Brand Licensing Europe has introduced a Discovery & Design zone; a new accelerator launchpad for entry level licensing entrepreneurs.
The zone houses 14 entrepreneurs and is sold out for 2024. It sits within the busy Character & Entertainment zone and adjacent to the content theatre ensuring lots of traffic for exhibiting entrepreneurs, which include a mix of smaller businesses and brands from quirky greeting card companies and art illustrators to children’s authors and more.
Those included for 2024 are: Mea Mouse, Sophie Jonas-Hill (the 2022 License This winner), Vicki Thomas Associates, Jelly Armchair, Aniballers (2023 License This winner), Kate Merritt, Middle Mouse, Ginger Betty, Greg & Company, Pictufy, Afro Entertainment Studios and This is Iris, plus two final exhibiting entrepreneurs which will be announced shortly.
Jenn Cash (Mea Mouse) is a graphic designer, technology consultant and STEM ambassador. She is also the founder of Mea Mouse.
She commented: “Mea Mouse is a vibrant and exciting new brand and we’re exhibiting at BLE because I want to grow Mea Mouse from an Irish known brand to a global brand like Peppa Pig. We have Mea Mouse toys and clothing to inspire STEM subjects in young children and, at BLE, we will be launching STEM books for younger children.”
BLE event director Ella Haynes continued: “Discovery & Design is a springboard for small businesses with emerging brands eager to explore the world of brand licensing. It’s a brilliant showcase for BLE’s global audience of licensors, retailers and industry professionals to discover and partner with untapped creativity, talent and unique offerings before they go mainstream.”
Entrepreneurs specialising in art, design and illustration are welcome to apply to exhibit in Discovery & Design 2025 at any stage in their business’s journey. Other smaller brands and businesses can qualify to exhibitor in the area for a maximum of two years on the proviso they have no licensing deals and/or officially launched products.
Brand Licensing Europe takes place 24-26 September 2024 at ExCeL, London and visitor registration is now open.
