Category Archives: Lifestyle

Barbie links with Balmain for fashion collection and NFTs

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Mattel has announced a collaboration between its Barbie brand and French luxury fashion label, Balmain. Developed as a celebration of both Barbie and Balmain’s combined impact on fashion and greater culture, the two brands are launching a new global ready-to-wear fashion and accessories collection. 

The venture also marks the first time Barbie is entering the digital art world. Together, the two entities are dropping three one-of-a-kind NFTs of distinctive Barbie and Ken avatars. Styled in complete looks from Balmain’s designs, each is accompanied by a one-of-a-kind bespoke set of Barbie-sized Balmain pieces, creating a unique digital and physical art collection.

These Barbie x Balmain NFTs will be available exclusively through Mattel Creations, via an online auction hosted on mintNFT.

From a nostalgic 1990’s-era Barbie logo to a “Barbie pink” Pantone to Barbie’s iconic packaging,  the Balmain 50+ piece collection intertwines the toy’s signatures with the label’s hallmarks, like its marinière and Labyrinth patterns.

To mark the partnership, Barbie and Balmain have a launched digital campaign, which depicts the ready-to-wear and accessories collection on Barbie avatars.

For more information on the Barbie x Balmain collaboration and to join the Barbie x Balmain MintNFT fireside chat on 1/11, visit NFT.MattelCreations.com. The Barbie x Balmain ready-to-wear and accessories line will be available for purchase at Balmain stores, balmain.com, Mattel Creations and retailers worldwide beginning January 13.

WWE signs agreement with IGT for exclusive licensing rights to develop omnichannel lottery games

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WWE has signed a multi-year exclusive licensing agreement with International Game Technology PLC to develop and distribute WWE-branded omnichannel lottery games and turnkey promotional programmes featuring company logos, Superstars, events and programmes.

“IGT is the clear industry leader in the lottery and gaming space, and we look forward to collaborating by bringing our intellectual property to our fans and lottery games around the globe,” says Alex Varga, WWE Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Development. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to continue to leverage the strong crossover between the WWE Universe and another segment of the gaming landscape.”

“The WWE brand has broad appeal that reaches diverse age groups and cultural demographics in many geographies,” says Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Lottery. “IGT looks forward to melding the unique WWE assets with IGT’s lottery expertise to create appealing, high-quality games and second-chance promotional opportunities for our global customers and their players.”

 

BlackMilk goes sci-fi with latest Matrix-inspired pieces

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BlackMilk clothing has officially entered the Matrix with seven new pieces inspired by the hit movie franchise, including its take on the iconic Neo Trench Coat.

The new pieces are dropping on January 10 at 1pm (PT) as part of BlackMilk’s larger ‘Beam Me Up’ collection, which includes futuristic designs inspired by all things sci-fi. Fans can get their wish lists ready ahead of launch by previewing the entire collection now at https://blackmilkclothing.com/collections/beam-me-up

 

 

Tom Daley launches line of knitting kits on LoveCrafts.com

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The celebrity collection the nation has been waiting for is finally here: Made with Love by Tom Daley – a line of the Olympian’s very own knitting kits – is now available to purchase exclusively on LoveCrafts.com.

Tom hopes these kits will aid people’s mental wellbeing, giving the nation the chance to unwind and get rid of any stress or anxiety.

The designs include sweater vests, a bubble cuddle cardi, a colourful flamingo and a hat and scarf. Each kit contains everything you need to make your knitted creation and every little detail has been carefully considered. The designs use 100% merino wool, sourced from happy sheep, which, as Tom says, is “just so soft and squishy, like a warm cuddle.”

Everything in the box can be used again or recycled; even the instructions in the box are printed on a 10x10cm card, so purchasers can use it to measure their tension square. Designed for beginner knitters, the kits will help newbies learn new skills too, with helpful videos to explain new techniques along the way.

