The Bugg Report Magazine - Edition 16 by thebuggreport

toys and licensing

www.buggtoysandlicensing.com Las Vegas - edition 16

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From the Editor Given the hype around the Apple Watch, I figured that it was fitting to talk about it here. Thinking about the social events that happen during our industry trade shows, it’s thanks to the iPhone that you find a lot of people standing at these functions by themselves typing instead of engaging in conversation with new people! Hopefully the Apple Watch can help to fix this; a quick glance at your wrist instead of focusing on the screen of your iPhone (don’t get me started on people on their phones in restaurants). I often talk to people about the industry that I find myself working in, and they are constantly amazed at the opportunities this industry presents in terms of trades shows and the great locations that we get to travel to annually. It’s not often that you are able to travel to Hong Kong, New York, Nuremberg, Las Vegas and London, all in the same calendar year. So I encourage you just stay off your phone and find somebody new to talk to at the many events during this weeks Las Vegas Licensing Expo! This years Las Vegas Licensing Expo again looks to be packed with great events including the Digital Media Licensing Summit on Monday, “The Big Interview” with Bethany Mota on Tuesday and The Opening Keynote: The Future of Retail, also on Tuesday. The other hit attraction looks to be the Nitro Circus Live Performance Feature which will be held in the Sports section of the expo located at booth A62. I hope everyone enjoys the expo and I hope to see you in London for Brand Licensing Europe later this year in October. As always, we really do like to hear your feedback from a constructive criticism point of view and also anything that you find engaging and interesting to read. Let us know what you would like to see more and/or less of by emailing me at editor@buggtoysandlicensing.com.

For all relevant contacts please refer below: Media releases: media@buggtoysandlicensing.com Feedback/suggestions: editor@buggtoysandlicensing.com Advertising/bookings: bookings@buggtoysandlicensing.com Bugg Toys & Licensing is published by Bugg Marketing Solutions Managing Director - Tony Bugg - tony@buggsolutions.com.au Editor in Chief - Matthew Bugg - matt@buggsolutions.com.au Bugg Marketing Solutions Phone/fax: +61 3 9769 3963 Email: info@buggsolutions.com.au Address: Unit 5, 24-26 Woods Street, Beaconsfield VIC 3807 Postal: PO BOX 491, Berwick VIC 3806 Bugg Toys & Licensing has been compiled as a guide to Toys and Licensing. The views and opinions provided are based upon the views and opinions of its writers. In no way is Bugg Toys & Licensing a factual guide to Toys and Licensing and does not take responsibility for how the informtion provided is used by its consumers.

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CONTENTS

GLOBAL PREMIERE A/W ‘15

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTER NOW SIGNED

INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH ON NETFLIX FROM S/S ‘16 JAZWARES SIGNED AS MASTER TOY PARTNER TOYS LAUNCHING S/S ‘16 DANGEROUSLY DYNAMIC MARKETING & PUBLICITY SUPPORT IN DEVELOPMENT!

Liz Burnett Director, Consumer Products, Australia T: +61 2 9434 0722 E: liz.burnett@fremantlemedia.com

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Feature Interview: Mark Abernethy Vice President - Licensing & Business Development Feld Entertainment Bugg Toys & Licensing sits down with Mark Abernethy to discuss Feld Entertainment and their exciting live events.

Thank you for your time Mark. Could you explain to our readers about your role at Feld Entertainment®? In my current role as Vice President of Licensing and Business Development, I am tasked with the responsibility of growing our portfolio of wholly-owned live family entertainment properties into multiplatform, globally recognized brands at retail. Can you tell us a little bit about Feld Entertainment and your activities over the past 12 months? As the largest producer and provider of live family entertainment in the world, Feld Entertainment entertains more than 30 million fans in over 70 countries each year. The Feld Entertainment portfolio of live events currently includes Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® circus, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe Live!, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Monster Jam®. One of our key focuses this year has been expanding the Monster Jam brand on a global level. Monster Jam is the largest and most successful monster truck touring property in the world and features a fleet of over 100 custom-built Monster Jam trucks. Monster Jam television programming is currently distributed in over 200 countries and the tour has expanded to include stops on three continents this year. One of the most notable areas of growth we have witnessed over the last year has been our licensed consumer products program at retail. We have a strong roster of new and long-standing Monster Jam licensees in key product categories that continue to support the brand and create innovative products that deliver impressive sales. Over the past year, we have been able to introduce Monster Jam

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to new international markets, including Australia, as well as leverage the introduction of new Monster Jam truck brands to create fresh, licensed product assortments that build excitement at retail. From a licensing point of view, how important is it to your business from an overall standpoint? As we look to continue to grow the Monster Jam global footprint, licensing is a crucial element for consumer engagement. Licensed products, as well as television programming, provide year-round exposure to the brand long after the Monster Jam tour has left the market. By introducing new Monster Jam licensed products at various points throughout the year, we are able to maintain a level of excitement that sustains our fans until the tour returns the following year. Alternatively, if the Monster Jam tour has yet to make it to a market, licensing can also help pave the way for live events. In some countries, we have been able to secure retail placement prior to entering the market with television or a live tour. In instances such as these, licensing can help gauge a market’s appetite for the brand and help us customize a Monster Jam tour for that specific market. Can you explain how your current licensing partner portfolio looks globally? Monster Jam has established itself as one of the most successful and consistent vehicle brands in the licensing industry. We are extremely fortunate to partner with some of the best in the business. Monster Jam has over 50 licensees globally with retail placement in 25 countries. Feld handles all domestic licensing inhouse but currently has licensing agents representing the brand in Canada (The Licensing Shop), Mexico (Tycoon), Middle East (East West Licensing), France

(MJA), Spain (Edebe), U.K. (Bulldog) and of course Australia and New Zealand (Wild Pumpkin). For the last 15 years, Mattel, the master toy partner for Monster Jam, has been a driving force behind our global licensing success and together we have sold over 145 million co-branded Hot Wheels Monster Jam vehicles to date. Around 300 unique Hot Wheels Monster Jam SKUs were produced this year including the new television advertised Hot Wheels Monster Jam Dragon Blast Challenge playset, which is currently available in more than a dozen countries and is on track to become the #1 selling Monster Jam playset of all time. From an Australian perspective, can you tell us about the growth in the licensing area for Feld Entertainment on the back of the increased touring schedule? Prior to the tour, Monster Jam had modest retail placement in Australia. We started to see growth in 2013 after television programming had been on the air

