A comics business conference early in NYCC has been a tradition for a long time, with Milton Griepp of the pop culture industry business site ICv2.com usually delivering a white paper and other industry heavy hitters speaking out.
This year’s event will be a little different though: ReedPOP and ICv2 have joined forces for something called NYCC Insider Sessions Powered by ICv2, which will take the form of a half-day conference held Thursday, October 5th at the Javits Center.
This year’s event will include a special focus on how publishing, licensing and merchandising interact. Her Universes’s Ashley Eckstein will be the keynote speaker, which should be full of insights. I hope she tells that story about how no one believed women would buy Star Wars themed clothing.
While more speakers are to be announced, other confirmed speakers include Griepp (ICv2), Rob Salkowitz (Forbes) and Kristen McLean from Nielsen, aka the BookSCan people. Now THAT shuold be interesting.
A networking reception will follow the speakers. Unlike past White Paper events, this will be a ticketed event (one tier of tickets includes a NYCC pass.) For more news on the event go here and to purchase tickets go here .
“I’m honored and excited to share my story with the professionals attending the Insider Sessions at NYCC,” said Ashley Eckstein. “I founded Her Universe a little over seven years ago and my life has been immersed in the business side of the pop-culture industry ever since. From building the business to selling the business, from licensing to manufacturing to publishing, I’ve learned so much and I am eager to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gained.”
‘ICv2 has been doing conference events at New York Comic Con since the first year, and it’s been a great partnership. NYCC has grown to be a huge event for the business of geek culture, and this year ReedPOP suggested that we collaborate in taking business content at the show to a new level,” said Milton Griepp, CEO ICV2. “The result, the New York Comic Con Insider Sessions Powered by ICv2, will bring together the resources of ReedPOP and New York Comic Con, the expertise and history of ICv2, and the location in the business capital of the world to create a learning and networking experience that’s truly special.”
“We’re excited to collaborate with ICV2 on this exciting new program, where we’ll look to give professionals in the industry a great platform to discuss all things pop culture,” said Lance Fensterman, Global Head of ReedPOP. “This will be an amazing opportunity to hear from industry leaders about the future of geek culture, along with expert research and analysis detailing the current state of comics & graphic novels in bookstores and in the comic store market.”
