Category Archives: Retail

Baileys and chocolatier Lir launch the Chocolate Bombe and other festive treats

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Baileys, the Original Irish Cream liqueur, has partnered with master chocolatier Lir to deliver a line of festive chocolate treats in Ireland and the UK, in time for the holiday season. The partnership was brokered by Baileys’ brand extension licensing agency, Beanstalk.

The new range of Baileys x Lir chocolates includes two festive tins filled with Baileys Chocolate truffles. The tins are available from the Lir Chocolates website, retailing between £5-£15.

Due to hit shelves in early November is the Baileys Chocolate Bombe. Each pack contains three Chocolate Bombes filled with Baileys-flavoured milk chocolate and marshmallows ready for dunking. The Baileys Chocolate Bombe will be available in Morrisons, Asda, Matalan & B&M and online at lirchocolates.com for RRP £5.

Returning this holiday season are the Baileys signature Chocolate Collection Box and the Baileys gift-wrapped box. The box includes a range of Baileys flavoured chocolates, including gooey brownies and creamy caramel hearts, and is available at Asda for £8. The Baileys gift-wrapped box is filled with milk, dark and white truffles, including coffee, caramel, and almond flavours, and is packaged in Baileys gift-wrap. It’s available from the Lir Chocolates website, retailing at £10.

“The festive season wouldn’t be the same without the indulgence of some of your favourite chocolates. Baileys and Lir have created the perfect range of delicious adult treats to delight any Baileys lover, whether that is a friend, family member or yourself,” says Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations at Beanstalk.

Katie Byrne, Senior Brand Manager at Lir adds: “We’re thrilled with the reaction to our Baileys Chocolate Christmas NPD – everyone loves the mix of delicious chocolate in a fun, decorative format. This year more than ever, we’re all in need of some Christmas cheer and we’re delighted to be able to help spread a little joy during the festive season! The Lir Team, in conjunction with Beanstalk and Diageo, have worked tirelessly over the last year to bring these products to market and it’s wonderful to see them on shelf.”

tonies® collaborates with Steiff for new Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies

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Sponsored content

 

 

tonies® is excited to announce the arrival of the Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies, in collaboration with German plush toy brand Steiff. Combining the magical power of storytelling with the beautiful, soft plushes, the new Steiff collection is sure to surprise and delight little ones and introduce them to a love of stories.

 

Each of the three Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies contains six charming stories by Katrin Wiegand, adapted by Jayne Kirkham and told beautifully by Rob Rackstraw. Little listeners can join in on the Soft Cuddly Friends’ adventures, as they tell the story of Lisa’s toy shop and Lita Lamb (right), Hoppie Rabbit (above) and Jimmy Bear coming to life. The characters take a ride on the magical, mystical moonbeam slide to the Land of The Soft Cuddly Friends and their adventures begin.

As well as the beautiful Steiff Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies, tonies® is adding three exciting new characters to its incredible portfolio this November: Disney Princess Belle, nostalgic favourite Pippi Longstocking and Sesame Street’s Elmo.

Beauty and the Beast

Disney’s much-loved story Beauty and the Beast is brought to life on the Toniebox together with a collection of the film’s most popular songs little listeners will love to sing along to. Follow the adventures of spirited young village girl, Belle as she encounters the Beast, an unruly prince that’s fallen under the spell of a wicked enchantress. A love story with a twist, this magical tale as old as time is sure to capture young hearts.

Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking lives in a house with a horse, a monkey, a suitcase full of gold, and no grown-ups to tell her what to do. Gifted with superhuman strength, Pippi is a rebellious but sweet young girl full of crazy ideas. Mismatched stockings, red hair and freckles combined with a unique independent spirit and a taste for adventure, Pippi is a girl who lives by her own rules. A cultural icon and one of the most popular children’s characters of all time, Pippi’s extraordinary escapades have been entertaining young readers for 75 years, and are set to delight another generation on the Toniebox, narrated by television favourite Sandi Toksvig.

Elmo

Everybody loves Elmo! Elmo’s sunny disposition is completely infectious in this wonderful collection of songs, stories, and interactive sketches guaranteed to put a smile on your child’s face. Little listeners will love to sing along with Elmo’s renditions of popular nursery rhymes and children’s songs, including ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’.

