Record results in art and attendance at L!CENSING 2003 International - Show news - Brief Article

fresh YORK -- For the first time in the 23-year history of the annual L!CENSING display attendance exceeded 20,000 professionals, a 75-percent increase above 2002 attendance. The show, which took place from June 10 to 12 at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center featured 425 exhibitors, nearly 200 of which were in the Art and Design Gallery.

"The tremendous extension of the Art and Design Licensing gallery throw backs the impact of original design in a product's disentanglement and its corresponding value at retail," said Elizabeth Waiksnis, exhibit manager for L!CENSING 2003 International. "As manufacturers and retailers continue to search for unique cropss to help drive consumers' purchases, the annual Licensing display has proven to be the best platform for the breadth of original designs and the exchange of ideas."

According to a inquiry sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA), licensing has changed the way artists and designers market their work. With more than $161 million in royalty incomes more than $2.9 billion in retail sales above the past year and a 95-percent increase in the licensing of art properties, artists and designers are making their mark in the licensing industry. Art and design's 95-percent increase was the largest percentage growing out of all the categories in the study

notwithstanding that art licensors are relatively small in comparison to the size of other companies in the major licensing categories, they are commanding royalty rates comparable to major properties in the larger sections according to Charles Riotto, president of LIMA. "Due in large part to the relative uniqueness of the properties, art licensors bring a special equity and value to the returns development process that translates into succes for each partner and consumers" he said.

L!CENSING 2004 International will take place June 8 to 10 2004 For further information, call (203) 882-1300 or visit www.licensingshow.com.

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