BLE 2023 welcomes record number of retailers

Record numbers of retailers and visitors from France, Germany, Italy and Spain attended Brand Licensing Europe last week.

9,649 licensing professionals attended this year’s event, an increase of 19% over 2022. Licensing professionals attended from 100 different countries, with a 28% increase in FIGS (France, Italy, Germany and Spain) territories, the highest on record.

1,166 retailers from 57 countries were in attendance, the highest in the show’s history and an increase of 31% on last year.

“This year’s retail presence has been incredible, with really strong attendance from fashion and toy retailers,” said Head of Retail, Laura Freedman-Dagg.

“We’ve also seen an increase in gift and novelty retailers as well as value retailers like Poundland, Matalan, Pepco and Primark. It’s brilliant seeing the retail strategy we introduced in 2021 really paying off to the benefit of the entire industry.

229 exhibiting companies – a 12% YOY increase – included 72 new exhibiting companies, also the highest on record.

BLE will return to London’s ExCeL in 2024 from September 24th to 26th.