BLE Launches Bigger Retail Mentoring Programme for 2013 Brand Licensing Europe - February 2013

 
Brand Licensing Europe, the Advanstar organised exhibition, has announced the launch of its Retail Mentoring Programme for 2013. It will offer yet more places and introduce new features this year.

The Retail Mentoring Programme offers retail buyers a wider understanding of the licensing business and is now in its fourth year. The number of retailers participating has tripled since its launch and last year 40 buying professionals from Avon, Boots, John Lewis, Mothercare, New Look, Sainsbury’s and Tesco took part.

Darren Brechin, BLE Show Director, said: “The BLE Retail Mentoring Programme gives retail buyers an all-round understanding of the licensing industry through mentoring, industry placements and seminars. It’s an invaluable opportunity to learn, first hand, how licensing a brand works. The end result is confidence and know-how, which helps buyers to make more informed decisions about their licensing business. We are now talking to participants about the 2013 Programme and hope that even more retailers will send their junior buyers to take part this year.”

The Retail Mentoring Programme is funded and organised by Advanstar and is the only programme of its kind. It was launched to nurture retail talent in the licensing industry and to help retail professionals to understand the industry’s complexities. The Programme starts in April and spans six months, during which the participant buyers take part in workshops and seminars, including the LIMA Licensing Essentials Course and Spring Fling in May in partnership with LIMA UK. They get to shadow licensors in their offices and the programme culminates in attendance at Brand Licensing Europe in October.

Hannah McCreadie, senior buyer, New Look, took part in the 2012 Retail Mentoring Programme and said: “The Programme was excellent – interesting, practical and informative. As well as getting a much better understanding of how licensing works we were introduced to new contacts, which has led to new business across a number of licences. We have also strengthened our relationships with licence owners, helping us understand the direction they are taking their properties in. Understanding the industry better has put us in a much stronger negotiating position.”

In 2013 there will be more resources available to participants as well as the chance for retailers to reciprocate by hosting licensors. The organisers are also encouraging brand owners and licensors who haven’t yet taken part, to come on board.

Brand Licensing Europe 2013 takes place from 15 – 17 October 2013 at London’s Olympia. For more information please visit www.brandlicensing.eu.