stage will be Lynne Walker and Sarah Hawkins, director and manager respectively of Primark Cares; Richard Lim, ceo of Retail Economics; Elizabeth Eaves, senior sustainability engineer, quality compliance EMEA at Mattel; Lucy Murphy, director of kids content at Sky (UK and ROI); Paul Earnshaw, senior packaging manager, Tesco; Gary Pope, founder of Kids Industries; and Tanya Aston, head of sustainability, global sourcing at Walgreens Boots Alliance among others.

Helena continued: “We are so proud to announce our incredible line-up of speakers and business leaders at this year’s Sustainability in Licensing Conference,” continued Helena. “We’ve got such a strong roster of inspiring leaders and pioneers in sustainability from across the landscape, we know conference attendees will be leaving charged with as much excitement to start their sustainable journeys as we are in delivering this year’s event.”

Below: B&LIS will address topics ranging from the metaverse to maximising opportunities at retail.

B&LIS one day tickets are priced at £275 and can be purchased from www.brandlicensinginnovationsummit.com. SiLC one day tickets are priced at £275 and can be purchased from www. sustainabilityinlicensing.com. POC and Licensing International members can enjoy a 20% discount on these rates (non-cumulative). Alternatively, two-day tickets can be purchased from either site for the discounted rate of £525.

SUSTAINABILITY

POSH PAWS

Posh Paws’ successful BBC Earth licensed plush continues to be a favourite among consumers and new additions to its extensive range include five Woodland Animals: a European Rabbit, Red Squirrel, a Fallow Deer, a Barn Owl and a Red Fox. These new plush animals, like its existing offering, have been made using stuffing from 100% recycled plastics and the hand-tags have been produced using 100% recycled craft paper, soy-based inks and string fastenings.

Tel: 01268 567317 www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk

INSIDE OUT TOYS

To celebrate Inside Out Toy’s 10th Anniversary, the jumini Woodland Collection has been lovingly created by its in-house designer, featuring native British Wildlife characters and manufactured using FSC certified materials. A gender neutral, bold colour pallet has been chosen, allowing the natural wood to shine through.

Tel: 01908 969969 www.insideouttoys.co.uk

ORANGE TREE TOYS

Exciting new ranges for 2022 from Orange Tree Toys include Spring Garden, Emergency Services, as well some new additions to its popular Peter Rabbit collection. The collections all include some brand new concepts including board games, activity cubes, role play toys and stacking cubes. All of its products are now produced using FSC-certified wood and come in brand new, fully recyclable packaging.

Tel: 01242 244500 www.orangetreetoys.com THE PUPPET COMPANY

The Eco Walking Puppets were a new launch for The Puppet Company this year with the range having almost sold out, however more stock is expected in July. The range is a Gift Of The Year 2022 finalist and is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Tel: 01462 446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com

PLUM

The Plum Discovery Premium Forest Water Run is made from FSC certified sustainably sourced wood. Three levels and five individual wooden reservoirs create the run, with a hosepipe attachment which sits at the top to ensure constant water flow. Three-way water racing gates can be opened and closed to different heights to regulate flow and water direction; allowing children to race and play together.

Tel: 0344 8805302 www.plumplay.co.uk