Category Archives: Lifestyle

Igloo partners with the Jeep brand for two Playmate coolers

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Igloo and the Jeep brand are releasing the first-ever Jeep Playmate coolers, featuring original artwork geared toward Jeep brand enthusiasts who want to keep their refreshments ice-cold throughout every journey. The special-edition Jeep Stickers Playmate Pal is available now in two colour options at igloocoolers.com/jeep.  

“The Jeep brand embodies the spirit of adventure while Igloo further enhances the good times had on those adventures — it’s a partnership we’re excited to take together,” says Brian Garofalow, Chief Marketing Officer at Igloo. “Thanks to the fun, timeless design and ability to keep road drinks and snacks perfectly fresh, the brand-new Jeep Playmate is going to make Jeep life even cooler.”

Igloo designed the new Jeep Stickers Playmate Pal with custom graphics showcasing the instantly recognisable Jeep Seven-Slot Grille, Jeep Brand Mark and adventure-inspired stickers that adventurers would collect along their travels. This special-edition Playmate comes in two colour options: carbonite and sapphire.

The two Jeep Stickers Playmate Pal coolers — each $44.99 with a 7-quart capacity that fits up to nine 12-ounce cans — can be purchased now, while supplies last, at igloocoolers.com/jeep

 

Surge Licensing signs TOMY as global master toy partner for A Little SPOT

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Surge Licensing has signed TOMY as the global master toy partner for Diane Alber’s A Little SPOT  book series, a market leader in social-emotional learning content that parents, teachers, and children look to for compelling characters and experiences.

Initially, TOMY will develop a broad range of branded SEL-focused products, including plush toys, with and without added features and technology, and plastic figures. TOMY will also distribute the Amazon bestselling book plus plush box sets, to bricks-and-mortar chains globally. The new products will be available online and direct-to-consumer in the first half of 2023 followed by bricks-and-mortar stores later that year.

Diane Alber designs her books and products as solutions to problems expressed by parents and teachers alike. Her A Little SPOT book series – featuring the brightly coloured, stick-legged sphere Little SPOT – was originally developed to help children visualise their emotions as characters, so that it would be easier to manage them, and evolved to address topics such as kindness, empathy, honesty, diversity, inclusion, and reading.

On Amazon, the Little Box of Emotion Box Set, geared for children 4-11, ranks #1 in Academic Development Counseling, and #1 in Children’s Moving; A Little Box Takes Action Book Set  ranks #1 in Children’s Criticism and Collections; and A Little SPOT of Emotion Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set ranks #2 in Academic Development Counseling and cracked the top 100 books sold on Amazon with a toy. Two teaching guides and a parent guide are also available for the A Little SPOT series. Alber’s books all come with sticker sheets, and additional sticker books, colouring books and sketch books have been created for many of the titles.

“Diane has created a massive body of work appealing to parents, their children, and teachers alike, carefully crafted to make not only teaching SEL fun, but learning it, too,” says Elan Freedman, Surge Licensing EVP. “TOMY is the ideal partner and platform for Diane to design new experiences for children to explore and understand their emotions, become better humans and learn to communicate effectively.”

“The stressors associated with the pandemic and global events have only increased the need for social-emotional learning tools to teach children how to handle their feeling in a healthy way,” says Diane Alber. “I’m delighted that TOMY is our global partner to create new toys for Little SPOT that will help to support kids and families to prepare for the challenges of the world.”

“Infant and Preschool is well anchored in TOMY’s historical DNA, and we have deep expertise in successfully launching preschool brands,” says Morgan Weyl, Managing Director of Licensing and Global Development. “We will bring Diane’s highly inspiring and beloved series to life in playthings that can help children practise effective communication in a fun and natural way. TOMY’s mission is to make the world smile, so helping children learn to express themselves through play with the Little SPOT brand is perfectly aligned to the happy, healthy development we fully embrace in our daily work.”

 

Rocket Licensing signs Little People, BIG DREAMS

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Rocket Licensing has announced that it will be representing children’s book property Little People, BIG DREAMS, and will build a consumer products programme for the inspirational brand.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is the original and bestselling series of illustrated biographies exploring the lives of outstanding people for readers aged three to seven years old. The subjects of the books range from designers and artists to scientists and activists, all of whom have achieved incredible things, but began life as a child with a dream.

Told as a story, with a facts and photos section at the back, the children’s series, published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, part of the Quarto Group, and created by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, has sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide and been published in 35 languages.

