Anna Knight talks BLE 22

It’s BLE Time!

20-22 September 2022 Excel, London

Total Licensing, a proud media partner of BLE, will be on stand F160

Can you believe that industry will soon gather once again for what promises to be an incredible Brand Licensing Europe? In this big BLE preview, we talk to Anna Knight, Informa Markets SVP Licensing, interview some first-time exhibitors and look at exhibitor highlights, what’s on and what to look out for….

“The content we have lined up for the industry this year is first class, and I can’t wait to see it activated...”

Anna Knight

Anna, you must be excited about the upcoming show! How are things looking?

So good. We have a fantastic number and array of exhibitors and visitor registrations. Keep an eye on Map Your Show to keep up to date with who will be on the showfloor. Plus, the content we have lined up for the industry this year is first class, and I can’t wait to see it activated, I know our attendees will love it.

What are your highlights?

The fashion theme. 100%. It’s been on our wish list for years, and it’s even better than I imagined it could be. I’m also incredibly proud of our Day Three focus on sustainability and D,E&I. The big activation that everyone needs to see is the BLE Fashion Catwalk. We have nine catwalk shows over three days, featuring Mattel, SEGA, NBC Universal, Sony Interactive, IMC Toys, 9 Story Media, Kornit, Wildbrain CPLG, Perfetti Van Melle and Pink Key Licensing to date. We have branded and category-specific catwalks with SEGA and Mattel owning catwalk shows, and others focused on Brands & Lifestyle Collabs, Kids, F&B, Entertainment Collabs, Culture & Unity and Sustainability. They are going to create such a wow factor for the show. We’ll also have fashion displays throughout BLE to showcase additional partnerships and collaborations, and the show entrances will be taken over by Mattel, Paramount, SEGA, Hasbro, CAA-GBG and Products of Change to immerse visitors as soon as they arrive at the event. Day Three is dedicated to spotlighting sustainability and DE&I initiatives to drive meaningful change. And we are partnering with Licensing International, Products of Change & Black Lives Matter Licensing to bring this to life. PoC will host in-person and online free sustainability drop-in clinics. CEO and founder Helena Mansell-Stopher will host a one-to-one session with Catrina O’Brien, Head of Retail EurAsia - Licensing Consumer Products, to talk about Hasbro’s sustainability journey.

What’s on in the License Global Theatre?

Do not miss Mattel President and COO Richard Dickson presenting the opening day keynote – ‘Barbie x Fashion’ – (Tuesday 20 September at 1pm!) The day two keynote is the ‘Leaders panel: building a post-pandemic retail & licensing strategy’. And day three’s keynote forms part of our