The Toniebox comes to life when paired with our whimsical collection of Tonies: hand-painted characters with hours of stories to tell, worlds to explore, and songs to sing along with. Each collectible character magnetically attaches to the Toniebox, making it simple for little listeners to change stories whenever they want!

 

For more information
about tonies® visit tonies.com
or follow @tonies_uk

 

 

Kidrobot unveils new Dunny series with the Met including Monet and Hokusai-inspired designs

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Kidrobot has unveiled the second series of Dunny Art Figures in the Kidrobot x The Met Collection.

The latest line of limited-edition 3-inch, 8-inch and 20-inch Dunny figures showcase pieces from Claude Monet, Katsushika Hokusai, Charles Demuth, and the worlds of Ancient Greek art and Ancient Egypt.

DUNNY is a collectable designer art toy created by Kidrobot and Tristan Eaton. Kidrobot has released collectable limited edition Dunny designer art toys and Dunny Series featuring designs from the world’s leading artists, graffiti artists, fashion designers, illustrators and iconic art legends.

The collection will be in stock online at Kidrobot.com, in The Met Store and select retailers late 2022. The designs are available now for pre-order on Kidrobot’s website: https://www.kidrobot.com/collections/kidrobot-the-met-dunny-collection

Kinder Joy and Funko Europe forge long-term partnership

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As of now, consumers in many European markets will find their Kinder Joy snacks come with iconic Funko collectables.

The two brands have worked to create a collection specifically designed for kids aged 8 to 12, with 24 Funko music-themed surprises: 8 figurines and 16 music gadgets to collect.

The playing experience is extended in the digital playground of Applaydu & Friends, a new free app specially designed for tweens to meet their needs to be creative, play and connect with their friends. The app is 100% kid-safe, friendly and secure, and was developed in partnership with mobile gaming experts Gameloft.

On Applaydu & Friends, tweens can embody their Funko toys, create their own customisable avatars, make fun videos, challenge their friends in obstacle races and ultimately connect to each other through real-time leaderboards in a safe play environment.

The collaboration marks the start of the Kinder Joy x Funko Europe partnership, with  more new ranges coming soon.

UNO teams up with Nike and Giannis for a Wild Product Collection

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Mattel is dropping the first-ever collaboration between UNO and Nike, featuring a product line developed in coordination with the 2019-20 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and UNO fan, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I want every product to be genuine and authentic, and playing UNO with my brothers is a big part of our lives,” says Antetokounmpo. “The Nike team has done a great job bringing my ideas to life, and I think they’ve created something for every Nike, UNO and basketball fan in this collection.”

“Working with Nike and Giannis to design and curate this collection was truly an honour, and this collaboration shows how UNO can bring people together, including the Antetokounmpo family,” said Ray Adler, Global Head of Games, Mattel. “Partnering with this iconic brand and world-renowned athlete is the perfect celebration of UNO’s 50th anniversary.”

The collaboration features details that celebrate Giannis and his family’s love of UNO, incorporating the game’s iconic colors, design elements and a special 3-4 card design into the products, a footwear line, apparel capsule and branded UNO deck.

The footwear line features Nike’s signature Zoom Freak 3, Air Force 1 and Offline with UNO colorways and Giannis’s design. There will also be a Zoom Freak 3 Member-only black colorway with an UNO 50th anniversary logo on the tongue and wild cards across the toe, plus fun primary color hits to complete the UNO look.

The special-edition Nike apparel capsule includes a classic cotton t-shirt and hat with Giannis’s number displayed. The footwear line and apparel capsule will be sold on Nike.com in the coming months.

A Giannis-branded UNO deck will also debut, featuring a new rule where players can “force a turnover” to steal an extra discard. The deck will be sold on Mattel Creations and NTWRK starting November 11.

As a part of the collaboration, the UNO! mobile app will integrate the Giannis-branded UNO deck to use on iOS and Android devices. With the cards, players can use the “force a turnover” rule and decorate their profiles with themed rewards. The cards and other rewards will be available during the UNO x Giannis in-app event from November 1 through November 30.

Fans can visit @UNO, Nike and @MattelCreations and for more information.

The Panini Group to become exclusive trading card and sticker album partner of WWE

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The Panini Group and WWE have announced a multi-year agreement that will make Panini WWE’s exclusive trading card and collectible sticker partner. The agreement will begin in the first quarter of 2022 and will include multiple trading card products and a sticker album collection during the first year.

