toys and licensing
www.buggtoysandlicensing.com The Buzz From Vegas 2015
B U G GTOYSA N D LI C EN S I N G.CO M
The buzz from Vegas 2015 With the economy on the improve in the USA, this years Las Vegas Licensing Expo was upbeat, with a really good vibe from start to finish. There were over 470 exhibitors this year, showcasing some 5,000 brands! Attendance was up on last year and the show was busy for all of the three days. Bugg Toys & Licensing was in attendance once again this year. This is our photo tour with some of the highlights from a great show. Once again there were just on 100 Australians who invested the time to travel to the event this year. Our contingent consisted of retailers, rights owners, agents, promotional companies and licensing people.
Whist we were at the show, Jurassic World premiered in the US and now holds the mantle as the first release to cross $500 million US in sales for the first weekend, beating the Avengers. The biggest ticket in town was at WWE H/Q, where Hulk Hogan made a special appearance for a photo and signing session. People were lining up hours before he arrived and the queue was half way around the show. Media was four deep with cameras flashing as soon as he was in place. Amazing! This guy is seriously popular. He will be down under in August for the annual WWE Live Tour, don’t miss him. Teletubbies is rebooting and Nickelodeon showcased their new brand Shimmer & Shine. By the way, Turtles is still hot!
The show opened at 9.30am on Tuesday and the floor was quickly transformed into a buzzing metropolis of licensing executives from over 100 countries. This year’s show was laid out in precincts and offered you the following choices:
There also seemed to be a lot of new 3D printing technologies at the show too, this will no doubt provide the toy companies, in particular, a quicker route to market with even more realistic product.
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Saban Brands showed off its new lifestyle acquisitions with Mambo, Piping Hot and Macbeth. They also announced the signing of surf champion Sally Fitzgibbon as the global ambassador for Piping Hot.
Art & Design Brands & Agents Character & Entertainment Sourcing & Production Executive Suites
LIMA assembled a blockbuster Licensing University schedule, including the opening keynote panel - The Future of Retail and The Big Interview with global YouTube sensation, Bethany Mota. Disney kicked off proceedings with their annual global presentation. Big news is their new Playmation platform, which will bring a range of augmented reality wearable toys to market. They also announced their movie slate for Marvel for the next five years, which will include Captain America: Civil War for 2016. Much hype surrounds the new Pixar movie Dory and then there is a mega brand called Star Wars too!
Hasbro’s “Hidden Room” project, driven by Simon Waters, where they have developed some exceptionally creative merchandise, has enhanced their consumer perception and also strengthened their position at retail. DreamWorks looks forward to the launch of its new Trolls movie and AC/DC still continues to resonate around the globe. I am sure there was heaps more on the go but that’s a wrap for now, so next year make sure you make the trip to Las Vegas! ----For all relevant contacts please refer below:
A big focus for 2015 was the contingent of international pavilions. Wednesday was international day and this year there were offerings from Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, Brazil and the UK. The movie studios were all out in force with notable fanfare for the new Angry Birds movie from Rovio, Peanuts from Iconics, Ghostbusters from Sony and the all-new Pets movie from Universal. The continuing emergence of properties dominating the digital space saw YouTube with a stand on the show floor this year. Malik Ducard, Director of Content Partnerships opened the Digital Media Summit and then handed the stand over to various YouTube partners during the show. Nitro Circus was live at the show and is set to take on the world with its unique brand of extreme entertainment. Cartoon Network used their summit to showcase their plans to re-launch Power Puff Girls, including a live reading from the new cast. Cherokee continues to gather momentum with brands generating two billion dollars in retail sales across 50 countries, through 700 retailers.
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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.
Air transport for the Aussies via the Airbus A380...
A long-range shot of the Las Vegas desert from the Mandalay Bay Exhibition and Convention Centre...
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Minions characters on display in the main entrance to the expo...
The Twentieth Century Fox stand...
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Paul Cannon and Meredith Hewitt from Caprice...
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The uber-impressive Batmobile, which will feature in the all new Batman vs Superman movie from Warner Bros. studios...
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Andrew Savage from TMI and Brendan Santamaria from Designworks...
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The live band keeping everyone entertained!
The Energizer Bunny roaming the expo floor...
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Erman Djemil from Kmart and Bethan Jones from Merchantwise...
The Iconics stand promoting the new Peanuts movie!
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The calm before the storm on the LIMA booth...
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Coca Cola Consumer Products!
Look out for the new Angry Birds movie in 2016...
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The Grumpy Cat... Go Away!
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Preston Kevin Lewis from Warner Bros. Consumer Products...
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Sally from VBM accepting the ISC Global Licensing Award... Brilliant!
Hunter and Co. posing for a photo at the show...
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The Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association International Lounge for business meetings throughout the show!
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The bike of Travis Pastrana from Nitro Circus on display...
Haven and Co. posing for a photo at the show...
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Liz Burnett from FremantleMedia Australia...
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LIMA President Charles Riotto, welcoming guests to the Global Licensing Awards night...
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The Angry Birds crew to promote the new movie in 2016...
The WWE stand with the Hulkster, Jimmy Hart and Mike Tyson!
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Amber Bennett from Haven Licensing...
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The MGA stand featuring Bratz...
The BBC Worldwide stand featuring Sherlock...
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The Shell stand...
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The Sony Pictures stand and their consumer products displays...
The American Indian stand...
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Haven Licensing... negotiating training... pre-Licensing Expo... Haven style!
Kerryn McCormack from Merchantwise and Allister Tomkins from Tomfoolery!
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The Nitro Circus demos were running throughout the show for the attendees and exhibitors...
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Expand Your Licensing Potential This photo tour is proudly sponsored by LIMA Australia www.licensing.org/australia/ 34
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