BLE Adds Awards to License This! Competition

Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) is revamping the format of the License This! competition, handing out one award each in the categories of art and design and brands and lifestyle.

The increased emphasis on the two categories will also be reflected on the show floor as BLE will occupy both the Grand and National Halls at the Olympia London to bring all of its exhibitors together on one level for the first time. More than 200 companies are confirmed to exhibit at the 2018 event, which will be held October 9 to 11.

BLE’s brand director, Anna Knight, said, “It’s really important that BLE represents and supports the entire licensing industry and that we offer maximum discoverability, so all of our exhibitors and visitors can have their best show. We are confident this will be facilitated by having everyone on one level across the ground floor of the Grand and National Halls.”

She added, “We’re also excited about the reaction from expanding License This!, which will result in two winners this year. Our 2016 and 2017 winners are both exhibiting at this year’s BLE, which shows what a valuable leg up the competition provides for start-ups.”