Feature
BLE Interview
Welcome back!
Toy World spoke to Anna Knight, VP Licensing, Informa Markets, about Brand Licensing Expo’s much anticipated return to Excel London from 17th-19th November, which will see the licensing industry gather under one roof again for the first time in a very long time. In this piece, Anna outlines all there is to look forward to, and what attendees should know about the in-person event. What have been the major challenges in organising this year’s show, and how have these been overcome? The logistics of organising a show during a pandemic have been a challenge. We need to ensure we are up to date with the latest guidelines, which are always changing, but we’re very confident that we can deliver a great show whilst ensuring the safety of exhibitors and visitors. We also have our online event two weeks after our in-person event, which will cater to those unable to make it this year. The complexity of dualorganising in this manner is also a challenge, but one which the team is working really hard to successfully overcome, so it can deliver everything attendees expect.
Can we expect anything from the physical BLE 2021 event that hasn’t been experienced, seen or done before?
How does it feel knowing BLE will return for a physical event in just a few weeks? It feels brilliant: we’re really excited to welcome everyone back. It will have been two years since BLE was last held in-person and it’ll be the first time many people in this community will be able to meet up again. It’s been a very tough period for everyone, but finally events are open and back on. My mantra is - let yourself be excited.
BLE will follow a new multi-platform format, combining in-person and online elements to offer an improved experience for all participants. Exhibitors and visitors alike will have the ability before, during and after the events to schedule and host meetings, watch on-demand content, and search and discover the widest range of properties available for licence anywhere in Europe. That’s probably the most significant change. We also know sustainability is important to our attendees and exhibitors, as well as to the whole market. At this year’s BLE, we’ll put even more of a focus on this through our continued commitment to running an environmentally responsible event. This includes a real drive to limit the use of paper
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distribution and the introduction of the Better Stands initiative, which will eliminate single use stand builds. After show drinks will be laid on for all attendees and exhibitors on Wednesday evening from 5-7pm on the show floor and there will exhibitor drinks on Thursday too. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back and this gives us the perfect opportunity to do so.
Can you explain the thinking behind this year’s theme, ‘What’s Next’? Identifying new trends, changemakers and upcoming challenges is what makes an industry gathering like BLE unmissable. This past year has shown how adaptable we are and, as we move into a post-Covid world, that pace shows no sign of slowing down. Looking towards the future has never been more vital and this is precisely what our What’s Next theme is designed to support. We’ll look at What’s Next for the industry, for sustainability and for retail, as well as at Who’s Next through our Agents of Change gallery.
