Inaugural conference connects licensing sectors and top execs highlighting trends and opportunities. 

License! Global brought together more than 350 executives from the licensing community in a sold out conference and networking event March 1 and 2 held at the Marriott Downtown, New York.

The NYC Summit: The Business of Brand Licensing featured 20 well-respected speakers from fashion, sports, entertainment, retail and agencies. The Summit was developed in partnership with UBM Americas, organizers of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA).

“The value of information about brand licensing provided by all the conference speakers was extraordinary,” says Tony Lisanti, global editorial director, License! Global. “I am certain that every attendee garnered valuable insights about industry trends and made new connections as well.”

The NYC Summit offered an in-depth analysis of all aspects of the licensing industry from apparel to entertainment, sports and corporate brands, and revealed insight from the sector’s top thought leaders. Key aspects included:

The second the day of the Summit featured a Wall Street financial perspective, sports licensing panel including NFLPA, NBA and NFL as well as a retail session with Target and Hot Topic.

“We are delighted with the attendee turnout and the cross section of industries represented, from the entertainment studios to brand management companies to the leading agents,” says Jessica Blue, senior vice president, licensing, UBM Americas. “It was great to see such a strong representation from the licensee and retail community, as well, which made for productive networking opportunities. We are looking forward to welcoming all of our NYC Licensing Summit Attendees in June at Licensing Expo.”

Nineteen speakers were on hand to share their knowledge of the business of brand licensing and best practices and included (in alphabetical order by company):

Topics covered at the two-day event included Hasbro’s franchise development strategies; Global Brands Group’s business model as licensor, licensee and agent; two conversations on fashion licensing and how it is implemented in the marketplace; two licensing agency panels; a conversation on franchise entertainment licensing; a look at how MCNs are changing the brand licensing game and the power of its celebrities; the Wall Street viewpoint; a in-depth examination of the global sports licensing business; a retail forum; and more.

Other insight to come from the conference included innovative case studies and partnership details, as well as candid conversation from the industry’s key thought leaders that revealed the methodologies and strategies behind just what makes their business so successful.

“The NYC Licensing Summit was a great success. It provided important insight into the key companies and trends that are shaping the licensing industry in 2016 and beyond. It was also a terrific opportunity to network and reconnect with our peers,” says Debra Joester, president and chief executive officer, The Joester Loria Group.

The discussions featured at the inaugural NYC Summit were developed by License! Global magazine.

The event sponsors were: