BLE 2013 Registration is Open & New Exhibitors Announced

LONDON, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand Licensing Europe, the Advanstar organised exhibition, has announced that registration for BLE 2013 is now open. Visitors and the press can register at www.brandlicensing.eu.  The exhibition takes place at London's Olympia, 15-17 October 2013.

Now in its 15^th year, this year's show is set to be the busiest yet, with 200 exhibitors already signed up. Companies including Character World Ltd, Jast Company Ltd., Nia's World of Art & Design, Random House Group, STUDIOCANAL, The Copyrights Group, The Pokemon Company International and World Wrestling Entertainment will exhibit for the first time.

BLE event director, Darren Brechin, said: "We are very pleased with the organic growth taking place on the show floor this year and are delighted to welcome such outstanding new exhibitors to BLE. New brands are coming on board in response to the careful work we are doing to create the right environment and audience for them in the West Hall. Art, Design and Illustration exhibitors are filling the gallery. Character and Entertainment companies are already developing exciting plans to bring their brands to life for retailers and other potential partners."

Olympia's Grand Hall will host some of the biggest names in international Character & Entertainment licensing, including Aardman Rights, Disney Consumer Products, DreamWorks Animation, Hasbro Brand Licensing & Publishing, ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment, Mattel Brands Consumer Products, Mind Candy, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, SEGA Corporation, Walker Books and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, as well as the principal agencies in the European licensing industry.

BLE 2013's new Brands area, located in the newly renovated Upper West Hall, will feature exhibitors including Adidas Italy S.p.A., Alchemy Licensing, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Beanstalk, Chupa Chups, Dorna Sports S. L, NBA Europe, Performance Brands and Route 66 Licensing. New exhibitors Discovery Enterprises International and WWF UK will make their debut in this area.

Art, Design and Illustration brands will be housed on the gallery level of Olympia's Grand Hall. Exhibitors include April Rose Illustration, Fatina Dreams, Helz Cuppleditch, Kate Knight and Two Little Boys. Look out for new exhibitors including Belle and Boo, Budi Basa, Petite Frite for Kids, PIM Pimlada  and WIDE-SIDE.

BLE 2013 is also a comprehensive destination for the inventive and authentic world of heritage and museum licensing. Exhibitors such as Victoria & Albert Museum, The Royal Opera House and the Science Museum Group are joined this year by new exhibitors the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of Northern Island.

Once again the Advice Centre will be populated by companies offering specific services to the licensing industry. The Screening Suite and the Licensing Academy will play a significant part in the show again this year.

Brand Licensing Europe 2013 takes place from 15 – 17 October 2013 at London's Olympia. For more information please visit  www.brandlicensing.eu

Notes to editors:

About Brand Licensing Europe

Brand Licensing Europe 2013 (www.brandlicensing.eu) takes place from 15-17 October 2013 at Olympia, London. It is the only pan-European event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Now in its 15^th successful year, Brand Licensing Europe 2012 hosted 284 exhibitors and 6,875 visitors from 73 countries.

About Advanstar Licensing Group

Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com), producer of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for fashion, life sciences and power sports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 147 events, 68 publications and directories, 267 electronic products and web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovation, quality products and services enable Advanstar to "connect our customers with theirs". Advanstar has approximately 1,000 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.

SOURCE Advanstar Communications Inc.