Mattel will be supporting the upcoming launch of the new Hot Wheels Monster Jam Dragon Blast Challenge playset in Australia with television advertising.

for about a year and we held our firstever Australia Monster Jam live event in Sydney. This led to a multi-city Monster Jam Australia tour in October 2014, which included a stop in Sydney as well as additional first-time live events in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Melbourne quickly became the fastest selling international event in the history of Monster Jam and boasted two sold-out shows at AAMI Park. In anticipation of Monster Jam’s “official” entry into the Australia market this past October, Wild Pumpkin signed on a number of new Monster Jam licensees in key product categories including Caprice (apparel , bags and bedding), Engelite (headwear and accessories), Impact Rock Merchandise (posters and calendars), Licensing Essentials (show bags), Network Clothing (bedding and bath), Park Avenue (confectionery), Showtime Attractions (retail events) and Universal Sony Picture (DVDs). Monster Jam retail sales spiked tremendously around the tour time frame and as a result Monster Jam was ranked the number two vehicle brand at retail this past October in Australia. We are still seeing great momentum for the brand at retail, and each month has brought year-over-year growth. Currently, Monster Jam licensing business in Australia is up over 300% when compared to this time last year and Australia has become the second highest ranking country (after the United States) when measuring Monster Jam retail sales. What can Australian fans look forward to from Feld Entertainment in 2015 and beyond?

Feld is thrilled to bring the Monster Jam tour back to Australia in 2015 for a third consecutive year. This October, twelve of the best Monster Jam trucks and drivers will travel to Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and for the first time ever, Perth. To prepare for the tour’s return, Australia fans can also tune into a new season of Monster Jam on Fuel (FOX) and One HD (Net 10) this coming October. Wild Pumpkin and Krissy Connolly, our Director of Licensing & Retail Development, have been working closely with our amazing roster of Australia-based and global licensees to ensure that there is a wide array of new licensed consumer products for Australia fans to enjoy, as well as exciting retail promotions with leading Australia retailers to support the additional demand for Monster Jam products around the upcoming 2015 Australia tour. Looking past 2015, we look forward to introducing Australia fans to new Monster Jam trucks, releasing innovative licensed products that promote new ways for our fans to interact with the brand and celebrating the 25th anniversary of Monster Jam in 2017! From a global angle, can you give us any information or updates on new initiatives from Feld Entertainment from both a touring and licensing perspective? In terms of global touring, we are just now embarking on the start of our 13city 2015 international Monster Jam tour that will run through November. Feld is making Monster Jam history this year as the international tour brings many Monster Jam “firsts”, including the first-ever

multi-city tour in Spain as well as firsttime performances in China and the Philippines. Though the international leg of the 2015 Monster Jam tour has barely just begun we are already planning for 2016 to ensure we continue this immense growth in new markets for Monster Jam, including Brazil and the Middle East. As it applies to Monster Jam licensing, we are currently finalizing global QSR initiatives for 2015 and 2016, further developing our new Monster Jam Creatures sub-segment and we are always exploring new product category opportunities and retail partnerships. Feld is also in the beginning stages of planning for the 25th Anniversary of Monster Jam in 2017, and we are gearing up for a year-long celebration that touches every element of Monster Jam, including live events, digital, licensing, retail and television. Thank you Mark. We look forward to catching up with you again soon. Thank you!

For Australia and New Zealand licensing opportunities please contact Lim Mi-Kyoung at Wild Pumpkin via emailing her at lim@wild-pumpkin.com or visit Feld Entertainment at Booth #K187 during the Las Vegas Licensing International Expo.

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Entertainment One Entertainment One Continues Expansion of its Globally Successful Preschool Portfolio Australia’s most loved preschool brand, Peppa Pig, continues growth achievements with some thrilling developments so far this year. With ongoing leading ratings on Australia’s premier children’s TV destination, ABC KIDS, Peppa Pig has further established itself as the leading preschool licensed brand in Australia, as well as building highly positive consumer demand on New Zealand shores, already establishing itself as an evergreen across ANZ. This year is building up to be a further noteworthy 2015 with further new programs planned throughout the remainder of 2015 and continuing throughout a solid 2016 calendar. The master toy program, distributed by Big Balloon, remains the No. 1 girl’s preschool license in the Australian market, with key toy driver; Ring a Rosie Peppa, rolling out during mid-year toy catalogues. Support has been confirmed across all leading retail partners, as well as a strong promotional schedule. eOne Australia has also finalised a new Peppa Pig construction line from Character Options, also to be distributed in Australia by Big Balloon, with expected rollout to be in mid-2016.

already incredibly strong platform of television, home entertainment, publishing and live events, will see Peppa continue to enjoy long-term and sustainable success in our market.” A new & innovative health & beauty range is confirmed to rollout from Universal Brands later in the year, including some new additions to the FMCG category. The recent announcement of a strategic charity partnership between Cancer Council and Peppa Pig has received outstanding support from fans & supporters, where it has been announced that Peppa has joined as an official brand ambassador. eOne has also recently confirmed a co-branded program in honour of Daffodil Day, with co-branded merchandise available for sale at both Coles

Supermarkets and Coles Express stores this August, with proceeds being donated to Cancer Council.

Additional new category partners in Australia include the rollout of a new wheel toy program with Hunter Leisure, and the hotly anticipated release of the Monopoly Jnr board game from Winning Moves.