With such a diverse range of people as subjects, the brand offers the perfect way to celebrate key milestones throughout the year, including titles such as Marie Curie on International Women’s Day; Frida Kahlo on World Book Day; a variety of sporting icons like Muhammad Ali for sporting events; Stephen Hawking for British Science Week; and Nelson Mandela during Black History Month. Little People, BIG DREAMS aims to inspire every little dreamer’s ambition.

Planned titles for 2022 include Neil Armstrong, Laverne Cox, Nikola Tesla, Mae Jemison and many more. The series will also publish its 100th title in 2023, to be announced soon.

Rocket will be discussing the exciting brand with licensees across a wide range of categories, and plans to create a licensing programme including apparel, dress-up, games and puzzles, publishing, stationery, gifting, and much more. A brand-new style guide will be available for licensing partners, using the stunning illustrations from the series.

Charlie Donaldson, joint MD, Rocket Licensing, commented: “Little People, BIG DREAMS is a unique and inspirational brand, which brings history and culture to life for the younger generation in a fun, bright and colourful way. We’re really looking forward to bringing the property into the homes and lives of children across a wide range of consumer products.”

Shannon Cullen, Group Publishing Director for Children’s at Quarto Group, added: “We are so proud of the way our bestselling series has inspired children all over the world to achieve their dreams. It’s an exciting opportunity to be working with Rocket and our series creator, Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, on bringing these stories to life off the page.”

Finsbury grows Gordon’s portfolio with new gin-flavour cupcakes

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Specialist baker Finsbury Food Group continues to grow its longstanding partnership with global drinks giant Diageo, after announcing a second collaboration with the best-selling gin brand Gordon’s.

Following on from last summer’s successful launch of one of the brand’s signature distilled gins in cake form, Gordon’s Premium Pink Cake (available in ASDA RRP £12), Finsbury Food Group have added Gordon’s gin-inspired cupcakes to its growing portfolio with the drinks brand.

Available online and in-store at Tesco from 25 April, the Divine Duo Cupcakes are topped with gin flavour frosting and finished with edible decorations. With an RRP of £4, each pack contains three pink vanilla flavour sponges topped with gin flavour frosting and dried raspberry pieces, and three vanilla sponges topped with gin flavour frosting and lemon sugar sprinkles.

Emma Hamilton, Brand Manager at Finsbury Food Group, says: “After seeing consumers flock to purchase the Gordon’s Premium Pink Cake last summer, we knew that there was further appetite to combine Diageo’s much-loved portfolio of drink brands with our expertise and bring to market innovative products in new formats. By launching the Divine Duo Cupcakes, we are confident that we can replicate the success of our previous collaboration. Not just appealing to gin lovers, each cupcake comprises delicious flavour combinations to make this treat suitable for all to enjoy.

“With the strength of the Gordon’s brand and the exceptional products that Finsbury is known for, we can’t wait to see how consumers react to the newest edition in our range, when the cupcakes land in Tesco this spring.”

Declan Hassett, Senior Licensing Manager at Diageo, adds: “After the triumph of last summer’s Premium Pink cake, Diageo have continued to work with our partners at Finsbury to once again bring something new and exciting to the supermarket aisles. We are excited to see the enjoyment our new cupcakes bring to consumers this spring!”

Miffy partners with BYBORRE for knitwear and accessories collection

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Miffy – the iconic bunny character created by graphic artist Dick Bruna – is launching  a new limited-edition, responsibly sourced men’s knitwear and accessories range.

The collection has been created by BYBORRE, a Dutch textile innovation company committed to democratizing the textile industry by offering transparency, reliability and freedom in textile creation.

To achieve this, BYBORRE uses its award-winning software platform Create™ to allow the design, sampling and production of textiles all in one place in the company’s Amsterdam-based knitlab, or via its transparent ecosystem of suppliers. This approach means less waste and more design freedom for the company and the creators with which it collaborates.

Dick Bruna’s illustrative style – recognised worldwide – captures the essence of a character or story with just a few lines and a small range of colours.

BYBORRE has mirrored this style, producing a capsule collection of refined menswear where the simple designs play with the scale of Bruna’s artwork; some garments feature large-scale linework, others feature smaller repeat patterns, some just feature subtle imprints of Miffy’s iconic silhouette. The palette of colours, like Bruna’s, is limited.

The collection spans men’s staples such as a suit jacket, trousers and button tee, as well as key pieces that have featured in previous BYBORRE limited edition ranges but have evolved here – including an open-back vest, layer shirt and an A-type jacket.

The range also includes lifestyle accessories comprising a versatile everyday bag, a large woven blanket, a FIDLOCK equipped Keycord and a classic 5-Panel cap.

