Spring Fair, the UK’s leading home, gift, and fashion trade show, proudly announces the launch of the Licensing Lab in partnership with Fabacus and Licensing International at the next show taking place from 2-5 February 2025 at NEC Birmingham. The Licensing Lab offers an exclusive, purpose-built space designed by Llewelyn-Bowen Design dedicated to fostering the growth, collaboration, and celebration of the UK’s vibrant licensing industry, presenting a dynamic platform for licensors, licensees, and retailers alike.

With an impressive 61% of the Spring Fair’s 38,000 visitors expressing interest in licensed products, the Licensing Lab will serve as an industry hub, promoting knowledge sharing, business expansion, and networking. It also recognises the UK’s independent retail sector, a major commercial force valued at £66.3 billion and representing 30% of the overall market, as an essential audience for licensing professionals.

The Licensing Lab in partnership with Fabacus and supported by Licensing International, will offer a dedicated showcase for licensors and licensees to present the latest brands, trends, and innovations within the licensing industry.

Leading licensor across multiple product categories, Llewelyn-Bowen Design will design the lounge area with their bespoke wallpaper and furnishings. Visitors will discover a stylish and comfortable Networking Lounge for informal discussions, refreshment breaks, and collaborative meetings; and educational sessions to enhance knowledge sharing including workshops, panels, and seminars led by industry experts covering licensing trends, legal aspects, marketing strategies, and success stories. Interactive displays will feature engaging demonstrations, product samples, and live product demos.

Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director of Spring Fair says, “We are very excited to be launching the Licensing Lab at the next show. It will serve as a dynamic and engaging platform that brings together key players from across the licensing industry. By celebrating achievements, facilitating connections, and promoting knowledge sharing, the Licensing Lab will not only enhance the Spring Fair experience but also drive growth and innovation within the licensing sector. We invite you to join us in making this event a resounding success, contributing to the continued evolution and prosperity of the licensing industry.”

Steve Manners, Licensing International’s Head of Global Marketing & UK Managing Directorsays, “It’s fitting that, for the 75th anniversary of Spring Fair, the show is honouring its history of innovation by embracing new initiatives. Licensing International are delighted to partner with Spring Fair to help educate on the benefits of brand licensing to manufacturers and retailers in order to support the industry’s continued growth. We are working together to programme fantastic seminars, panel discussions, and presentations to raise awareness of the incredible opportunities for our members and to provide attendees with the resources they need to evolve and elevate their strategies.”

For more information on the Licensing Lab visit https://www.springfair.com/licensing-lab and to register for Spring Fair 2025, visit Spring Fair 2025.

About Spring Fair
Spring Fair is the UK’s leading retail event attracting 38,000 buyers with a combined budget of £2.25bn. It hosts the largest, highest-spend assembly of retailers in the country and is the ultimate destination for buyers. 2025 will celebrate 75 years of rich heritage. Inaugurated by the Queen in 1976 when it moved to the NEC and endorsed by retail icons, Spring Fair has remained a trusted marketplace even through significant industry changes. Spring Fair sparks connections, broadens horizons, and enables opportunities for the wholesale home, gift, fashion and everyday retail communities to thrive. As the ultimate hub for forecasting and innovation, Spring Fair delivers essential trend insights to keep retailers informed and ahead of the curve.

About Fabacus
Fabacus are a global technology business and creator of Xelacore, designed to digitally transform businesses within the licensing and retail industries through the power of data. The team have first-hand experience within retail, licensing, and manufacturing and have created the only solution globally to standardise licensing product data that can be used proactively with retailers and partners such as leading online marketplaces.

Innovating for the Future

Fabacus’ technology is uniquely designed to support Digital Product Passports (DPPs), a key requirement under the upcoming EU legislation (ESPR), which promotes sustainability and traceability. Fabacus’ platform creates compliant catalogues that meticulously organise and validate product information, ensuring businesses meet EU standards for transparency and environmental responsibility.

Enhancing Consumer Engagement

Fabacus’ DPP solution offers an opportunity to engage directly with consumers, capturing invaluable insights through a registration form that can enrich your CRM database.

About Licensing International
Licensing International has been at the centre of the multi-billion-dollar worldwide brand licensing industry for more than 35 years, helping companies profitably grow their businesses through an unparalleled network of information and membership. Licensing International works 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.