By Kirsty Barr

What a colourful Day Two at BLE 😊.  Colourful in so many ways and for all the right reasons.

Today we paid tribute to our colleague and industry veteran, Kelvyn Gardner, who so sadly passed away earlier this year. In honour of his vibrant jackets everyone was encouraged to dress brightly for the day, and the industry did just that.  The show floor was awash with people wearing all colours of the rainbow and made the venue shine even brighter.  Added to this, the famous Lowe Brothers from the UK, donated all their colourful jackets worn over the years at Licensing Expo and BLE to The Light Fund. Buy a sequined, fur jacket or similarly crazy attire, make a donation to the charity and the item was yours! By late afternoon many had been sold and there was even more colour parading up and down the aisles.

Now let’s get down to Day Two business.  Another day of great business, networking and a busy show floor. More smiles and people happy to be back. All the open communal spaces were busy from start to finish with people making the most of the enhanced seating and dining areas. One area that was a creative execution for networking was the Motul Café. From the blank space I saw on Tuesday afternoon, it was great to see a meeting area looking as if was also an entertainment zone! If I was to name check a few more buzzy stands today I’d include Viacom CBS, SEGA, Difuzed, CAA-GBG and the Sports Zone. Somehow today was all about bumping into people and catching up with a quick ‘hi’ and download on 18months without seeing each other in person; but that’s what all Informa shows are about – not just the planned meetings, but the impromptu ones too.

You can’t write about BLE without ever mentioning the costume characters. Both days they’ve been out and about. A licensing show wouldn’t be the same without them and they provide ample photo opportunities for everyone, and never fail to put a smile on the sternest of faces!

And so, today’s top highlights for me include:

1. The Retail Trends Lounge had a very busy day starting with Peppa Pig and the new Plant with Peppa campaign in partnership with ASDA (now that’s smart) and ended with the Style Sisters, the duo who intend to help us live our most organised and stylish lives. Need a home makeover, anyone?  Mixed into the middle of the busy day was a serious and meaningful discussion for retailers as they emerge from the pandemic.
2. The Style Sisters themselves. Their presentation was to the point, and concise and the audience engaged with great questions. But the girls came into their own in the BLE Bar where they signed books, chatted with ‘fans’ and we even spotted some buyers amongst the crowd. These types of appearances and the engagement with industry executives is a bonus for everyone, as was another canine appearance I spotted today on the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
3. Now onto the Keynote for Day Two. Mark Kingston is a well-liked and respected industry executive with years of experience; he delivered insight into Viacom CBS’ consumer products business and how it works to engage new talent and ensure diversity. It’s always interesting to hear what he has to say.  But what caught my attention first and foremost was the research the business has done this year into dolls being more than just toys. It was hard-hitting and if you missed attending, I strongly recommend you take time to view the whole Keynote online. But particularly if you work in toys, with children and are keen supporter of change and inclusion.

I loved Day Two. I felt relaxed, could easily navigate my way around the floor and saw faces and friends who I’d not seen yesterday. And the colour and vibrancy was wonderful – oh, and it just seemed a little louder today. There was even more than a buzz, amongst everyone. But maybe that’s because everyone was doubly glad to be back. Great job Team BLE.

Kirsty Barr has worked in media and entertainment for “as long as I can remember,” starting her career in BBC Publicity followed by production roles on some of the UK’s best loved prime-time entertainment programmes (Absolutely Fabulous, Top of The Pops, Royal Variety Performance to name just three!). Once she found her destiny in PR, she worked for powerhouse Discovery Communications, and started her own business in 2007.  

She’s proud to currently represent, and have previously managed, trade and consumer communications for clients both internationally and in the UK across toys, licensing, publishing, lifestyle and  preschool entertainment.