Tom says: “I do think I have crafting to thank for the way I was able to compete at the Olympic Games. During Covid, at the Olympics we couldn’t do anything, we couldn’t go outside, we couldn’t go and interact with anyone else, so we had to find something else to distract ourselves from it and honestly that was where my Olympic knitting project came about.
My baby, if you like, Made with Love by Tom Daley started on my Instagram. I started off learning to knit with kits and the fact I’ve been able to design some of my own and share my love of knitting with other people is super exciting. I didn’t want anything to be too difficult so they are very much on the beginner to easy scale. There are lots of different designs – we’ve got a Christmas jumper, a cardigan, a vest, we’ve got some flamingos, stockings, hats, scarves, and a blanket as well.
My next thing is the Minister of Knitting and I’ll get knitting and crafts into schools as part of the curriculum. I think it would be an amazing thing for kids to learn to unwind. I think people would really like it.”

You can listen to The LoveCrafts Show x Tom Daley here.

Spotlight on brands: Richard Pink on where The Laughing Cow is heading next

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There’s more to The Laughing Cow than the iconic red image. We caught up with Richard Pink of Pink Key Licensing – exclusive licensing agent for the brand in the UK – to talk pink cows, pop art and plans for the future.

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]

Hi Richard, how has the last year been for you, business-wise?

It’s been a tough year for everyone: we’ve tried to work with our licensees and support them through the problems they have had to deal with, including Covid, and the ensuing challenges of fractured supply chains and increased freight costs, and to be as flexible as we can. The Laughing Cow and some of the other brands we have such as Kellogg’s, Pringles, Vimto and SLUSH PUPPiE are the kind of brands that people gravitate to in troubled times because they’re so familiar; they’re ones we’ve all grown up with. Consequently, things have not been too bad, but I think the licensing industry more than any other thrives on social interaction and we’ve all missed that enormously.

So, we’re all looking for things to cheer us up?

Definitely. After being locked down for so long, all we were hearing from people was ‘We really need a laugh’, and we can’t think of a licence that conveys laughter better than The Laughing Cow does. So, while we’ve hopefully come through the worst, the brand has a certain resonance about it for these times.

The red cow image is instantly recognisable. But what else is there to the brand?

The red cow itself is iconic, but outside of that, there’s so much imagery to play with. You’ve got vintage artwork that dates back to when the brand first came to fruition a century ago, right the way through to pop art and contemporary imagery – there’s such a vast range available and it works on so many different levels.

Some brands don’t have the flexibility to allow you to adapt the imagery, they have quite stringent rules in terms of what you can and can’t do. But we love The Bel Group (owners of The Laughing Cow) because they are so open to ideas. When we first took on The Laughing Cow and we said to them, ‘We’d love a pink cow’, they had no problem with that!

What plans do you have for The Laughing Cow in the UK?

It’s had a solid licencing programme in Europe for quite some time and one of the reasons we wanted to take it on is because even though it’s a French brand it has an enormous affinity with the UK consumer. It’s got a great history in the UK and is very recognisable, so we knew it would work.

Because of the close association with food The Laughing Cow is always going to lend itself to kitchen and food related products, but if you start looking at some of the Laughing Cow’s quirky imagery, it also really lends itself to apparel and gifting. In a similar way to Kellogg’s, it can potentially benefit from being part of a number of trends that seem to come and go such as vintage, logos and – most obviously – food.

And in the long term?

We are still keen to sign new brands, but you can see from our portfolio that they have to fit what we do. We are lucky enough to represent the rights of some brands that are distributed globally. They all have longevity and great stories behind them, and they’re going to be around for a long time. We only work with brands that we love, and they have to be brands that need to be managed the way we do it.  We try and build brand programmes in a methodical way, going for the ‘bullseye’ products and categories that fit the nature of the brand most closely, because we think that this is the best way to manage the type of brands we have for the long term.

If you are interested in talking to Pink Key about licensing The Laughing Cow you can contact Richard at richard@pinkkey.co.uk

Spotlight on Brands I Pink Key gets Vim!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on brands: Richard Pink on where The Laughing Cow is heading next

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There’s more to The Laughing Cow than the iconic red image. We caught up with Richard Pink of Pink Key Licensing – exclusive licensing agent for the brand in the UK – to talk pink cows, pop art and plans for the future.

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]

Hi Richard, how has the last year been for you, business-wise?

