Licensing Expo connects retailers globally to seek the new and trendy in Brand IP
Licensing Expo is returning to Las Vegas on 21st May with an even bigger focus on retail than ever before. As the premier global event for licensing, IP, collaborations and brand extension, the 2024 event delivers a strong lineup of retailers confirmed to attend from all over the globe.
Many specialty retailers are registered, spanning categories ranging from candles and jewelry to skateboards and cufflinks, with representation from the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, France, Portugal, China, Korea, Japan, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and more.
This year’s show theme is ‘Brands at Play’ and will showcase a great variety of IPs across the show floor in terms of category representation, from toys and gaming to entertainment and sports. Whether you are an online-only store or a traditional brick and mortar retailer, there is something at the event for everyone.
Retailers signed on to attend include Walmart, Abercrombie & Fitch, ALDO, Urban Outfitters, Zara, Amazon, Deichmann, Burlington Stores, Hobby Lobby, Pacsun, Walgreens, McFarlane Toys, Hallmark Cards, Crocs, among many others.
For the second year in a row, Licensing Expo will host The Retail Lounge on the show floor, sponsored by Falcon’s Beyond, providing a meeting place for retailers to sit down and connect with the world’s leading licensing brands. The online meetings platform has also been expertly enhanced to allow attendees to browse potential partners much more easily and pre-book meetings for a smooth and productive onsite experience.
“Retailers are the number one requested audience year after year, and there are already 40% more retailer meetings this year than last, so being the best partner
and guide to this visitor category is a key area of focus for us,” says Laura Freedman-Dagg, Head of Retail, Global Licensing Group, organizers of Licensing Expo and Licensing for Retail Day. “We have retailers registered from more than 40 countries this year, all seeking to meet and connect with the licensing industry to determine the best brands to partner with for their customer base and assess what’s coming up for the future of the industry. Licensing can be overwhelming, especially with the volume of brands on the show floor, so we always aim to provide an outlet that fits all our retailers’ needs.”
Over 300 exhibiting companies including Mattel, Minecraft, NASCAR, Nintendo, American Red Cross, Netflix, Pokémon, Liquid Death, LEGO and more will be in attendance.
In terms of content, Licensing Expo will host a first-ever Chief Marketing Officer panel, with speakers from Spin Master, ALDO and Toys R Us, sharing critical insights on future trends and shifting consumer behavior. The panel will be moderated by Veronica Hart, Founder of HARTstring Entertainment and Chair Elect, Licensing International, who shares a wealth of experience spanning franchise planning, business development, strategic partnerships, retail and marketing through years leading Franchising Planning at Paramount and CBS Studios.
For those new to the licensing industry or interested in learning about the future of the business, sessions including an orientation and Licensing 101, Exclusive Insights into the 2024 Global Licensing Industry Study and a show floor tour for first timers.
To view the full list of brands, conference agenda or networking events, visit www.LicensingExpo.com.
Registration is still open for the May 21-23 event at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, please visit www.LicensingExpo.com to attend.