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BLE 2023 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Record Attendance and Unparalleled Retail Participation
Brand Licensing Europe proved to be a roaring success this year, ending off its 25th anniversary with record attendance and participation by merchants. The staggering count of almost 11,000 attendees visited BLE by Thursday's lunchtime on the final day-thus far proving to be an endless success for the organizers.
Over 1,400 retail visitors flocked to the BLE this year, up 22% from 2023 and 46% from 2019. Also attracted to the show were a notable number of attendees from mainland Europe, as the event hosted more than 240 participating exhibiting companies—a 5% increase from the previous year. Visitors in attendance came from 172 countries around the world, all seeking an electric atmosphere and broader array of brands.
In the words of Anna Clarke, SVP of licensing at Informa Markets, "The success of the exhibition is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and passion of an amazing team." The huge presence of retailers attending the exhibition was a great testimony to the attractiveness of the event, covering from the retailing giants and titans through Aldi, Asda, H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Zara.
Retail head at BLE, Laura Freedman-Dagg, said some of the first compliments came in the form of excellent feedback on the experiences and networking opportunities on hand as well as praising a remarkable increase in retailer attendance.
Apart from shattering previous records, what the year's BLE means for its participants and exhibitors justifies it as a major event for the licensing industry.
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