It’s been a tough year for everyone: we’ve tried to work with our licensees and support them through the problems they have had to deal with, including Covid, and the ensuing challenges of fractured supply chains and increased freight costs, and to be as flexible as we can. The Laughing Cow and some of the other brands we have such as Kellogg’s, Pringles, Vimto and SLUSH PUPPiE are the kind of brands that people gravitate to in troubled times because they’re so familiar; they’re ones we’ve all grown up with. Consequently, things have not been too bad, but I think the licensing industry more than any other thrives on social interaction and we’ve all missed that enormously.

So, we’re all looking for things to cheer us up?

Definitely. After being locked down for so long, all we were hearing from people was ‘We really need a laugh’, and we can’t think of a licence that conveys laughter better than The Laughing Cow does. So, while we’ve hopefully come through the worst, the brand has a certain resonance about it for these times.

The red cow image is instantly recognisable. But what else is there to the brand?

The red cow itself is iconic, but outside of that, there’s so much imagery to play with. You’ve got vintage artwork that dates back to when the brand first came to fruition a century ago, right the way through to pop art and contemporary imagery – there’s such a vast range available and it works on so many different levels.

Some brands don’t have the flexibility to allow you to adapt the imagery, they have quite stringent rules in terms of what you can and can’t do. But we love The Bel Group (owners of The Laughing Cow) because they are so open to ideas. When we first took on The Laughing Cow and we said to them, ‘We’d love a pink cow’, they had no problem with that!

What plans do you have for The Laughing Cow in the UK?

It’s had a solid licencing programme in Europe for quite some time and one of the reasons we wanted to take it on is because even though it’s a French brand it has an enormous affinity with the UK consumer. It’s got a great history in the UK and is very recognisable, so we knew it would work.

Because of the close association with food The Laughing Cow is always going to lend itself to kitchen and food related products, but if you start looking at some of the Laughing Cow’s quirky imagery, it also really lends itself to apparel and gifting. In a similar way to Kellogg’s, it can potentially benefit from being part of a number of trends that seem to come and go such as vintage, logos and – most obviously – food.

And in the long term?

We are still keen to sign new brands, but you can see from our portfolio that they have to fit what we do. We are lucky enough to represent the rights of some brands that are distributed globally. They all have longevity and great stories behind them, and they’re going to be around for a long time. We only work with brands that we love, and they have to be brands that need to be managed the way we do it.  We try and build brand programmes in a methodical way, going for the ‘bullseye’ products and categories that fit the nature of the brand most closely, because we think that this is the best way to manage the type of brands we have for the long term.

If you are interested in talking to Pink Key about licensing The Laughing Cow you can contact Richard at richard@pinkkey.co.uk

Spotlight on Brands I Pink Key gets Vim!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarto announces The Official Peaky Blinders Cookbook

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With the sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders set to air in 2022, White Lion Publishing, a division of Quarto, has announced the forthcoming release of the first official cookbook based on the hit series.

Containing 50 recipes, the book takes inspiration from the iconic locations the infamous gang inhabits, from the bar at The Garrison to the glamour of the Eden Club and the extravagance of Arrow House. Dishes include Warming vegetable & barley soup with Alfie Solomons’ soda bread, Grilled Oysters with parmesan crumb, Roast Rabbit with bacon & mushrooms in a whiskey sauce, and Sloe Gin jelly with blackberries and cream. The book combines stills from the series with specially commissioned photography.

Peaky Blinders is distributed by Banijay Rights and has sold in more than 183 countries, and is widely available on Netflix. The Peaky Blinders brand enjoys international success across multiple categories including gifting, live experience, apparel, accessories and essentials, and now boasts 40 licensees across multiple territories.

The Official Peaky Blinders Cookbook is out on 8 March, priced at £14.99 hardback.

GODIVA expands licensing portfolio in North America with four new partnerships

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GODIVA is expanding its licensing portfolio in the U.S. and Canada in 2022 with the launch of four new licensing partnerships, with Boardwalk Frozen Treats, Jimmy’s Gourmet Bakery, Le Vian and Cookies United.

These four new partners join other brands in GODIVA’s North America licensing portfolio, which includes General Mills, The Cheesecake Factory and, most recently, Jessica Pastries, which just launched as part of GODIVA’s Holiday 2021 collection.

