BLE Closes Applications for 2022 Retail Mentoring Programme / 23 RMP Alumni Attend Inaugural Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy
Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) has officially closed applications for its Retail Mentoring Programme (RMP) for the first time in its 12-year history following a record uptake with 82 buyers from 19 different retailers.
The annual programme kicked off last week when 78 RMP delegates attended Licensing International’s Licensing Essentials course in central London. This year’s programme will culminate at BLE after a day hosted by a brand owner or agent, and another licensing for retail conference in September. Hosts this year are selected from BLE exhibitors and include Acamar, Beanstalk, Bulldog, Bravado, Hasbro, NHM, TSBA, The Point 1888, Warner Brothers and Wildbrain CPLG.
This year’s RMP participants are as follows, including first timers Next, Pets at Home, DFS and New Look:
- Asda George
- com
- DFS
- Fat Face
- John Lewis
- M&Co
- Marks & Spencer
- Matalan
- Moonpig
- Morrisons
- New Look
- Next
- Paultons Park
- Pep & Co
- Pets at Home
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
- The Entertainer
- Truffle Shuffle
Truffle Shuffle Brand Director Aby Sollitt-Davis said: “After 10 years working in licensing there is always something new to learn. Even if it is how to get a better deal. You have to know what to look and ask for in the deal memo to be able to make it work best for you. Business is a two-way street, and all agreements require both sides to understand what is at stake for both parties to come to a happy agreement. Finding creative freedom in a world of rules needs a course like the Retail Mentoring Programme to allow creative minds and business sense to come together in a fun and relaxed environment.”
A further 27 delegates, the majority RMP alumni from retailers including Tesco, Selfridges, The Very Group, Sainsbury’s, Groupon, character.com, Pep & Co, Marks & Spencer and The Entertainer, were also in London on 12 May to attend the first ever Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy masterclass.
BLRA is a joint partnership between BLE and Licensing International and attendees heard sessions on children’s licensing from experts including:
- Jenny Kieras, Chief Revenue Officer and Matthew Smith, Head of Industry Foresight at Insights Family
- Gary Pope, Co-Founder and CEO at Kids Industries
Plus, a panel on toys was chaired by the editor of Toy World, John Baulch featuring Andrea Gornall, Sales and Licensing Director, 8th Wonder; Melanie Beer, Licensing Director EMEA, Amscan International and Richard Hollis, Licensing Consultant.
Head of Retail, Licensing at Global Licensing Group, Laura Freedman-Dagg said: “We’re delighted with the range of retailers on the Retail Mentoring Programme this year. It’s the biggest group we’ve ever had, and the buyers have already shown such enthusiasm for licensing. The Licensing Essentials Course was the perfect start to the programme, and I know that the licensor host days will once again be a highlight.
“It was also exciting to host the first Brand Licensing Retailers’ Academy, which we launched in partnership with Licensing International earlier this year. The majority of the academy delegates have previously completed our mentoring programme so it’s fantastic to be able to provide ongoing learning opportunities in the lead up to BLE. I’d like to thank all of the retailers who took the time to attend – we know how difficult it can be to secure time out of the office, but I hope they returned to work feeling reinvigorated and ready to discover their next big licensing opportunities.”
For media information:
Charlie Le Rougetel at BIGTOP / charlie@bigtop-pr.co.uk/ +44 (0)7736 330676
About Brand Licensing Europe
Launched in 1998, Brand Licensing Europe is the only pan-European annual event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The London event features over 2,500 brands and more than 7,500 licensees, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and licensing agents. Brand Licensing Europe is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry’s leading trade show organiser and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together.
About Global Licensing Group
The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets is the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo Shanghai, The Licensing Leadership Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-News and The Licensing Mixtape podcast. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.
About Licensing International
Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the global licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit LicensingInternational.org for more information and to utilize licensing’s definitive online resource.
