This week’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) at ExCeL London was the biggest ever, breaking previous record levels of attendee and retailer visitor numbers.
By midday on the final day (Thursday September 26) and with four hours of meetings still to go, BLE had broken the following records:
- 10,847 attendees – + 12% over 2023 so far. Please note, this is not the final end-of-show figure and is expected to increase even further.
- 1,417 retailers – + 46% over 2019 and + 22% over 2023
- Attendees from 172 different countries.
Anna Knight, SVP Licensing of BLE organiser Informa Markets, said: “What a fitting way to celebrate BLE’s 25thanniversary by breaking all previous records held by the show. It is testament to the hard work, commitment and passion of an amazing team who really care about delivering the very best event for this industry. On behalf of them and me, thank you again to everyone in the European licensing industry that supports us year after year – attendees, exhibitors, partners, retailers, media and more. It means everything.”
Retailers attending BLE this year included Aldi, Asda, ASOS, Bargain Max, Bershka, Boots, C&A, Celio, Dexy Co, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dunelm, El Corte Ingles, Forbidden Planet, Frasers Group, H&M, Habitat, JENNYFER, Lidl, LUSH, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Mercadona, Miniso, Next, PEP, Pets at Home, Poundland, Primark, Pull&Bear, Reiss, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Specsavers, Stradivarius, Tesco, Undiz, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, WH Smith, Zara, Zavvi and many more.
“What a fitting way to celebrate BLE’s 25thanniversary by breaking all previous records held by the show. It is testament to the hard work, commitment and passion of an amazing team who really care about delivering the very best event for this industry”
BLE’s head of retail Laura Freedman-Dagg commented: “Retail attendance at BLE has grown once again to record levels and we’re delighted with the category and geographical representation of buyers coming to the show this year.
“We’ve had fantastic feedback from retailers on the brands they’ve been able to meet through pre-booked meetings – which also reached record breaking levels – and ‘shopping the show floor’ for product inspiration and unexpected new connections.
“We work hard to bring new retailers to the show each year and there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing them walking the show and engaging with our exhibitors who, once again, have really brought their A game.”
BLE boasted a total of 242 exhibiting companies, a 5% year-on year increase, including more than 60 new exhibiting companies. There was a 10% increase in meetings over last year, with more than 6,200 meetings arranged through the BLE online Event Planner.
Earlier in the week, BLE organisers celebrated the show’s 25th anniversary with a birthday party and photocall with many licensing professionals who attended the first event in 1999 and still attend today.
BLE 2025 will take place from October 7 to October 9 at ExCeL London.
