Dragons’ Den’s Sara Davies MBE to present ‘Crafty Licensing’ keynote at BLE 2024

Sara Davies MBE, entrepreneur and investor on Dragons’ Den, will present the day two keynote at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe.

The show runs from September 24th to 26th at ExCeL London. Sara’s session – ‘Crafty Licensing: Transforming a business through brand licensing’ – takes place at 12:30pm on September 25th.

Sara will talk about her journey in business, from founding Crafter’s Companion while still at university and growing it into a global arts and crafts business, to meeting the surging demand for creative hobbies during the pandemic.

Her keynote will also delve into the strategies and transformative power of brand licensing as Crafter’s Companion expands in a rapidly changing market.

Crafter’s Companion entered entertainment licensing in 2023, signing a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The licensed ‘Fan-Art Like a Pro’ range aims to inspire fun, fandom, and creative skills building, and includes official character art, professional-grade art markers and expert instructions.

“Crafter’s Companion celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, which is a huge milestone for us,” said Sara Davies MBE.

“The reason we are still here after my lightbulb moment at university all those years ago is because we understand our customers so well – we are our customers.

“We know how important innovation and product development are to retaining our loyal customers throughout their crafting journey as well as the role they play in reaching new pockets of customers to continually expand the business.

“Brand licensing has been a key tool in this strategy, and I can’t wait to share insight into our experience and meet other retailers, manufacturers and brands at BLE in September.”

Visitor registration is now open for Brand Licensing Europe 2024 – the show’s 25th anniversary. To register, head to: https://utm.io/ugO2o