One hundred companies including BBC Worldwide, Entertainment Rights, ITV Global Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox have signed up to exhibit at Brand Licensing Europe 2009. And despite the current economic conditions, many major industry players are increasing their stand size for 2009 to accommodate longer-term strategies for 2010-12. These include Contender, Coolabi, JAST, Ludorum, Rainbow SpA, RDF Rights, Toei Animation, Turner Enterprises (Cartoon Network), TV Loonland and Vipoland.

The support for Brand Licensing Europe 2009 follows the event’s success last year when a total of 190 exhibitors (including 60 first timers) and 4,279 visitors from 60 countries attended the during its 10th anniversary year. One in four visitors to Brand Licensing Europe in 2008 attended from mainland Europe - an increase of 32 per cent on the previous year – and one fifth of all exhibitors on the show floor this year were headquartered in mainland Europe. The increasing European visitor base and properties on show proves unequivocally that Brand Licensing Europe is now widely regarded as the leading business and networking platform for the European licensing industry.

Retailers also accounted for 15 per cent of all visitors to Brand Licensing Europe this year, including buyers from European retailers Almedahis, Auchan, Carrefour, Dreamland Mavedra, Dunnes, Handelsges, Kaufhof, Smyk and Sonak. There was also an eight per cent increase in retail buyers attending from major multiples. 1,430 visitors attended Screening Suite presentations over the two days, including Amazon, ASDA, Bhs, C&A, Debenhams, HMV, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Mothercare, NEXT, Play.com, Primark, Russell & Bromley, Tesco and Toys ‘R’ Us.

Looking forward, organiser Advanstar Communications is planning a host of exciting new features for visitors to the 2009 show. The hugely successful Screening Suite and TV Lounge will return for another year, and the Licensing Academy seminar programme – which attracted 581 visitors in 2008 – will reflect the increasingly international tone of the show.

Jessica Blue, event director of Brand Licensing Europe, commented: “It has been Advanstar's mission to develop Brand Licensing Europe from what was considered three years ago to be a UK-centric trade show into a world class exhibition that truly represents and reflects the licensing industry throughout the whole of Europe. The results this year indicate we are well on our way to achieving this goal."

Brand Licensing Europe 2009 takes place from 30 September – 1 October at Olympia’s Grand Hall in London.