This is my report of my visit to the 2004 NYC Licensing Show, where the owners of various characters seek to develop relationships that will lead to licensing agreements. IMPS was there, marketing the Smurfs characters, including Peyo's daughter Veronique, who is the owner of IMPS. She was not at the booth during my visit, so I did not get to meet her.

I was worried at first because the 3-D film banner from last year's show was no longer being displayed, and I feared that a movie was off. The new banner images were "cartoony" Peyo line art. Member Andrew Somer (Baldwin, New York) also attended this year's show and he said he's seen these banner "walls" used at older shows, before the 3-D banner.

IMPS appeared much busier than last year, at least for the short time I was there. (Andrew told me the booth was empty though, when he arrived later in the day.) It struck me that the other attendees seemed to want to draw people into their areas. I did not get that impression with IMPS. Their booth was very much closed with only one way in, and it was not welcoming to walk in, as it was apparently a private meeting space. It seemed as if they only spoke to you at length if you had already made an appointment, and many people did. Last year they welcomed me into their booth, and spoke with me until an appointment showed up. This year, they were busy with appointments for the duration of my stay. I hung around and I finally got to borrow the ear of an IMPS rep who broke from the meetings to talk with curious passers-by.

Last year I spoke with Hendrik Coysman, Managing Director of IMPS. He was there this year, but was in meetings while I was there. Last year he fed me a little info, but the woman I spoke to this year (Brigitte Ickmans, Business & Legal Affairs Manager) seemed determined to make sure she did not spill any information. She was well aware of who I am, and joked that "You know more than we do," presumably a reference to the rumors flying about the MushroomVillage.com bulletin board and Smurfy News newsletter. I tried to assure her that I always stress what is rumor and what is fact. (I don't want IMPS upset with me for spreading misinformation!) I said, "That's why I'm here - I had heard IMPS would have news to announce at the show, and I am hoping to confirm some rumors and provide my members with real info for a change."

I told her that we knew of the A&A press release, (our first hint of a video project) and told her that Hendrik had confirmed at last year's show that there is something in-the-works. I told her that on the Internet there were rumors of both an all-new cartoon TV series, and a big-picture film, and asked her if she could at least tell me if the new project is either or both. After thinking it over, she said that there is no all-new cartoon series coming to TV. She said if there is a movie, it will be an American movie. I asked who was producing it and she said it's not at that stage yet. She said "A movie takes years to make," and that they are still trying to secure a studio to produce the movie.

She also said she thinks there will be newly licensed Smurf products for the US market later in 2004, and early 2005, primarily for the retro market. That's great, but I'd love to see them tackle the pop market again, not fade away into obscurity as a "retro thing." I think they can pull it off!!

I asked if she would tell me about any licensed products that will be produced, but she would not. She indicated that when a movie or licensed product comes to market, the licensee would do the announcing, not IMPS. It seems they do not want to "steal anyone's thunder." She did suggest several times during my questioning that I just wait a few weeks, implying something would happen that she could not speak of. This excited me, as she said "weeks," not "months," or "years," but here we are in August, and the only new products I am aware of in the US at this time are some T-shirts that were spotted being test marketed in Target stores by member "SmurfyD" (Dayton Ohio).

I said "You seem busy, I hope you are sealing lots of licensing deals at the show," and she said they really do not finalize anything at the show. It seems the show is more for networking - people with characters to license set up booths and hope to establish contacts which they hope to turn into licensing deals down the road. Maybe that's what she meant by "wait a few weeks." Maybe they need time for deals to develop that are only proposed at the show?

I also learned that IMPS is responsible for world-wide licensing of the animated cartoon series, (except in English speaking countries) and world-wide licensing of the home video rights to the cartoon and feature films, except in the USA. These US video rights are held by Time Warner, who had recently announced that they would be releasing series 1 of "The Smurfs" as part of a collection of vintage Hanna Barbera cartoons on DVD! (No release date, just "Coming Soon 2005") I told her this, and she said she did not know that yet and seemed pleased at the news. Unfortunately, I learned after the show that this project had been delayed.

I asked why I had not received any issues of the IMPS newsletter lately. This was a periodic newsletter highlighting recent licensing activity. (I was worried about being out of the loop, in case something big was announced.) I received my last issue, #10, in 2000, and have not seen an issue since. She told me they have not had the resources to publish it since then, but she did assure me that I am on their mailing last.

As for the big announcement our anonymous Spy Smurf claimed there would be on our bulletin boards, and in the April '04 Smurfy News - there was none, and she would not confirm or deny any of his other rumor reports, which I had compiled and brought with me. At this point, two men arrived early for the next appointment, and she excused herself to entertain them while they waited for the current appointment to end. Oh, how I want to tell you who they were representing! But, I do not want to anger IMPS by reporting anything more than they told me themselves. Let's just say I was impressed!

LATEST INFO!! August 1, 2004. Member "SmurfyD" (Dayton Ohio) reports: "Great news! I wanted to fill you in that at the Target store where I work we now we have The Smurfs View-Master Gift! They should be at all Target stores across the USA. I guess this is first wave of new retro merchandise."

I sure hope so "SmurfyD!" Woohoo! Let the Smurfy fun begin!!