Marja Kerkhof, MD of Mercis, which manages the Miffy brand, says: “The new BYBORRE collection is an important step in the evolution of our global collections for the Miffy brand. Not only is the range responsibly produced – something we want more of our licensees to consider – but it also showcases Miffy’s design kudos and unisex appeal, together with the creative flexibility Dick Bruna’s work offers.”

Borre Akkersdijk, CCO of BYBORRE, adds: “It has been a privilege to pay homage to Dick Bruna’s art in our 10th Limited Edition. We hope it will inspire creators worldwide ‘to be part of something bigger’ by creating consciously bespoke textiles that don’t impact the planet.”

The Miffy BYBORRE limited edition range is now available from Selfridges in the UK and www.byborre.com

WildBrain’s Strawberry Shortcake kicks off “Fruitastic” produce promotion

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Top-selling U.S. fruit brands Sunkist Growers, Naturipe Farms and T&G Global’s Envy Apples have launched a new “Fruitastic” promotion for WildBrain’s new animated Strawberry Shortcake series Berry in the Big City (now available on YouTube and Netflix).

According to a recent study, shoppers increased their basket spend by over 50 percent when strawberries and blood oranges were purchased on the same trip compared to the average strawberry trip. Total basket spend increases were also seen with apples and blood oranges trips.

This spring, Naturipe (strawberries and blueberries) is representing WildBrain’s new Strawberry Shortcake character in the berry category, Sunkist is promoting Blood oranges with Strawberry Shortcake’s friend Orange Blossom, and Envy (apples) is celebrating Strawberry Shortcake’s move to Big Apple City in the new series. A complete “Fruitastic” produce takeover featuring images of Strawberry Shortcake and her friends will kick off in May at select U.S. retailers in time for Mother’s Day, with merchandisers provided by the participating produce suppliers. With limited-edition packaging and merchandising displays, in-store promotional opportunities are available for a short time.

“As life-long fans of the original Strawberry Shortcake series, we are thrilled to be partnering with WildBrain, as well as Sunkist and Envy, to celebrate the new series,” says CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing of Naturipe Farms. “This gives our produce brands a great opportunity to cross-promote all the delicious fruit that is featured in Berry in the Big City and to help establish the next generation of fans of this iconic brand.”

To celebrate the partnership and to prominently feature its strawberries and blueberries, Naturipe has launched an interactive webpage featuring Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Muffin that includes new custom recipe videos that inspire users to “bake the world a better place”. This page also includes downloadable activities for kids and grown-ups alike.

Sunkist rolled out limited-edition packaging for Blood oranges, featuring Strawberry Shortcake and Orange Blossom, available in 2lb and 3lb bags at select retailers. Naturipe has POS display signage to support this promotion available for retailers. Envy apples has also created promotional 2lb bags and bins. All three brands have also developed recipes for citrus, berries, and apple fans of all ages.

“This in-store and online promotion is unique, as all three brands come together to celebrate healthy eating and snacking in a ‘fruitastic’ way,” says Christina Ward, Senior Director of Global Marketing at Sunkist. “Our data shows that 62 percent of Blood orange shoppers prefer to eat them as a snack, so we are excited to introduce shoppers to a specialty variety they may have never tried before, like Sunkist Blood oranges.”

“As Strawberry Shortcake and pals ‘bake the world a better place’ in Big Apple City, only the best apple will do,” says Cecilia Flores Paez, Head of Marketing North America at T&G Global. “That’s why Strawberry Shortcake has partnered with Envy apples. Prized for their beautifully balanced sweetness, uplifting fresh aroma, and delightfully satisfying crunch, Envy apples are a perfect ingredient for enjoying both exciting adventures and everyday special moments with the people we love.”

“We’re thrilled that parents and kids – especially moms and daughters – will be able to share their love of Strawberry Shortcake and delicious fruit this spring through our partnership with Sunkist Growers, Naturipe Farms and Envy Apples,” adds Michael Riley, CBO at WildBrain. “These household-name brands are ideal promotional partners in our global Strawberry Shortcake franchise programme, designed to inspire and delight kids through new content, toys, games, books, music, events and more.”

WildBrain’s new series, Berry in the Big City, invites fans to join Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City, with her friends Orange Blossom, Lime Chiffon, Lemon Meringue and Blueberry Muffin, as the entrepreneurial girls run their fabulous food trucks and enjoy daily adventures filled with laughter and singing.

For more information, visit these unique landing pages: Naturipe, Envy and Sunkist.

Gigi Coffee teams with emoji – The Iconic Brand

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The emoji brand and Medialink, local agent of emoji – The Iconic Brand in Malaysia, have teamed with Gigi Coffee for a brand partnership.

