Relive last week’s industry showcase, networking events, awards, star performers and more.
Last week’s Licensing Expo – and the new-look Licensing Week – was another major success, with thousands of execs packing through the doors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during the period.
The entertainment presentations, news, star performers, brands to watch and deals came thick and fast, with something to suit pretty much everyone on the show floor.
From the news that global retail sales of licensed products and services reached $262.9 billion in 2016, through to the LIMA International Licensing Awards – with deserving winners including V&A, Hot Topic, Finsbury Foods, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Warner Bros. Consumer Products among others – and a host of licensors and agents using the show as a platform to announce new agreements (including the National Gallery signing its first international agency agreement and Funko expanding into new accessories areas with the acquisition of Loungefly.)
Other highlights included the appearance of JoJo Siwa on the Nickelodeon booth – attracting a huge crowd waiting patiently for photos – and WWE superstars including Kurt Angle, Ric Flair and Charlotte Flair, while the company’s photo booth on the concourse leading up to the show also proved popular.
As you would expect, there were a multitude of networking opportunities. The Opening Night Party proved a popular draw – with Jesse James Decker and Cirque du Soleil entertaining the crowds – while CPLG‘s Wednesday evening drinks reception at the Four Seasons was well attended, before the British contingent headed over to the Rio hotel to carry on the party.
Kudos also has to go to TSBA Group for one of the best booths of the show – if any of us Londoners were homesick it was the place to visit.
And as for the brands that everyone was talking about? Well, let’s just say Line Friends – a property from Korea and one of Asia’s top character brands – caused something of a stir, with a number of UK execs looking to find out more.
You can relive Licensing Expo – or get a flavour of the event if you were unable to attend – by checking out our exclusive photo gallery below.
Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter.