Trish Padoin, Director from eOne Licensing ANZ adds: “We want to give to the charity where it really matters by helping them raise funds for their incredible work and vital research. We hope that Peppa Pig’s popularity and therefore the popularity of these products in Coles stores will really help drive some additional fundraising for this great charity.“

Con Goutzoulas, Director of eOne Licensing ANZ states; “We are so thrilled with the continued growth of the Peppa licensing program in our market in 2015, coming off such a phenomenally successful year in 2014. The innovation from our licensing partners, coupled with the

Along with this charity partnership, a new Peppa Pig Live Event has just been announced in Australia. Lifelike Touring have confirmed a brand new live ticketed show; Peppa Pig’s Big Splash, to be toured around capital cities nationally from October to November this year. The

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Left to Right: Con Goutzoulas, Trish Padoin; Directors, eOne ANZ, Ami Dieckman; eOne Licensing Head of International, Joan Grasso; Vice President, eOne Licensing USA, Andrew Carley, eOne Licensing Head of Global

show originates from the London’s Westend, with Australian tickets on sale from June 2015. In TV news, from August this year, ABC KIDS will be premiering a brand new Peppa Pig TV Special: Peppa Pig; The Golden Boots, with a strong promotional

schedule in place. eOne Home Entertainment will be rolling out the title across both the DVD & Digital platforms preChristmas 2015. Alongside Peppa Pig, eOne’s other much loved preschool brand, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, also hailing from awardwinning animation studio Astley Baker Davies. The award-winning series made its retail debut in 2014 across ABC Shops nationally, with Big Balloon’s master toy range expanding retail distribution this year. The brand is consistently a ratings winner and a top-three favourite alongside Peppa, on ABC iView.

eOne Licensing will be exhibiting at Booth H139 at the Las Vegas Licensing Expo 2015 and invite you to come along and discuss any potential opportunities across the brand portfolio.

For further information for Australia and New Zealand please contact Sophie Nassetta via email at snassetta@entonegroup.com.

The latest in terms of the Peppa Pig international developments is that Peppa has enjoyed further success in the European market with the recent opening of a Peppa World at Leolandia in Italy. The brand, now a worldwide success, has confirmed additional roll-out across North America and Asia; signing over 600 licensing deals globally - and has plans to enter China this year.

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The leading childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preschool license in Australia Celebrating ten years of top-rating success on ABC KIDS

Consistently topping the ratings charts on ABC KIDS New product categories rolling out in 2015

For brand opportunities across Australia and New Zealand, please visit us at Las Vegas Licensing Expo 2015 at the eOne Booth H139 For further information for Australia & New Zealand please contact:

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156,000,001, 156 million kids worldwide – and you.

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For more information please contact Cabelle St. John at Cabelle.stjohn@sesame.org or Diana Markezic at dmarkezic@havenlic.com.au B U G GTOYSA N D LI C EN S I N G.CO M

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Feature Interview: Gisela Abrams Assistant VP - International Licensing - Asia Pacific Sesame Workshop Bugg Toys & Licensing sits down to speak with Gisela Abrams to discuss Furchester Hotel and all things Sesame Workshop! Thank you for your time Gisela. Firstly, can you give us a background on yourself and your time at Sesame Street? I grew up in Germany watching and loving Sesamstrasse so it was only a matter of time that I would find my way here! I started at Sesame Street on January 2, 2003, which fits perfectly with the most famous address in the world - 123 Sesame Street! But my first career was actually in advertising. I come from the consumer side of the business; working on creative strategy, communications and research. I was able to bring all those skills and learning to Sesame Street. For the last 12 years, I’ve worked on our Asia Pacific business, and I have to say, it never gets boring. There are lots of opportunities to work with different territories, cultures, economies, and in each instance, our brand really stands out. It has been 12-months since last year’s Las Vegas Licensing Expo; can you give us an update on Sesame Street during this period? It has been a very exciting year for Sesame Street. In the U.S. and in Australia, we just celebrated our 45th anniversary and launched our first spin-off called The Furchester Hotel. In Australia, we debuted a collaboration with pajama king Peter Alexander which was just so much fun to work on! It’s an extensive range for 2 and 4 legged fans of all ages includes sleepwear, outerwear and accessories, featuring a mix of different looks like retro yardages, fuzzy monster rompers and gowns, and character slippers. We also secured a partnership with the Australian Football League to produce a range of co-branded Sesame Street merchandise for infants to adults for 17 of the football clubs. Lastly, we’re proud to have expanded our driveway safety campaign in Australia with an interactive app featuring Sesame Street’s

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Elmo and Grover. With a focus on driveway and road safety, the campaign promoted safe driveway practices and raised awareness among parents and children of the dangers posed by vehicles in driveways, car parks and on roads. In worldwide news, we signed a deal with PUMA for co-branded footwear, apparel and accessories collections featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster and the Sesame Street friends across all age groups. We also have a wonderful new collaboration with Bathing Ape for apparel and accessories for men’s, ladies, kids - all featuring our iconic characters. And stay tuned for another exciting worldwide launch which we will announce soon! The Furchester Hotel television series was launched on CBeebies in September last year; can you tell us more about this and your plans moving forward? We’re incredibly excited about The Furchester Hotel. It features everyone’s favorite furry red monster Elmo and our fun indulgent blue friend Cookie Monster, as they get into all kinds of adventures with Elmo’s cousin Phoebe and the entire Furchester-Fuzz family. In April, it launched on the ABC in Australia. Early indications are that we have a hit - repeating the success we enjoyed in the UK! From a consumer products point of view, what are some of the major activations that you are currently working on relation to The Furchester Hotel? The line-up of products include story, activity, character and novelty publishing titles from Penguin; toys with Hasbro; and DVDs with ABC Video. Next year, consumers will see back to school products and apparel. Sesame Street is massive on YouTube; how do you leverage this platform to

align with your consumer products and promotional activities? We have an amazing following on YouTube and we are constantly recalibrating our YouTube offering to give consumers more of what they want - engaging fun content that helps kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder. With all these platforms that are available to kids and families today, we’re able to tailor what we place on each.

Creating new content is obviously very important for a company like Sesame Street; how has this new day and age of instant access to social media and information changed your approach (if any) to the content that you produce? Sesame Street has this incredible adult fan base especially on social media and that is where we focus more on our great parodies. This season’s spoofs include: “House of Bricks,” a spoof of the television show House of Cards where the Big Bad Wolf blows down and subtracts the Three Little Pigs’ houses until there’s

only one left… the White Brick House. In “Game of Chairs,” a spoof of the television show Game of Thrones, Grover helps determine the new king or queen by leading a suspenseful game of musical chairs. It’s a great way for us to engage our fans who are not watching the show anymore to learn their ABCs and 123s, and who appreciate our special Muppet humor on a different level. Gaming, and especially mobile gaming, have become a huge part of licensing in general; how important is the gaming business to Sesame Street overall and what are you currently working on in this space? Our digital content complements and builds upon what’s seen on the show to extend learning opportunities for children beyond just the on-air time. We develop content on digital platforms so children can access Sesame Street where ever they are and whenever they want it. To date, Sesame Workshop has produced more than 45 apps and more than 180 ebooks, including titles in Spanish, available on iBooks, Amazon, Nook and the

