While we’re still recovering from the aftershock of Toy Fair (and of three consecutive snowstorms), we’re already thinking about Licensing Expo.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced a lineup of more than 30 seminars for Licensing International Expo 2010, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 8 – 10.

Part of LIMA’s Licensing University program, the sessions cover a wide variety of topics for industry newcomers as well as those with many years of experience. With an emphasis on helping licensing professionals expand their knowledge base, the program will cover topics including retail and distribution strategies, legal and financial issues, social media, marketing challenges, and international expansion. The conference offers a strategic look at virtually all major industry segments, including corporate branding, art, sports, and fashion licensing as well as growth markets such as Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
The conference program runs from Sunday, June 6 through Wednesday, June 9. A free keynote session will once again be presented on Tuesday, the opening morning of the show. Details of the keynote will be announced in the coming weeks.
The seminar program kicks off on Sunday, June 6 with a presentation on “The State of Retail in the U.S.,” by Bentonville, AR-based retail consultant Carol Speickerman, followed by a retail tour of Las Vegas, hosted by Speickerman and LIMA. Speickerman will provide an overview of steps mass merchants are taking to differentiate themselves from the competition, including their use of proprietary brands. Immediately following the presentation, LIMA will host a tour of local retail outlets. Cost for the presentation and tour is $55 per participant until April 10; $75 per participant after April 10.
Monday, June 7, there will be  two sessions designed for newcomers to the licensing business. The introductory “Licensing for Beginners” panel, moderated by Rick Mallow, former licensing director for Elmer’s Products, Inc., will offer expert guidance on the fundamentals, from basic terminology and roles of licensors and licensees to when to use licensing strategically to grow a business. Additionally, Jed Ferdinand, an attorney with Grimes and Battersby, LLC, will present “Licensing Law for Beginners.”

Session highlights include:

Getting Your Brand Ready for Licensing – Learn how to evaluate whether a brand is ready for licensing and how to evolve internal structures and processes to support a licensing program. Moderator: Brooke Bridges, associate vice president, Beanstalk Group

Retail Strategies Beyond the Top Ten – Take a look at how key retailers are using brands, exclusives, and innovative strategies to prosper in the current economic climate. Moderator: Sean Heitkemper, vice president of business development, IMC Licensing

New Property Introductions – Learn how to launch a new intellectual property and build a meaningful licensing program at retail. Moderator: Marc Mostman, president, Most Management

Using Demographic Trends to Grow Your Licensing Business – Discover how demographic trends are creating new opportunities. Moderator: Stephen Reily, CEO and co-founder, IMC Licensing, and founder, Vibrant Nation

Deal Structures in the Interactive Gaming and Mobile World – Meet professionals from leading game publishers, retailers, manufacturers and agencies making game-based licensing a success. Moderator: Germaine Gioia, vice president of licensing, THQ

I Never Thought that Would Work: Unusual Success Stories – Explore challenges and opportunities in developing new categories. Moderator: Liz Kalodner, executive vice president and general manager, CBS Consumer Products

To view the complete 2010 seminar lineup and see which sessions are CLS-certified, visit the licensing expo website. You can register online, or by phone at (888) 644-2022. Sessions have limited seating and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.