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In 2004, when we began wanting to gather licensing people during a one-day seminar we had 7 exhibitors (who are still on board!) and we welcomed 120 participants.
The 10th Edition attracted 11% more attendees than last year and welcomed 80 exhibitors.
The place where decision makers from multiple areas meet
 This year Kazachok Licensing Forum welcomed 80 companies representing over 2,500 properties including such majors as: CPLG, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, 4K Media, Wiley, Toei Animation, Nelvana, Biplano, Nickelodeon, Turner and dynamic French representatives such as TF1 Licences, M6 Licences, France Télévisions Distribution, Glénat, etc. We also had young creative talent such as Yomzeo, Boumaga, Azarel, Luluben or iD the Brand of Wit.
Licensing includes people from different fields such as Licensees, Manufacturers, TV Channels, Services, Communication and Promotion Agencies, Agents, Licensors, Producers…who usually don’t have the opportunity to meet since the fairs they attend are devoted to one single category. For many, Kazachok Licensing Forum is the opportunity to see their partners and discuss the future.
A mixture of business and friendly atmosphere
Participants met for a cocktail at the end of the first day after the presentation of the 2013 Licensing Awards by F2D2 (French Licensing Federation).
The cocktail began with autographs from one of the main stars of Top Chef Season 3: Norbert Tarayre!
Guests also were able to discover and test Ubisoft’s new video game Rayman Legends scheduled for release in September 2013, and get their collector photo taken with Kuromi, Bad Badtz-Maru, Kerokerokeroppi, Hello Kitty, etc. in the TF1 Licences photo booth.
The cocktail finished with the celebration of One Piece’s 10th birthday. Luffy, the hero of One Piece, blew his candles to the groove of special guests: a group of Hip Hop dancers !
Events for specific targets
We are aware that visitors don’t attend the Forum for the same reasons and professional goals so we cater to their expectations by setting up specific events. The multi-category licensed products’ showroom for distribution pros
For the 2nd year the Forum included the Licensing Gallery - a unique multi-category showroom for distribution pros featuring a novel concept: Visit-Scan-Contact.
Buyers appreciated the concept of staging and showing products in different situations. The Forum’s Artistic Director Thierry Virvaire displayed the products in such a way that buyers could imagine the promotion and presentation of these products in sales outlets.
Agency Brands Dating: the new meeting for agencies and rights representatives
For the 10th Edition we also launched a new event dedicated to communication, promotion, marketing, and PR agencies. To the contrary of the Pitching Sessions that are more detailed, rights owners gave a short presentation of their properties and possible promotions in order to seduce agencies – each speaker had only 10’!
A total of 43 agencies attended the event and saw presentations by Nickelodeon / Viacom Consumer Products, Nelvana, Mediatoon Licensing, Les éditions Albert René, TF1 Licences, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Glénat.
The agencies expressed enthusiasm for the event’s concept and rhythm.
I really liked the Brand Agency Dating, for the contents of the presentations, the quality of speakers, the dymanic rhythm and the friendliness of the event! And the lunch was excellent! Thanks again! Hélène Dablin, Joint Manager, Yakacéfé
Licensing Trends
Here are the latest trends we have identified after Kazachok Licensing Forum 2013:
From digital to TV
Some video or Internet games have real communities of fans and are now diversifying into licensing to extend their brand range. We saw this with Skylanders or Angry Birds and other games are getting into licensing: Rayman, Paf le chien... From now on these properties are even available on TV: Pac-Man, Cut the Rope, Raving Rabbids, Sonic, etc.
Ever more action for boys
New heroes or heroes that boys already know are at work and boys won’t be at a loss for action! Among characters to keep a close eye on: Ninja Turtles, Max Steel, Redakai, One Piece, Saint Seiya, etc.
Toys are extending their licensing territory
Toys are the most important category when it comes to licensing developments but nowadays numerous toys are becoming brands and developing in other categories. Barbie was the pioneer but for the past 2 or 3 years there have been other successful examples of this expanding trend such as: Beyblade, Monster High, Zoobles, Les Déglingos, Playmobil, etc.
Revival properties
New series about the heroes of our childhood are making a big comeback: Martine, Calimero, Zorro, The CareBears, etc.
2014: the year of football
2014 is the year of the World Football Cup and a number of properties are surfing the wave: Inazuma Eleven, Extreme Football, French Football Federation, etc.
Numerous movie sequels
Films that were BO hits are back: Smurfs 2 and then 3, Hotel Transylvania 2, Despicable Me, Asterix: the Mansions of the Gods, The vacation of Little Nicolas, The Hobbit, Superman, etc.
A renewed preschool offering
Although fixtures such as Dora the explorer or Hello Kitty remain very present, new animated series will enthuse kids 3-6 years old: Heidi, Zou, Charley & Mimmo, Peter rabbit, Tree Fu Tom, Poppy Cat, Kikoriki, etc.
We look forward to seeing you on April 16th and 17th 2014 for the 11th Edition of Kazachok Licensing Forum! |