Sesame Street eBookstore. Our apps reach nearly 3 million people on a quarterly basis through iOS alone, and have been the recipient of numerous industry and parent’s choice awards. The Sesame Street Go website is a new initiative for you; are you able to tell us about this platform and your goals for this? Sesame Street Go is a brand new mobile app and web service that gives families access to the Sesame Street Muppets in episodes, games, or music anywhere, any time. We offer hundreds of “minisodes,” curated around favorite Sesame Street characters, including Elmo’s World, Elmo the Musical, Super Grover 2.0, Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures, Cookie’s Crumby Pictures, and Abby’s Flying Fairy School. Kids help Cookie Monster follow directions in Cooking with Cookie, and laugh along with Abby and Elmo as they help a Princess attract her frog-prince. Kids sing about trying and trying again, because that’s what makes kids stronger and more resilient. Sesame Street Go delivers lessons of school readiness, strength, and kindness - all with a big dose of fun. Right now Sesame Street Go is available in the U.S. and Canada only, but we hope to expand into additional markets soon.

This year marks the 45th anniversary for Sesame Street which creates a great platform for promotions and marketing. Can you give us a rundown on what you are doing to coincide with this milestone? We celebrated Sesame Street’s 45th Anniversary with visits from two of our favorite Australians. The fun cheeky brand that is Peter Alexander was a huge hit. His newest collection, which was photographed on the set of Sesame Street, reflects the vibrancy and happiness of our brand. Rove McManus also dropped by to get a tour of the street from Elmo and his friends. New Zealand singer Kimbra also came by and learned to properly eat a biscuit from the connoisseur himself, Cookie Monster. It’s been a year full of wonderful surprises! Thanks again Gisela, we look forward to speaking again soon! Sooner than you think! Next year, Australia fans may be getting a visit from some of their favorite furry friends. Stay tuned!

For more information contact Gisela Abrams at Sesame Workshop on 917 334 8148 or visit www.sesamestreet.org.

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BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand

BBC Worldwide Children’s brands Hey Duggee, Sarah & Duck and Charlie and Lola, and iconic brands Sooty, Doctor Who and Sherlock present some exciting opportunities for 2015. Hey Duggee is a place for children (and their parents) to have fun, be energetic, and - most of all - to do things!

The show is based around the Squirrel Club, run by a big, lovable dog called Duggee. The Squirrels take part in all kinds of activities, have adventures and earn badges for their accomplishments. Humour is at the heart of this playful series and with its engaging and

entertaining stories and colourful and lovable characters, Hey Duggee has been delighting parents and kids alike. Jasnor has signed on as the master toy licensee for Australia and New Zealand, with products including soft toys, figurines, playsets, books and DVDs launching in time for Christmas 2015, offering a treasure trove of opportunities. Sarah & Duck follows the curious adventures of Sarah and her flappy, quacky best friend Duck. The series has enchanted audiences, with the BAFTA-winning series reaching over 2 million Australians since June 2014. Newly launched products available at the ABC Shop include Sarah & Duck plush toys, ideal for young children to create the duo’s wide-eyed and quacky adventures at home. The smaller version of the toys feature sound - the Sarah plush says “Come on, Duck” and the Duck “quacks” when you press its tummy, while the

larger toys are perfect to cuddle up to at bedtime. A brand new Sarah & Duck DVD, ‘Lots of Shallots and ‘Other Stories’, containing ten quirky stories, is now available and two new picture books, ‘Sarah & Duck at the Library’ and ‘Sarah & Duck and the Christmas Lights’ will be also released by Penguin later this year, adding to the current titles already available. This year sees the 10th anniversary of the much-loved Charlie and Lola television series, which follows the relationship between Charlie and his very funny little sister Lola. With its focus on fun and imagination, the show continues to be a big favourite with young fans, consistently ranking in the top ten children’s programs for both CBeebies Australia and ABC Kids*. There is host of products available to delight little ones, including Charlie and Lola ragdolls, books, DVDs and games.

Notes: Based on programs which have played a minimum of 5 times for the year. Source: OzTAM Metro TV Panel, Consolidated, Jan-Dec 2014, 06:00-19:00, ABC Kids, Kids 0-6. OzTAM National STV Panel, Consolidated, Jan-Dec 2014, 06:00-19:00, CBeebies, Kids 0-6.

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BBC Worldwide is the official licensing and merchandise agent for the Sooty brand in Australia and New Zealand. One of the longest running children’s television shows in the world, The Sooty Show has recently been enjoying a revival with a new generation of fans in the UK, with the modern series becoming the most watched pre-school show on CITV, a sellout live tour, and Sooty the Movie set to go into production this year.

Davison, featured a cast of Daleks, Cybermen and a host of Doctor Who monsters.

As such a widely recognised and treasured brand, the iconic images of Sooty, Sweep and Soo inspire great affection across generations in Australia and New Zealand.

A licensing agreement between BBC Worldwide and The LEGO Group will see the exciting launch of a LEGO® Doctor Who set before the end of the year. Whovians will also be delighted to hear that a Doctor Who line of vinyl bobblehead figurines from Funko’s hugely popular Pop Vinyl range will materialise on Australian shores, and a brand new range of women’s apparel from Black Milk Clothing will also be available online soon.

Sooty has exciting possibilities as a heritage brand for adult lines and for pre-school children, with opportunities across apparel, toys, bags and accessories and health and beauty. In their own immortal words... Izzy wizzy, let’s get busy! Doctor Who continues to capture the public’s imagination, and this year saw the return of the extraordinary Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular to Australia and New Zealand. The musical celebration, presented by Fifth Doctor Peter

The intergalactic adventures continue when Peter Capaldi returns to screens as The Doctor for the ninth series of Doctor Who this Autumn, joined by on-screen companion Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), and guest cast members including Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams.

proved hugely popular with fans at ‘Sherlock Corner’, a dedicated area at the Doctor Who pop-up shops in Sydney and Melbourne last year, which offered both Doctor Who and Sherlock fans a unique retail experience. Sherlock products are also available at ABC Shops in stores and online, and BBCShop.com.au.

