For second year, IBP Select connects U.S. exhibitors with international business, increasing opportunities for growth in new markets
Licensing Expo, the world’s largest and most influential licensing industry event, today announced that the trade show has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program Select (IBP Select) for the second consecutive year. IBP Select is a joint government-industry effort that brings thousands of international buyers to the U.S. for business-to-business matchmaking with U.S. firms exhibiting at major industry trade shows. Every year, across all its programs, the IBP results in hundreds of millions of dollars in new business for U.S. companies.
IBP Select will recruit licensees (those seeking to purchase licensing rights), retailers and manufacturers from five international markets— including Canada, India, Ecuador, China and Brazil—to attend Licensing Expo 2018 and connect them with U.S.-based exhibitors interested in breaking into new, international markets. Collectively, these five international markets represent $21.3 billion in annual retail sales of licensed merchandise (according to the LIMA Annual Global Licensing Industry Survey 2017 Report).
“Licensing Expo has long served as the preeminent meeting place for licensees and licensors, and we feel a responsibility to help our exhibitors identify and develop meaningful relationships that support their business goals,” said Jessica Blue, Senior Vice President, the Global Licensing Group at UBM. “Given the strong positive feedback we received last year, we’re pleased to once again host the IBP Select program and connect our exhibitors with growing international markets that are hungry to engage with their brands.”
“The IBP Select program is specifically designed to connect motivated international buyers with the most compelling U.S. brands, which makes Licensing Expo a natural partner,” said Andrea DaSilva, Global Team Leader, Media and Entertainment, U.S. Department of Commerce. “While the licensing industry is growing rapidly on an international scale, the top 10 licensors in the industry are U.S.-based, and we have no doubt this will add to the draw for our international delegation at Licensing Expo this year.”
As part of the IBP Select program, Licensing Expo will also host a panel comprised of IBP Select delegate leaders designed to explore the latest international trends in the industry. Panelists will address the economic climate in their home countries, what they’re looking for from the U.S. market and their perspectives on the licensing industry as a whole.
Licensing Expo 2018 was selected to participate in IBP Select after a rigorous evaluation process, further solidifying it as the industry’s premiere licensing trade show. Every year, over 5,000 brands showcase more than 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents from over 67 countries. Licensing Expo empowers brands and exhibitors to find the right partners to expand and transform their businesses and has connected the world’s most influential entertainment, character, fashion, art and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers for more than 35 years.
Licensing Expo takes place May 22 – 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please visit: www.licensingexpo.com.
