People visit Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
by Xinhua writers Tan Jingjing, Huang Heng, Gao Shan
LAS VEGAS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of leading retailers, manufacturers and licensees from around the globe gathered in Las Vegas, U.S. state of Nevada, this week for Licensing Expo 2023, the world's premier licensing trade show.
The show, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, provides opportunities for retailers, licensees, and manufacturers to connect with the world's most influential entertainment, character, art, and corporate brand owners as well as agents to discover brands, develop new consumer products, and explore cooperation.
Over 250 exhibitors are on the show floor at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, spanning across a wide range of categories including TV & film, entertainment, sports, gaming, publishing, automotive, corporate brands and art.
This year's expo highlights fashion as its theme, spotlighting innovations in this field and its impact on the wider licensing industry.
In 2021, fashion licensing generated about 28.5 million U.S. dollars, out of the 315.5 billion global licensing industry, according to Global Licensing Group, organizer of the expo. This year's expo aims to shine a light on this booming part of the market.
"We are thrilled to be at Licensing Expo 2023 to continue to provide consumers with exciting opportunities to embrace all that these iconic brands stand for," said Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products at iconic toymaker Mattel. "Building on strong momentum, we can't wait to share more projects for 2023 and 2024 that will use fashion to bring these beloved brands to life."
Chinese brands are participating in the trade show with their licensed products, programs and characters, including bilibili, a leading video community for young generations in China.
"Through participating in the expo, we hope to show our most popular licensed cooperation products to overseas markets, and boost popularity and influence of Chinese culture and products including animations. We expect to reach out to more potential partners at the show and explore more opportunities in the global market," Zhengying Xie, copyright director at bilibili, told Xinhua.
China is the world's 5th largest licensing market with the fastest growth in annual retail sales of licensed merchandise and services, Tani Wong, managing director of Greater China and Southeast Asia at Licensing International, a leading trade organization for the global licensing industry and sponsor of the expo, told Xinhua.
For more than 40 years, Licensing Expo has connected the world's most influential entertainment, character, art, and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers. ■
People visit the exhibition area of bilibili, a leading video community for young generations in China, during Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
A visitor takes photos during Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
A visitor poses for photos during Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
A man visits Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, the United States, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