For more information about our brands and licensing opportunities, please contact: Brigid Roberts, Retail and Licensing Manager, BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand via email at brigid.roberts@bbc.com.

BAFTA and Emmy award-winning Sherlock is set return to screens for a Special later this year, followed by a series of three new episodes. T-shirts, games, gifts and stationery with phrases such as “I’m not a Psychopath… I’m a high functioning Sociopath”

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SHERLOCK

SOOTY

TOP GEAR

DOCTOR WHO

SARAH & DUCK

HEY DUGGEE

CHARLIE AND LOLA

Building Brilliant Brands FOR ALL LICENSING ENQUIRIES:

FOR ALL WHOLESALE ENQUIRIES:

Brigid Roberts / Retail & Licensing Manager brigid.roberts@bbc.com / T +61 2 9744 4569

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Nicole Chungue / Retail & Licensing Executive nicole.chungue@bbc.com / T +61 2 9744 4570

Joanne Webb / Business Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wholesale joanne.webb@bbc.com / T +61 2 9744 4500

RACING INTO THE FUTURE Disney’s Plans to Keep the Well Oiled Cars Franchise Motor Running In 2006 the world was first introduced to ‘Lightning McQueen’, and a cast of colourful characters in Disney Pixar’s animated feature Cars. Fast forward nine years to present day, and the Cars characters are still beloved by audiences globally. As we move toward the 10th anniversary in 2016 of its original release date, Disney continues to create innovative and immersive ways for the Cars franchise to resonate with fans old and new.

Disney Zone featuring a life-sized ‘Mack the Transporter’, and a synthetic ice rink. In addition a sculpture of Lightning McQueen made entirely from ice will be on display at locations in Melbourne during the June school holidays and later in the year in Sydney.

The next phase of the Cars digital product offering launches on July 31 locally, with the release of ‘Cars Daredevil Garage’ a free app available on iOS and Android devices that will merge the realms of physical and digital play.

Capitalising on global retail sales of more than one billion dollars in 2014 (levels in line with sales for the original release), 2015 and 2016 are gearing up to be stellar years for the Cars franchise locally, with a range of new products, events and digital applications set for release. Disney is currently on the hunt for ‘Lightning McQueen’s Number #1 Fan’, with a nationwide competition asking fans to showcase their favourite moments engaging with Cars products. The winning entrant will receive a trip to experience Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Los Angeles. The campaign is being supported across Disney’s owned media outlets, plus an extensive media buy and retail support with the launch of the next themed Cars product release, ‘Ice Racers’.

In 2014, children in Australia and New Zealand spent over 18 million minutes engaged across three Cars mobile apps. Similarly, the ‘Fast as Lightning’ mobile game, which launched at the end of 2014, achieved the record for the fastest downloads in Disney history.

“The local goal for us is to build consumer affinity with the Cars franchise and its characters through the creation of exciting new themes, stories and ways to engage with the brand,” said Jonathan Sully, Franchise and Marketing Director, The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand. “But perhaps the most exciting developments for the Cars franchise will arise in the digital space, which will contribute to growth in the lead-up to the release of Cars 3 in 2018.”

Fans will be able to scan their physical die-cast vehicles and import them into a variety of digital environments in the app, allowing them to race and perform stunts like never before. This exciting new play model will evolve in line with the release of new themes including ‘Carbon Fibre’ in 2016, and be supported by a range of creative content available online. With a diverse product offering and a broad spectrum of events to come, it’s clear that the franchise is racing full speed into the future and beyond.

The ‘Ice Racers’ theme lends itself perfectly to the onset of winter months locally, with new die-cast sets and products that feature frozen environments, perfect for the chills and thrills the new vehicles are designed for. Consumers will have the opportunity to further engage in the ‘Ice Racer’ theme with a series of events throughout winter. The long-standing partnership with the ‘V8 Supercars’ continues this year, and will travel the length and breadth of the country, providing fans with a unique, and immersive Cars experience. Highlights include Lightning McQueen on the track races, a refreshed

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15cm TALL

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FROM THE CREATORS OF F

MEET THE LITTLE VOICES INSIDE YOUR HEAD.

IN CINEMAS JUNE 18

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The Fusion Agency

The Fusion Agency has an exciting portfolio of properties which appeal to all age groups and all genders. We have been careful to structure a broad portfolio which draws from a large range of formats - TV and movies; new, retro and reborn; toys and publishing and more. We have something for everyone!

Fusion is also managing the worldwide toy and publishing rights, and global merchandising for The Kazoops, a preschool TV series from the hugely creative team at Cheeky Little Media. The Kazoops TV is in advanced negotiations with significant broadcast partners for both free to air and VOD, and is planned to air in March 2016.

Fusion are thrilled to have recently acquired the ANZ merchandising and promotional rights to the smash animated TV series Yo-Kai Watch.

In conjunction with our Global Toy Partners, Zobo, Fusion will be launching a high-energy, jaw-dropping action collectible toy range, Gobsmax, in late 2015! Rich in game play, these super styled toys incorporate rarity, themes, playsets, vehicles and a surprise “pop” which brings them to life.

Ubisoft‘s “Rabbids Invasion” continues to get very strong ratings on GO!, airing up to eight times a day. We are currently seeking partners in all key categories. Hallmark’s “Forever Friends” will also relaunch in 2015 with Jasnor and their beautiful nursery range. Watch out for extensions in 2016.

DreamWorks Animation is raising the stakes in terms of its content output. In addition to movies, the studio has partnered with Netflix for more than 1000 brand new TV episodes, including ‘Dragons: Race to the Edge’, which will launch in June 2015. “DreamWorks’ Trolls franchise is also a real focus for Fusion” said Peter Broadhurst. “We will introduce these familiar, colourfully-haired Trolls to a new generation of fans, in a full-blown musical comedy supported by a strong consumer products program”. DreamWorks Classic has a portfolio of over 450 properties – including Where’s Wally?, Noddy, Voltron, He-Man and SheRa, Dinotrux, Little Golden Books and many more. 2016 will see the arrival of Dinotrux. “Combining dinosaurs and construction

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Toyland’s most famous resident, Noddy, will also be returning to TV screens in 2016 with a brand new CG-animated series. DHX Media’s ever popular pre-school program “In the Night Garden” is still capturing the hearts of little ones everywhere, led by our toy distributor Jasnor.

