A record number of exhibitors have confirmed their presence at the 2011 Kazachok Licensing Forum, which will take place at the La Halle Freyssinet, Paris, March 31 – April 1.

“We’re naturally really pleased with the sales to date,” commented Nathalie Chouraqui, Director of Kazachok. “The exhibitor numbers are up compared to this time last year - a record performance for this stage of the Forum’s sales cycle. With Continental Europe as our core market, we continue to welcome international participants who are looking to extend their brand into this territory as well as those who are looking for opportunities further afield.”

15% of those already signed will be first time exhibitors at the Forum. These include US licensors Beverly Hills Polo Club and LA Avenue. From Mexico, the colourful and smiley world of Fulanitos will be looking to promote their latest licensing options, as will French licensor Kontiki, best known for their Diddl brand. Needing no introduction, the world famous Moulin Rouge brand has also confirmed its attendance.

Figures presented at a recent Kazachok business breakfast in London, show that the brand licensing industry continues to offer opportunities for all those engaged in the licensing process from designers and manufacturers, through to agents and consultants, distributors and retailers. Industry intelligence gathered via Kazachok’s licensing services such as the International Licensing and Merchandising Guide indicate that Character (25%), Entertainment (23%) and Fashion (15%) are the largest licensing sectors across Western Europe. The UK, France and Italy are the most active in terms of licensing, with more licensors and licensees than other territories such as Iberia and GAS.

With this is mind, Kazachok’s licensing expert based in Germany, Stefanie Brandt, explains the key benefits of attending the forum: “Many properties are international or have multi-territory aspirations, so meeting in a European city and major international trade hub such as Paris, can help focus the brand strategy as well as present new and unexplored licensing opportunities”.

“In these tough economic conditions, attending the Forum couldn’t be more advantageous,” concurs Nathalie Chouraqui. “Its timing and location in relation to other key sector shows such as MIP means key industry players across Continental Europe can do business with partners and new prospects with minimum additional travel and expense, much earlier in the year.”

Based at La Halle Freyssinet in Paris, the Kazachok Licensing Forum 2011 will once again provide an ideal opportunity for decision makers from the licensing, retail, manufacturing and marketing industries to meet new prospects, sign deals, observe and analyse emerging industry trends and latest market data from key territories.

Now in its eighth year, the timing of the Forum provides a clear competitive advantage for those who participate. As the first industry specific event of the licensing calendar, it is perfectly placed between Bologna Book Fair (March 28-30) and before MipTV (April 4-8), both major events in the publishing and broadcast industries and key drivers for many licensed properties and brands. The Kazachok Forum perfectly complements both these shows and provides an ideal window of early opportunity long before Las Vegas

New show features for the 2011 Forum will include Trend showcases which will display a selection of products, visuals, style guides and artwork as well as the introduction of Forum TV which will promote new properties and brands via sizzles and teasers, presentations and episodes on digital screens located around the show.

Responding to feedback from the 2010 Forum, the 2011 event will also see an increase in pitching sessions from 25 to 36 and the conference programme redesigned to feature four key seminars lead by industry experts. Another show bonus is the reduced entrance fee of 45 € for two days.

Exhibitors already confirmed for the 2011 Forum include: MTV / Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, Toei Animation Europe, 4Kids Entertainment, Canal + Licence, Planeta Junior, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, CPLG, France Télévisions Distribution, Nelvana, Ankama, Alphanim – Gaumont, Lagardère Active Jeunesse, Wiley, RMP Licensing, TF1 Licences, The Licensing Company, Hyphen, Mediatoon, Marathon – Zodiak Company, Moonscoop, MJA Licensing, Gallimard Jeunesse, Marsu Productions, Les Fées Existent, M6 Licences, Astérix - Ed. Albert René, WWF, Propertiz, Glénat Licensing, License Lab’, Cyber Group Studios, Mattel and Global Licensing

All visitors and exhibitors will enjoy a variety of delicious food available to purchase throughout the show. A VIP Cocktail party will end the first day of the event. A show guide is also given to all attendees when they arrive at the show, to help them navigate the show and get the most out of their visit.

For more information on the show visit: http://forumlicence.kazachok.com