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FESTIVAL OF LICENSING
Left: Some familiar faces from ViacomCBS Consumer Products will be popping up in the Community & Wellbeing area.
The Retail Stage Riverside Brands; Gabrielle Sims, FatFace; and Richard Pink, Pink Key Licensing. “To have businesses of this stature, who are globally known and respected throughout licensing and beyond, headlining on the Festival of Licensing Live Stage is phenomenal,” enthuses Anna Knight, vp licensing at Informa Markets. “We couldn’t have asked for more. It’s going to be an incredible line-up with some truly inspirational sessions and can’t-miss educational content.”
License This - The Finalists Six brand designers have been shortlisted for this year’s License This! final – due to take place live online during Festival of Licensing at 10am (BST) on Thursday October 8.
Three brands have been shortlisted in each of the Character & Animation and Brand & Design award categories. Character & Animation finalists: George Mackay, eejits (Creature Aided Design) Anthony Williams, WhamBlam! (Taoa Studio) Siobhan Harrison, Foxglove Fairies (Siobhan at April Rose)
Brand & Design finalists: Louise Bell, Louise Bell Art Danelle van Eeden, Kos-Kos Tracey Colliston, Owls Nest (Ginger Betty) This year’s two License This! winners will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2021, one year’s Licensing International membership, PR support, plus invaluable advice from the panel of industry experts. In addition, all finalists will receive legal consultation from competition sponsor Wynne-Jones. Previous entrants – both winners and finalists – have successfully signed lucrative agent and licensing deals.
A key component of BLE is the retail element, and the Informa Markets team has worked hard to ensure that this is replicated at the Festival. Three partners will deliver on demand, never-before-seen content including: a Trend Bible mini-series aiming to teach retailers how to use trends to spot the early signs of change and ensure they are in the best position possible to engage future customers; advice from Julia Redman at Buyers Eye on how retailers can enter the world of licensing and make it work for them; plus five short minidocumentaries featuring usable insights from Kids Industries which will also unveil primary research specifically undertaken for the Festival, exploring consumer attitudes to the new retail landscape from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. “The changes to the retail landscape are seismic and families are feeling the pinch,” says Gary Pope, md of Kids Industries. “But entertainment is the thing that, in times of difficulty, keeps a family together so there are reasons to be cheerful, it’s just a case of knowing where to look for them. The Kids Industries’ series will share never-beforeseen fresh data and insights that are applicable and usable in the ever-changing world of retail and licensed product.” In addition, live ‘Ask Me Anything’ sessions will be running, giving retailers the chance to ask a panel of experts anything they need to know about brand licensing and retail. European experts include: Julia Redman, Buyers Eye; Ruth Golightly, Asda; licensing executive Angeles Blanco; Dave Collins, PowerStation Studios; and Bethan Garton. Retailers already registered to attend Festival of Licensing include Asda, Zara, Target, C&A, Selfridges, Tesco, Walmart, Forbidden Planet, Pottery Barn, Calzedonia, Oasis, Cath Kidston, Hamleys, Moonpig, Next and The Entertainer. Meanwhile, the 2020 Retail Mentoring Programme is welcoming those from many retail brands, including Ann Summers, Asda George, Bubblegum, character.com, Dreamland, El Corte Ingles, Halfords, Joanie Clothing, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons Nutmeg, Sainsbury’s Argos, Sainsbury’s Tu, Selfridges, Tesco, The Entertainer, The Very Group and Vendula London.
The Community & Wellbeing Stage “Surviving through COVID has been incredibly challenging for many - whether financially, physically or emotionally - and it’s important that Festival both acknowledges this and provides meaningful support where we can,” explains Anna. To this end, the Community & Wellbeing programme – of which charity initiative License to Move is part (see pages 54-55) – is being sponsored by ViacomCBS Consumer Products and will aim to provide complementary elements to the business strands. The online programme will include exclusive wellbeing sessions brought to you by ViacomCBS Consumer Products. Family friendly dance and yoga will draw from popular Nick Jr. exercise videos, with festival goers being encouraged to take a break to have fun and exercise with their kids. Meanwhile, a retro workout class will feature iconic MTV products with a soundtrack that celebrates the classic MTV of the 1980s and 1990s, while also showcasing the MTV Move pro-social initiative. A self-care expert from the ViacomCBS Wellness studio will also share easy tips on nutrition, sleep and exercise, as well as showcasing some funny moments from characters ‘practicing’ the same habits. The session will end with a guided meditation and a chance to unwind. On top of this, festival goers will be able to take advantage of business mentoring and clinics offering legal, financial and career advice. Speed networking sessions will also be available to those looking for new job opportunities.
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020
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