Sales for Brand Licensing Europe 2009 are up by six per cent with the equivalent of almost 80 per cent of last year’s floor space already claimed. Brand Licensing Europe is Europe’s leading exhibition for the licensing industry and takes place on 30 September and 1 October at Olympia’s Grand Hall in London.

Licensing giants Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Chorion are among the most recent of more than 100 companies to pledge their support for the event. At almost six months out the floorplan also includes many first time exhibitors: Annie Phillips, Characteristix, FitzRoy Media, Franklin Covey, GATEWAY4M, IONA Cards, John Wylie & Sons, Jules Rimet Cup/Coralbay Management, Marilyn Robertson, Pimra, Premium Mobile Distribution, Softies & Cuties and Walker Books.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, which is responsible for licensing entertainment super-brands Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes and Harry Potter, is returning to Brand Licensing Europe for the fifth consecutive year.

Bruno Schwobthaler, senior vice president sales and business development EMEA, explained why: “The growth of Brand Licensing Europe – specifically the significant increase in retail attendance and European visitors – makes it a ‘must attend’ show for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.”

“As an entertainment licensor the Screening Suite, coupled with the stand, provided the perfect environment for us to showcase our key brands and the initiatives supporting them. This resulted in substantial new business across the whole portfolio and specifically an acceleration of the roll out of Looney Tunes Active, Tweety and Scooby Doo across Europe. We congratulate Advanstar on the investment they have made in the show and look forward to returning in 2009.”

Chorion – home of entertainment veterans Mr Men, Noddy and Paddington as well as Olivia, Horrible Histories and Princess Poppy – has exhibited at Brand Licensing Europe for ten years in 2009, choosing the event to launch, among others, The Mr Men Show to the trade in 2007.

Bettina Koeckler, vice president, licensing sales, UK & EMEA, at Chorion commented: “Brand Licensing Europe has always been a great venue for Chorion to showcase our brands and it is becoming increasingly relevant and important as an international event. We think of it as our 'Open House' where we have the opportunity to talk to as many new potential business partners as possible and catch up with our long standing clients as well.”

Around 200 companies, 2,000 properties and over 4,000 retailers, licensors and sales promotion agents are expected to fill the halls come 30 September.

This year, visitors will be able to experience a host of features including the Screening Suite, TV Lounge, Licensing Academy and the Salon, House & Home and Toy Store product showcases. A property finder is also being introduced to enable visitors to instantly pinpoint which properties are suitable for them and where they can be found.

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