Yo-Kai Watch follows the adventures of Nate, a young boy who, thanks to a special watch, discovers and summons the mysterious Yo-kai to help him solve daily problems. With an imaginative plot, great characters, comedy and adventure, YoKai Watch has become one of THE most popular franchises of all time in Japan. “We are thrilled to be chosen to help expand Yo-Kai Watch locally,” said Gail Mitchell, Managing Director of Fusion. “We will be working with Hasbro to launch toys in Q1 2016, with a full crosscategory program to launch thereafter.”

vehicles, this colossal new franchise, led by Mattel for toys, will be supported by Netflix TV from Q3, 2015,” said Vincent Jones.

Fusion has recently been appointed as agents for the Lions Gate portfolio, home of the powerhouse tween/young adult movie franchises “The Hunger Games” and the “Divergent Series”, as well as the popular “Orange is the New Black” TV series. These brands will be brought to market from Q4, 2015. Most excitingly, Fusion has just secured the rights to the Coolabi cult classic “The Clangers”. Michael Palin narrates this story about a family of pink, long-nosed, inventive and lovable mouse-shaped creatures who live on a small blue planet in outer space. Watch out as the most memorable pre-school TV characters of the 1970s return to our screens!

For more information contact The Fusion Agency via email at info@fusionagency.com or call Head Office on +61 2 9439 5511.

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GLOBAL PREMIERE A/W ‘15 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTER NOW SIGNED INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH ON NETFLIX FROM S/S ‘16 JAZWARES SIGNED AS MASTER TOY PARTNER TOYS LAUNCHING S/S ‘16 DANGEROUSLY DYNAMIC MARKETING & PUBLICITY SUPPORT IN DEVELOPMENT!

Liz Burnett Director, Consumer Products, Australia T: +61 2 9434 0722 E: liz.burnett@fremantlemedia.com

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FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment

Tracy Griffiths joined FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment (FMKFE) in August 2014 as VP Licensing & Consumer Products EMEA and Australia. She works across FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment’s portfolio of brands.

Can you tell us a bit about your role and how FMKFE manages its licensing division in Australia? I joined FMKFE last year with a remit to create and manage the licensing and retail roll out strategies for the company’s diverse portfolio of properties across EMEA, Australia and New Zealand. The aim is to further grow FMKFE’s current successes creating global franchises that connect with our target audience across multiple touch-points. The strategies I put in place are implemented by the FMKFE licensing team and through our growing network of agents across Europe. Together we identify key partners who will bring the most value to the brand. Some of these may be global or work across multiple territories whilst others will be the leading player in their particular market. Australia is a key territory for us and we see potential for significant growth in the region. Liz Burnett, Director Consumer Products FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, has built up a real rapport with the key retailers and licensees and it was great to meet them first hand when I attended Melbourne Toy Fair. With a number of properties in their infancy it is a hugely exciting time for the division in Australia. What are the big brand focuses for 2015/16? We are really excited about Tree Fu Tom, who has become pre-schoolers’ first superhero. The series launched on ABC2 last year to fantastic ratings and has

really resonated with young children, with parents contacting ABC stores clamouring for products. Roadshow’s first DVD launched exclusively in ABC stores and was a top seller. Australia will be the launch country for our new global master toy licensee Jazwares exciting new toy range. Distributed by Funtastic, the products will roll out at retail by Q4 of this year. This will be accompanied by apparel, DVD and publishing providing great opportunities to create cross category promotions with strong on shelf stand out. We also have a PR agency on board, working on a high impact campaign to support the retail launch. We will soon be able to announce some very exciting news about our Australian broadcast partner for the brand new

series of Danger Mouse which will premiere in the UK on CBBC this autum. With a global master toy partner now in place we are ready to sign additional best-in-class licensees and have a raft of meetings with future partners at LIE in Vegas. Running in parallel to the Danger Mouse licensing programme which is targeted at children we also have exciting news about our Danger Mouse Classic line which is aimed at adult fans of the iconic 80’s series. Danger Mouse Classic is due to air on Netflix in June giving fans a chance to fall in love with the original antics of Danger Mouse and Penfold all over again. We are on the verge of signing an apparel licensee for this iconic show and hope to be able to make further announcements later this year.

For more information please contact Liz Burnett, Director, Consumer Products, FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment (AUNZ) on +61 2 9434 0722 or via email at Liz.Burnett@fremantlemedia.com.

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Feature Interview: JO Pascoe Head of Licensing Asia Pacific DreamWorks Animation Bugg Toys & Licensing recently had the opportunity to speak with Jo about the DreamWorks Animation priorities and some of the brands, which are resonating in this part of the globe.

After a long and distinguished career in Senior Marketing roles with the Walt Disney Company, Jo Pascoe joined DreamWorks Animation as Head of Licensing Asia Pacific some 12-months ago. Her responsibilities include Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. Based out of Sydney, her busy schedule is divided between managing the Consumer Products (CP) business with her agents across Asia and here in Australia, The Fusion Agency and Haven Licensing, and travelling around Asia developing relationships with her key partners in the region. DreamWorks have experienced solid growth with evergreen brands such as Dragons, Kung Fu Panda and the recent release of the movie HOME. We began by asking Jo about the new Dragons series for Netflix - Race to the Edge: Jo, The Dragons franchise has been a real winner for DreamWorks with the Dragons franchise continuing to deliver strong results. With the impending launch of “Dragons: Race to the Edge” premiering worldwide on June 26th 2015 on Netflix, can you tell us what this will deliver to our market in terms of product and marketing activations? DreamWorks has made a long term commitment to the Dragons franchise with all new content coming next month to Netflix, new games and apps, publishing releases and of course a steady stream of merchandise that offers many ways for consumers to be entertained and experience the franchise. We understand that Kung Fu Panda will also be part of your on-going activities

