Licensing Expo 2022 was a major success.
The licensing event, organized in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, led its in-person return with a 42% increase in retailer attendance from the 2019 event. Held live at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from May 24-26, the event included almost 5,500 meetings on the show floor, with many more from the educational and networking seminars, standing-room-only keynote sessions, and meetings on the online platform.
Licensing Expo drew thousands of attendees from some of the world’s most reputable retailers and licensees, including Walmart, Primark, Macy’s, H&M, PacSun, Hallmark Cards, Jakks Pacific, Forever 21, CVS, and Target. The show floor hosted more than 250 exhibitors from a variety of categories, as well as more than 10,000 unique attendees in search of new products, brands, trends, and partners.
“Each year, Licensing Expo serves as a springboard for new trends that will excite consumers that tap into societal behaviors, and this year did not disappoint,” says Global Licensing Group Senior Vice President Anna Knight. “From Gary Vaynerchuk and Pam Kaufman addressing the cross selection of entertainment and NFTs on the keynote stage to the many immersive offerings that show the power of location-based experiences, which was our theme this year, the show was the meeting place to discover how the most recognizable and up-and-coming brands are shaping and bringing new spins to the hottest trends.”
The highlights of the event included two keynote addresses on May 24 and May 25 that attracted the biggest audiences in the show’s history. “The Power of Possibilities: What’s Ahead for Licensing” by Pam Kaufman and Gary Vaynerchuk and “From Dream to Reality: The Power of Brand Licensing for Location-Based Entertainment” by Cecil D. Magpuri, Robert L. Ward, Susan Vargo, and George Wade brought licensing inspiration and insights to the registered attendees.
Additionally, the License This! Competition drew a strong audience for the live finale. Of the six finalists, Kieche Meleson O’Connell, designer of Catoms: Atoms with Attitude, won the Character & Animation category. Stef “Sharky” Shultz also won the Brand & Design category with Hunnie Bumble and Friends. Each of the winners received a variety of rewards, including a free, 100-square-foot booth at Licensing Expo 2023, one-year memberships, and a one-to-one consultation with the expert judging panel.
This year also marked the first time Licensing Expo was held both in-person and online, allowing attendees to access licensable IPs and schedule meetings before the live get-together. The online platform will remain open through June 3 to facilitate follow-up appointments and give guests the opportunity to engage with the content on-demand.
Attendees can sign in to continue to access content and book meetings here.