As a lifestyle coffee brand, Gigi Coffee’s identity is about “inspiring people and spreading good vibes through a cup of great coffee”. By teaming up with the emoji brand and its iconic icons, Gigi Coffee hopes to deliver a brand message to customers: to express themselves through coffee, in the same way that they express themselves daily using different digital icons.

Gigi Coffee aims to drive more customer engagement through the marketing collaboration with the emoji brand and to connect to its audience in a fun way.

The collaboration can be found in all Gigi Coffee outlets in Malaysia starting on May 1, 2022.

“The Gigi Coffee x emoji brand collaboration is a truly emotional and expressive partnership to make all coffee lovers out there feel happy when enjoying the products and services from Gigi Coffee,” says Marco Hüsges, CEO of the emoji company. “It’s another great execution and proof how well the emoji brand works in the promotional segment.”

TGI Fridays and Iceland launch new range of products for summer

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TGI Fridays, the iconic American bar and grill, has expanded its exclusive strategic partnership with the UK’s leading frozen food retailer, Iceland, with a range of new products available throughout Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores. Created solely with the BBQ season in mind, the new range includes a variety of main dishes, sides and sweet treats. Beanstalk, TGI Fridays’ long-standing brand extension licensing agency, brokered the partnership with Iceland.

The range will include nine new products, inspired by dishes from TGI Fridays’ restaurant menu. The new and exclusive products offer an option for all consumers, including TGI Fridays’ Beef Short Ribs with Maple BBQ, Cheese & Jalapeño Hot Dogs and Chocolate Cookie Pie, with prices starting at £2.

The TGI Fridays’ licensing programme has proved hugely popular with UK consumers. Since launching its first range in Iceland stores in 2020, sales have continuously exceeded expectations. The new range will accompany a variety of existing TGI Fridays mains, sides and desserts, exclusive to Iceland, including BBQ Ribs, Sharing Pizzas and Boneless chicken wings.

“TGI Fridays and Iceland have developed a strong and successful partnership since first coming together in 2020, and we are delighted to be growing it further with these new BBQ-inspired products,” says Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Operations at Beanstalk. “Through their mouthwatering licenced range, TGI Fridays continues to offer consumers even more ways to experience the world-famous American bar and grill.”

The exclusive range will be available throughout the summer, in-store or online at https://www.iceland.co.uk and The Food Warehouse.

 

 

Dan Dee International and Graco announce multi-year licensing agreement

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Dan Dee International, a global leader in baby, pet, plush, and home décor products, and Graco, one of the world’s most recognised and trusted children’s products brands, have announced a new multi-year licensing agreement.

Dan Dee has plans to help expand Graco with an extensive line of innovative play, activity, storage, and functional baby products for at-home and on-the-go, set to launch in North America in 2023.

“We are delighted and honored to be partnering with Graco,” says Mark Matheny, Head of Licensing, Dan Dee. “This agreement will showcase our creativity and product development capabilities. We will continue to drive Graco’s brand message with products that are authentic, innovative, fun, and safe.”

“We are excited to partner with Dan Dee International to bring fun and innovative products to our littlest consumers,” adds Kerry Strzelecki, VP of Brand Development, Graco Children’s Products.  “Dan Dee’s expertise in these categories is a welcome addition to the Graco product mix.”

Wurlitzer partners with LMCA to extend the brand into new categories

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WURLITZER, the iconic German-American brand known for its innovative musical instruments and equipment, has appointed global brand extension licensing agency LMCA to extend its brand into new categories in audio, music and entertainment areas.

LMCA will draw on the brand’s legacy in music innovation and long-lasting craftsmanship to extend WURLITZER’s footprint into new areas for the music enthusiast in North America and Europe.

Gudrun Wurlitzer, President of WURLITZER, says: “We are overjoyed to partner with LMCA to create new opportunities for our fans to experience WURLITZER. WURLITZER is our family’s brand and we have been making musical instruments and products since 1659. Through licensed product extensions, the company’s original brand mission of bringing people together through the joy of music will continue to live on and inspire music lovers in new and exciting ways.”

Ciarán Coyle, CEO of LMCA, adds: “We are delighted to be working with WURLITZER, an iconic, fun, and engaging musical powerhouse, to extend the brand into new and creative areas. WURLITZER’s reputation and influence in music and culture, and its unique designs, offer significant opportunities to create beautiful products that offer relevant, new touchpoints for consumers. We look forward to working alongside the Wurlitzer family to build out a successful international licensing programme.”