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in our region, can you bring us up to date with your plans for this brand? Kung Fu Panda really has packed a powerful punch generating over $1.3B at the world wide box office to date. So we are very excited, particularly in our region, about the release of Kung Fu Panda 3, which will return in full awesomeness with the original cast, plus Bryan Cranston and Rebel Wilson playing all new characters. With marketing and licensing plans in full swing, we are working with our agents and licensees to develop a line of awesome merchandise to maximize the theatrical release on March 24th 2016. Both Noddy and Where’s Wally? have always been well supported in our market. They are traditional Classic brands. Can you tell us a little about your top-line activities from a retail and promotional standpoint? A celebrated children’s classic, Noddy will return to television in 2016 for a whole new preschool audience, in a brand new TV series, Noddy, Toyland detective. With content still in development, we are finalizing our plans but know that we will be leveraging the incredible heritage Noddy has and all new content. Wally was found popping up all over Australia last year. From the City to Surf to the Caulfield cup, his travels took him to many great events and he was seen with many cool Australian and International celebrities. He sure was busy on social media. Making the most of the young adults that are drawn to Wally’s style, we are working on a line of lifestyle products that you will see in retailers across Australia later this year and in 2016. The recent acquisition of Awesomeness

TV has enabled you to communicate with teenagers and young adults. Can you expand on what DreamWorks will be focusing on for this platform and in particular here in Australia and throughout our region? AwesomenessTV is the #1 teen destination for original programming on YouTube. The network reaches over 130 million subscribers and has garnered nearly 12 billion lifetime video views. From talk shows to sketch comedies, AwesomenessTV produces more than 150 videos each month that entertain and engage teen audiences. From a consumer products standpoint we are leveraging the unbelievable reach, the influence and brand equity of digital creators and environments by developing physical products. With understanding the reach in key markets, I am currently identifying the talent and designing a consumer products strategy to support.

The film HOME launched earlier in March this year. We believe Hunter Products are the global toy partner for the franchise. From all reports the movie was a real hit. Can you update us on some of their successes around the world? With a worldwide box office of $345M, our little purple invader, OH, has won the hearts of many around the globe. Success went from the big screen into retail stores, with Hunter Products delivering a line of compelling products which saw strong placement at retail not only here in Australia, but across Asia, Europe, UK and the United States. A wonderful HOME grown result from down under. DreamWorks will launch another new brand Dinotrux on Netflix in 2016. In your estimation, what will Dinotrux deliver for this market and what are some of your other key categories for product? Dinotrux is an exciting combination dinosaurs and construction vehicles, which will be the next biggest boy construction franchise. These two inherently cool play patterns and rite of passages for boys, embraces and celebrates the way boys live and play. Launching on Netflix this winter, we do have a master toy partner to be announced shortly, along with working with partners across all categories, to give all boys a wide range of merchandise in 2016, so they can live and breathe the Dinotrux brand. What are your three most active markets in Asia? What key brands are most active in these markets? In Asia, we are working with the best agencies in the region to represent the wealth of intellectual property we have. These amazing partners include Korea, China, Japan, SE Asia and soon to be

Hong Kong and Taiwan. With robust coverage across the region and strong appeal for our heritage brands, Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Dragons, we are building a solid licensing business across all categories. Noteworthy, with the impending theatrical release of Kung Fu Panda 3 and our joint venture with Oriental DreamWorks, who is at the creative helm, the Kung Fu Panda franchise will be a big brand and consumer products driver for us not only in China, but across all markets. DreamWorks acquired Felix, another classic brand about 12 months ago. Can you tell us little about your plans for this brand both in Australia and throughout Asia? This time last year we announced the acquisition of one of the coolest cats of them all, Felix. We are currently building Felix to become one of the most desired adult/teen fashion brands in the world and across multiple categories. You will soon see Felix serving as a muse for influential collaborations across music, fashion, art and design, both on a global scale and locally too. With well-established consumer products businesses in Japan and Korea, we will continue to leverage the best practice from those markets also.

and lots of hair. In 2016, Trolls will be supported with a wide range of merchandise including toys from our global master toy partner, Hasbro. We really appreciate your time Jo. The scope of your role must keep you constantly on the move. I am sure that the overview you have provided into your business will give our readers a valuable insight into the DreamWorks Animation brand portfolio in our region. See you in Las Vegas Licensing Expo.

For more information on DreamWorks Animation in Asia Pacific, please contact Jo Pascoe via email at jo.pascoe@dreamworks.com.

DreamWorks also recently acquired Trolls. Can you tell us about this all new girls brand that has a rich heritage also? Trolls have an incredibly rich heritage of being one of the biggest toy brands in history. However, without ever a back story, DreamWorksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will tell the first ever original story of Trolls. We are going to introduce a whole new audience of girls to a colourful world filled with happiness, music, dance, fashion and of course, lots

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Further Your Industry Education LIMA Australia Chapter

www.licensing.org/australia/ B U G GTOYSA N D LI C EN S I N G.CO M

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Hotsprings With over twenty years of licensing experience, Hotsprings is a leading apparel licensee in Australia and is regarded as a major innovator in the development of brand, character and entertainment licensing for the apparel industry. Hotsprings provides a full-service apparel design, manufacture and marketing solution for major retailers and global brands in the Australian market. Our licensing division produces best in class, quality licensed products for Australians of all ages. We actively seek to procure the latest, emerging and evergreen licenses and have brought to market many of Australia’s most loved licensed brands including; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney and Star Wars. We pride ourselves on being a ‘licensing hub’, with real-time access to local and

global trends, information and breaking news. We are proactive and invest in licensing intelligence, which often ensures that we are first to market with the most desirable licenses and fashion product. Hotsprings has experienced success with the Mambo brand, operating as the apparel licensee in Australia distributing to Myer, Big W and independent online retailers. With Saban recently purchasing the Mambo brand, Hotsprings will support them to reposition and further extend the presence of Mambo in the Australian and international market. Another focus is on building lifestyle and contemporary brands to sit alongside our entertainment and character licensed portfolio for both local and global markets. Hotsprings is the exclusive licensee for Modern Amusement, currently

distributing in Australia & New Zealand whilst developing relationships to export to international retailers in Canada. 2016 looks to be a year of strategic growth in the local Australian market whilst diversifying and expanding our offering globally, further enhancing the Hotsprings footprint in the apparel marketplace.

For more information please contact Hotsprings on +61 2 8080 2000 via email at info@hotsprings.com.au or visit www.hotsprings.com.au.