“We are thrilled to offer this first-class selection of GODIVA-inspired products that imbue the unmatched quality and essence of our premium brand, while reinforcing that GODIVA is the perfect choice to make any moment into an amazing one,” says Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, GODIVA’s chief executive officer. “Establishing new partnerships reinforces our strategy of expanding our accessibility and democratising premium chocolate to open more people’s eyes to the wonder of GODIVA. Licensing will continue to play a critical role in these endeavors in North America and around the world.”

“We are highly selective when choosing a licensing partner as we want to ensure they are each ‘GODIVA-worthy’ and must share the same vision and mission: spreading happiness and wonder to all,” says Meghan Furse, Global Director of Business Development, GODIVA. “With each partnership, we are providing a new channel to extend our premium quality brand to a wider audience and attract a new generation of GODIVA fans.”

Boardwalk Frozen Treats will introduce seven new GODIVA ice cream pints with each flavour inspired by GODIVA’s classic premium chocolate pieces and flavour profiles. The frozen treats will roll out in grocery stores throughout the U.S. beginning this January. Exclusive flavours include: Hazelnut Crunch, Mint Medallion, Praline Cone Crunch, Salted Caramel Brownie, Caramel Embrace, Chocolate Strawberry, and the iconic Midnight Swirl.

Jimmy’s Gourmet Bakery will roll out GODIVA “bake-at-home” chocolate chip cookie dough filled with chocolate ganache. Sold both frozen and refrigerated, these premium products are inspired by GODIVA’s ganache-filled chocolates.

Le Vian, a leader in fine jewellery, has a select line of natural fancy colour diamonds which are exclusively trademarked “Chocolate Diamonds”® across the globe. For Valentine’s Day 2022, three cobranded GODIVA x Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds pendants will be launched as a special-edition collection available at Kay Jewelers. The pieces are inspired by GODIVA’s classic chocolates and iconography. The collection also includes a very limited number of high jewelry parures and ring sets, created for the red carpet. Additional designs will roll out in the future.

Cookies United has created GODIVA Gingerbread House and Cookie Decorating Kits featuring GODIVA chocolate cookie pieces and the chocolatier’s premium “Masterpieces” Dark Chocolate Ganache Hearts as decorative pieces. These decorative kits will launch at Easter and during the Holiday 2022 season.

Jessica Pastries’ ready-to-eat round and log cakes launched as part of GODIVA’s 2021 holiday collection exclusively in Canada. These GODIVA Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt cakes feature multiple layers including sponge cake, mousse, and chocolate crunch.

GODIVA’s existing licensing partnerships include The Cheesecake Factory, which offers GODIVA-inspired desserts including the popular GODIVA® Chocolate Cheesecake, and General Mills Baking Kits, including GODIVA Chocolate Torte, GODIVA Lava Cake and GODIVA Brownie Cheesecake Swirl. To learn more about GODIVA’s products and partnerships, visit www.godiva.com.

Rubber Road extends partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products

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Pop culture specialist Rubber Road has announced a continuing partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to produce merchandise inspired by some of the biggest, most iconic global entertainment franchises under its design arm, Numskull Designs.

Rubber Road has been working with WBCP since 2018 and has launched official merchandise inspired by Lord of the Rings, Friends, DC properties including The Suicide Squad and Wizarding World, and horror properties including The Lost Boys, It and The Exorcist. Characters from these franchises have been made into TUBBZ Cosplaying Collectibles, with Lord of the Rings being the biggest collection featuring 16 characters, available now for purchase. Other licensed lines include gaming lockers and Christmas jumpers.

This continued partnership will see Rubber Road introducing many more new products for these franchises as well as having the opportunity to design merchandise based on other much-loved Warner Bros. properties.

Liam Taylor, Commercial Director at Rubber Road, says: “We are thrilled to have this extended opportunity with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. We have had the pleasure of introducing some fantastic products over the last few years which have gone down really well with pop culture fans.

“Warner Bros. has some super exciting stuff coming up and we can’t wait to develop the current franchises and get started on some new ones. We have lots of ideas up our sleeves and our designers are raring to go!”

Hasbro partners with Rubber Road to launch merchandise range based on its hit global franchises