$187 Billion Global Licensing Industry Comes to Life at Licensing International Expo 2008
Biggest Brands of Today and Tomorrow Converge on New York City, June 10-12
Licensing International Expo 2008
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From June 10-12, more than 25,000 attendees from over 82 countries will converge on New Yorks Jacob Javits Convention Center for Licensing International Expo, the worlds premier marketplace for the $187 billion licensing industry.
Playing host to over 25,000 attendees from 82 countries, Licensing International Expo 2008 promises to be the largest assembly of licensing professionals anywhere, at any time -- from intellectual property owners, licensees and agents, to retailers, wholesalers and beyond. Whether spotting trends, building strategic partnerships, securing promotional tie-ins, or taking properties worldwide, this is where it all happens.
But the real stars of the show are the 6,000 properties and brands showcased throughout the halls of Jacob Javits Convention Center, ranging from the established to the up-and-coming. Spanning such categories as entertainment, lifestyle, sports, fashion, food & beverage, automotive, home, publishing, art and more, this years show is certain to uncover countless compelling stories.
According to Steven Ekstract, Group Publisher of License! Global Magazine, heres a few to watch for next week:
Character Licensing
The largest category, character licensing generates over $42 billion in annual global retail sales. In addition to the various characters making their debuts at this years show, countless classics celebrate milestone anniversaries this year and next, including Smurfs (50th anniversary), Inspector Gadget (25), Angelina Ballerina (25), Veggie Tales (15), Wheres Waldo?® (21), Cabbage Patch Kids (25), Casper the Friendly Ghost (turning 60 in 2009), Barbie (50 in 2009) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (25 in 2009).
Entertainment
While films like Indiana Jones, Iron Man and Sex and the City are current box office favorites, several highlighted titles are certain to generate significant buzz (and licensed product revenue) in the years to come, including X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), GI Joe (2009), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), Transformers 2 (2009), Conan (2009), Land of the Lost (2009), The Last Airbender (2010) and others.
Going Global
Licensing truly is a global business, as evidenced by the numerous products and brands whose popularity knows no borders. Among popular foreign properties now making their mark in the US are South Koreas Pucca, Japans Angel Cat Sugar, Italys Gormiti and Frances Monster Buster Club. Meanwhile, the popularity of Western brands in such emerging markets as Eastern Europe, China, India and Russia will continue to be a major avenue of growth in an otherwise struggling US economy.
Fashion Friendly
For retailers, deals with consumer friendly brands serve as a welcome source of foot traffic and, ultimately, sales in an otherwise slumping retail environment. Most recently, the industry has seen such collaborations as Marvel and Carrefour, Disneys Hannah Montana and Wal-Mart, Hasbro and Steve & Barrys, and Disneys Camp Rock and Target, among countless others.
The Green Movement
With an increasing focus on protecting the environment, several consumer brands have developed eco-friendly properties this year. Among those highlighted include Penguins Peter Rabbit
Naturally Better, the quintessential green brand based on the classic Peter Rabbit stories from Beatrix Potter; Planet Earth, the BBCs epic award-winning production and the inspiration behind an extensive licensing and merchandising program; the eco-friendly Idbids characters; and a range of products from The Beanstalk Group and The World Wildlife Fund which are considerate of the environment and offer consumers better everyday choices.
Wide World of Sports
From the sale of Red Sox World Series caps on the streets of Tokyo to Beckham emblazoned Galaxy jerseys dotting downtown LA, the global market for licensed athlete and team products has never been stronger. Among the sports brands represented at this years show are NASCAR, Little League Baseball, Little League Softball, Elite Mexican Soccer, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the PGA TOUR.
Timeless Legends
As the popularity of celebrity branded product lines continues to strengthen, this years show features a number of icons whose legacies are certain to attract significant attention. Elvis Presley Enterprises will be celebrating the King of Rock and Roll with a series of artists and photographers showcasing their work of him. Among others to be showcased are Marilyn Monroe, Groucho Marx, John Wayne, and Bruce Lee.
More information on Licensing International Expo 2008, its exhibitors and a full list of the various educational seminars to be hosted by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA) can be found at
www.licensingshow.com. Accredited media can register through today at by completing the application at
http://www.licensingexpo.com/convdata/licensingshow/brochures/Media_Re g2008.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists), or onsite beginning at 8am on Tuesday, June 10th.
About Licensing International Expo
Now in its 28th year, Licensing International Expo 2008 (
www.licensingexpo.com) is the most established and dominant licensing event in the world. The show is the global marketplace for leveraging brand and property equity and for developing new licensed consumer products. The Expo features 600 exhibitors, which represent more than 6,000 properties for consumer products, in categories including corporate brands, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, publishing, art and design and much more. Exhibitors include Fortune 500 consumer brands, Hollywoods top movie studios, publishing giants, artists and designers, which all introduce their properties to the marketplace at the show. With 25,000 attendees from 82 countries representing the worlds leading retailers, manufacturers, agents and brand owners, Licensing International Expo 2008 is an opportunity for business expansion, whether the business is a new property, an exciting popular character or a classic brand. The Licensing International Expo 2008 provides a unique and diverse platform to judge the viability and compatibility of existing brands at a show which represents the worldwide licensing marketplace.
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