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Is Gaming Influencing Technology; Or Is Technology Influencing Games? Dan Amos is Head of New Media at Tinderbox, the dedicated digital division of leading global brand extension agency, Beanstalk. When Apple launched its much anticipated smart watch model, Apple Watch, earlier this spring, the first question on many an enthusiast’s lips was not related to technology, design features or function - instead, the focus seemed to be on the new timepiece’s usability as a portable games provider. Although debuting with dozens of games available, the watch’s main use was originally described as that of a second phone screen, providing an ‘at-a-glance look’ of content and notifications. Nevertheless, savvy developers were quick to capitalize on consumers’

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hunger for quick, on-the-go, entertainment and there is now a flurry of shortburst, wrist watch friendly game apps, optimized for small-screened wearable devices. Similarly, Google’s equally anticipated (yet perhaps not as successful) launch of Google Glass spurred the development of a series of mini-games, allowing players to (literally) use their heads as primary controllers. The gaming world’s relationship with new technological developments is undoubtedly spurred by changing consumer

media habits and the growing popularity of games as a form of entertainment. Today, consoles such as Sony’s PlayStation 4 have gone from being dedicated video games delivery instruments to

all-inclusive entertainment systems, capable of streaming and playing back a close to infinite selection of video and TV content. As a result, gaming franchises such as Halo, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto have gained access to the majority of global living rooms, accumulating even greater audiences and dedicated fans as a result. It ought to come as no surprise then that new technologies, such as Apple’s smart watch, will have to find ways to incorporate games into their offer. As an example, Microsoft’s soon-to-belaunched holographic headset computer, HoloLens, has been described as a “mind-blowing” gaming device, using its augmented reality feature to create a fully immersive and interactive experience. While the company is yet to reveal specifics about what games will be compatible with the technology, Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s head of Xbox, made it clear from the beginning that they will make up an imperative category for the device1. In fact, the future plans for HoloLens as a stand-alone gaming instrument are not

restricted to the integration of Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest operating system, and related hardware products such as the Xbox console; down the line, the company intends to capitalize on the headset’s gaming potential by opening up development to third-party designers too. The fact is that the success of most connected devices - be they phones, tablets, wristbands or augmented reality glasses - is often reliant on their functionality as entertainment delivery systems. For example, more than two-thirds of the U.S. population owns a smart phone and reports have shown that the majority of these people regularly use them to play games2. In fact, a quick look at online research sites such as mobile analytics provider, App Annie, confirms that the vast majority of app downloads fall within the entertainment category, supporting the view that games make up a significant part on most technological devices - no matter their original function or intended primary use. On the opposite side of the spectrum, it

is true that game and app developers often have to customize their offers, responding to the fast evolving universe of new technological developments. As discussed in one of my earlier columns, there is a significant difference between big and small screen gaming experiences and the content needs to be adapted in order to suit various types of delivery mechanisms. It is safe to say that innovations such as HoloLens and Apple Watch will have a substantial impact on the creation of games going forward - design and structure will have to be adjusted to be compatible with new, more advanced, equipment. Nevertheless, games are ultimately responsible for introducing new technologies to the masses and without them, the new generation of devices will struggle to succeed.

For more information visit tboxagency.com

1. Source: Gamespot 2. Source: Nielsen

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Australia Rises to the Challenge One of our key platforms is the recognition of achievement. The LIMA Rising Stars award is an award that recognizes the achievement of our young and aspiring licensing people. LIMA Australia fielded two nominees into this years prestigious award. Stephanie Candiloro of Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Ashleigh Cakarnis, Licensing Manager at Hotsprings Clothing Company. Both of our candidates have achieved much in their developing careers in licensing. This year Stephanie has been successful in winning a Rising Star award. This is the first time that the Australian LIMA chapter has won an award and our congratulations go to Stephanie and to

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Warner Bros. Consumer Products for the time and effort they have invested in her education. Stephanie has successfully completed the LIMA Certificate of Licensing Studies as part of her education and she recently provided the following testimonial.

Testimonial for Certificate of Licensing Studies (“CLS”) program of the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser’s Association: I think that every licensor should consider having at least one of their employees enrolled into the CLS course each year. The content is fresh, relevant and topical. As well as getting a grasp on the foundations (which doesn’t hurt - even if you’re like me and think you’re a pro ha-ha), you also get an insight into the industry on a global scale and have access to exclusive data and Intel. The course didn’t interfere with my work and there were many

times that I was able to share some of what I had learned in the course presentations with my colleagues. After completing the course and receiving my fancy certificate, I reached out to one of the guest lecturers and program affiliates and visited them in New York on my vacation to the USA in 2014. I would say for the couple of hours a week that you need for this course, it’s certainly worthwhile and exceeded my expectations.

world of entertainment brands and proud to say that I am still working for an exciting company like Warner Bros. Consumer Products, who value their employees’ personal growth and success. In the last two years, I have gone from a category support role as Licensing Associate to managing 40 accounts of my own as a Licensing Manager. I credit my progress and development to my incredible bosses and team.

Included below is how Stephanie sees her career so far:

Their role in my licensing career has been integral, so I feel that they deserve a name drop: Jeffrey Whalen, Preston Kevin Lewis, Tim Everett and Andrew Bromell. Our team was under the direction of Preston when I first joined Warner Bros. and every weekly staff meeting with him was like a Tony Robbins seminar. It was hard not to feel inspired and motivated in that kind of environment. I also want to mention Tim Everett and Andrew Bromell who are my mentors. It is because of Andrew and Tim’s faith in my abilities that I have had so many opportunities in the licensing industry so far. Support and motivation is the key to success and has been the key to mine so far. I am honoured to be recognized by the Licensing Association and certainly look forward to what the future will bring!

I haven’t owned a generic phone cover or mug without a character print since I began at Warner Bros. Consumer Products Australia in 2011 as a creative intern. Almost 4 years on, I am still deep in the

Stephanie Candiloro dressed as The Flash at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

For more information on LIMA Australia, please contact Tony Bugg via email at tbugg@licensing.org.

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WHERE BRANDS COME TO LIFE Are you looking for new partnerships that could transform your business? BLE 2015 is the only event in Europe where you can meet hundreds of leading brand owners and discover thousands of the hottest brands, characters and images available for license. Whether you are a retailer, licensee or sales promotion professional a visit to BLE 2015 will open up a world of new opportunities and partnerships. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this chance to spot the next big thing for your business. See brands come to life at BLE 2015. Register for FREE today, visit www.brandlicensing.eu Organised by

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