LSB 3_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 12/01/2017 14:42 Page 3
Leader I
t’s a brand new year, and the wider world is teetering on the brink of a number of major changes – from the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States of America to the UK Government triggering Article 50. Both could, of course, have implications closer to home for the licensing business. Licensees, licensors and agents have already felt the bite of a fall in the £pound against the $dollar and the euro, and many are bracing themselves for further Brexit-based challenges in 2017. However, when LSB asked several industry faces to share their views in this issue, the feedback we received also highlighted a positive aspect - the squeeze on margins has meant a focus on the strongest selling lines, resulting in tighter ranges more in line with what consumers want. Indeed, this edition is bursting with news on the successes currently being enjoyed across the licensing sector. From StudioCanal and its ambitious plans for Paddington and the emergence of With this issue: MTW Toys, through to the British cs CPLG Classi Museum making in-roads into Special
Left to right: Sam Loveday, Ian Hyder, Jakki Brown and Rob Willis.
China, a thriving animation scene and new trends, including unboxing and The Maker Movement, there are plenty of positives to start the New Year. And another positive comes in the form of The Light Fund reaching the magic £1 million fundraising mark thanks to the generosity of the licensing community. You can read more on pages 22-24 about how it got there and about the charities that will benefit. The diary is already filling up with events for 2017, too. These include the traditional Northern Light Fund get-together, this year being held in Blackpool (on March 23) and with Bulldog Licensing as the headline sponsor, tying in nicely with the agent’s tenth anniversary. And we’ll be celebrating even more success on Thursday, April 27, when the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (B&LLAs) returns. There’s still time to enter (check out brandlicensingawards.co.uk) – it really is the perfect platform to shout about your achievements. Here’s to a happy, successful and positive 2017 for us all. Jakki Brown, Ian Hyder, Rob Willis, Samantha Loveday, Fiona Pavely, Michelle Board, Keith Pashley and Dave Roberts. The LSB Team
Publication
Publishers of
Ian Hyder - Joint Managing Director Jakki Brown - Joint Managing Director & Editorial Director Rob Willis - Publishing Director Wordsmiths Extraordinaire - Fiona Pavely, Samantha Loveday, Michelle Board, Keith Pashley and Dave Roberts Mark Grayson – Creative Director Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 E-mail: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk Web: www.thelicensingsourcebook.co.uk Copyright 2017. The publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text.
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From baby to toddler to starting school
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