Highlights from the 2021 Event

We loved being back at BLE and spending time with our partners and retailers face-to-face. It’s exciting to once again be able to showcase product, share ideas and discuss initiatives in person. We were delighted with how many people visited our stand, particularly new contacts, which demonstrates the ongoing importance of BLE to our business.

Louise Simmonds, Head of UK Licensing, Acamar Films

Having been hesitant about exhibiting this year, it turned out to be the most successful show yet! The BLE matchmaking system worked extremely well and we had some solid meetings with some excellent companies – all new to us and also had some meaningful walk ons. Everyone seemed very positive, happy to see each other and to generate some healthy business.

Caroline Mickler, Managing Director, Caroline Mickler Ltd

This BLE – Motul’s first – was very successful for us. We were here to show that we had a strong message and did so, both through the very well-received branding of the Motul Café and through regular meetings over the three days of the show. Our aim was to underline our credentials as a property with a powerful identity that encompasses motorsport, heritage and lifestyle, and we definitely succeeded.

Laurent Taieb, Motul

The opportunity to share a stand with some fellow Under 2s (boutique licensing agencies and consultants) made it practical for Rockpool to exhibit at BLE for the first time this year. We all agreed it was a rip roaring success. We were so very busy throughout and several visitors commented on the great sense of buzzy energy about the stand and that felt great. The consistent quality of meetings was also evident – it seemed very much as though people were there to do real business and not just to ‘fill the diary.’ All told, BLE 21 exceeded my expectations by quite some margin!

Vickie O'Malley, Managing Director, Rockpool Licensing

BLE 2021 to me felt almost like a
homecoming; a return to the community most of us hadn’t had the chance of spending time with for almost two years. And it was great to be back. The quality of the meetings was excellent, the ad hoc conversations at our stand and in the halls inspiring and really, simply seeing the fun, interesting
licensed products at the stands of other exhibitors made the week more than
worthwhile!

Laura Nevanlinna, CEO, Ferly

We had a hugely successful BLE. Our stand was busier than ever and we even had to hold meetings in the cafe. The meetings we had were very meaningful and have already resulted in new partnerships being forged and brands being expanded into new product areas. It was great to see that so many international visitors had made the trip to BLE and feedback from our sub agents was that the show was business critical for many of them.

Bethan Garton, Commercial Director, The Point. 1888

Hugely successful and all things weighed up it surpassed all our expectations; our stand was incredibly busy and thriving every day, both with scheduled meetings and walk ons, encouragingly not just with licensee walk ons but with retailer walk-ons. Our stories and brands were well received, so much excitement around our brands and our team with new business opportunities created at the show. We’re ready to build on from all the great momentum.

Marianne James, VP EMEA and Asia Licensed Consumer Products, Hasbro

The show was smaller than in previous years, less exhibitors and more spaced out – however I think this really worked in everyone’s favour with visitors much more engaged and willing to spend time to understand the brands. It was great to be back to talk to people and demonstrate in person what we do.

Richard Pink, Managing Director, Pink Key Licensing

My early impression is that BLE will prove successful for us and our clients. We had our own stand but also had meetings on the Aardman and Asterix stands. Good for the step count, but also gave me a good perspective on the show. My view is that there was a great mix of existing licensees and partners, but also some new to licensing contacts plus ‘new to me’ licensees

Ian Downes, Managing Director, Start Licensing

I am not often pleasantly surprised, but BLE 2021 managed to do just that. As productively busy as ever, great retailer presence and a few welcome COVID-safe hugs. Even I have to admit the quality of attendee was probably the
best for a long while and I’m looking forward to a “normal” BLE 2022 in
September next year.

Jeremy Orriss, Director of Licensing, Difuzed

BLE was brilliant for us. It was such a pleasure to see our licensors, licensees and retailers again in person after so long, and to catch up with industry friends, too. With huge momentum behind our existing brands and some great new additions to the portfolio, our meetings were all exciting and positive, with lots to follow up on now. We are looking forward to 2022 and beyond.

Vicky Miller, Licensing Director, Bulldog Licensing

BLE was an extremely successful show for us in many ways. The quality of the meetings we had with licensors, licensees and retailers was very strong, and discussions had real substance. Although a few local European markets saw a limited presence of licensees, the show floor and our stand were nonetheless bustling with activity. The number of walk-ons to the WildBrain CPLG stand was actually higher than in previous years – potentially due to the enthusiasm we saw from delegates for photos with the much-loved Teletubbies or seated in our super-sized scented Strawberry Shortcake chair!

Maarten Weck, EVP and Managing Director, WildBrain CPLG

It was great to be back on the Rocket Licensing stand at BLE last week to finally see and engage with existing and potential partners ‘in the flesh’. The buzz and excitement was palpable and it was so good to be able to hear all that ‘corridor chatter’, something that you really can’t replicate in a MT/Zoom meeting or on the online platforms.

We were extremely busy on the stand, with diaries packed out all three days with meetings that were both positive and productive. It really felt like there was an optimism and desire from both licensees and retailers to continue to commit to classic brands such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Beano or The Elf on The Shelf, but also start looking at new brands, whether it was The European Space Agency (ESA) or Vikings Valhalla.

Rob Wijeratna, Joint Managing Director, Rocket Licensing

What a pleasure to get together live! We were all really happy to be
able to look each other in the eyes and no longer through a screen... Congratulations to the entire Informa team for having braved all the
complications and for having masterfully organised this beautiful BLE 2021 opus. Many excellent meetings with partners who were there to reconnect with the real business, the one of human beings who want to collaborate and create new adventures together! As they say in Smurf world... fewer than 300 sleep before the next BLE! I can't wait!

Phillippe Glorieux, Head of Marketing and Communications, IMPS The Smurfs