The first two product releases – 2022 WWE Prizm trading cards and a WWE Sticker Album – will coincide with the buildup surrounding WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual event, taking place on April 2 and 3 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

“We have aspired to become a WWE licensing partner for a long time and so we are extremely excited to be able to deliver to fans around the world an extended publishing programme,” says Panini Group Licensing Director Peter Warsop. “The WWE is an iconic brand and along with our own brands and in-depth International reach will ensure not only an explosive start to the relationship but a long-lasting trend of continued growth and excitement.”

“Panini has a 60-year history in sports and entertainment collectables and is a leader in the trading card space throughout the U.S. as well as in Latin America, Europe and Asia,” adds Scott Zanghellini, WWE Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Development. “We believe that this partnership perfectly aligns our mutual interests in providing fans with exclusive collectibles and, ultimately, growing this category globally.”

 

Barbie and River Island collaborate on new girlswear collection

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Barbie and high-street retailer River Island have teamed up to launch a new girlswear collection. This marks the second collaboration for the brands, following the sell-out success of their first partnership.

The collection is inspired by sports athleisure and features lush pink velour tracksuits, sporty crop tops, trainers, leggings and hoodies, including sets that are designed to be worn together or mixed and matched. Key pieces feature Barbie motifs and slogans such as ‘You Go Girl’ and ‘Stay Strong’, designed to empower mini fashion icons.

Gemma Daniels, Mattel’s Head of Softlines EMEA says: “Barbie’s appeal transcends categories and ages, and following the successful launch for Barbie’s 60th, we are excited to partner with River Island once again to offer a fashion-forward collection of kids’ apparel that will excite girls and mums alike.”

The collection will launch with a dedicated social campaign featuring River Island’s ‘mini-insiders’ modelling their favourite looks from the collection.

Barbie x River Island is available now online and in selected flagship stores. Prices start at £15.

DC FanDome exclusives and new ‘The Batman’ merch available now

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Hot on the heels of a record-breaking DC FanDome, DC and Warner Bros Consumer Products have revealed more products inspired by DC Super Heroes.

Multiple retailers including the DC Shop and Walmart have unveiled toys, collectables and apparel, with the DC Shop offering more than 60 exclusive DC FanDome 2021 graphics with the potential for fans to choose from more than 270 different products.

Fans are getting a first look at the new The Batman merchandise. LEGO’s The Batman collection is available for presale exclusively at Walmart.com and features three new building sets. Meanwhile, manufacturer McFarlane Toys Collectibles has debuted a lineup of collectables related to The Batmanmovie. The Batman, The Riddler and Catwoman are all available to pre-order for $19.99.

The Batman Batmobile by Hot Wheels (pictured) is a collectible replica of Batman’s newest vehicle from the highly anticipated film. This 1:10 scale Ultimate edition features movie-accurate graphics, LED lights, smoke and flame FX from both the hood and the rear, detailed exterior and interior, a Batcave-inspired plinth, and a posable Batman figure behind the wheel. It boasts high-tech features such as light and sound effects and working suspension, as well as a diorama plinth.

Puma and Warner Bros Consumer Products have dropped five PUMA Suedes, each tied to a specific DC character, designed by award winning comic artist Jen Bartel. She took her inspiration from The Suicide Squad to create sneakers for King Shark, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Polka-Dot Man, and Bloodsport.

Tango Hotel is releasing a limited-edition clothing collection featuring key artwork from Batman: The World, DC’s new 184-page hardcover anthology book. Apparel collections from Extra Butter and Meshika Hats have also dropped.

DC FanDome shattered last year’s viewership with 66 million views worldwide to date from the streaming event on October 16. The virtual event drew fans from around the world to immerse themselves in the DC Multiverse with exclusive first-looks and behind-the-scenes previews from highly anticipated feature films, live-action and animated television series, games, comics, home entertainment releases and more.

 

 

WWE and Mattel extend global partnership

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WWE and Mattel have announced a multi-year extension of their global master toy licensing agreement. The extended partnership includes exclusive rights around Action Figures, Action Figure Accessories and Kids Toy Title Belts.

The portfolio of innovative toys that Mattel and WWE have developed together since 2009 are currently stocked in more than 50 global markets around the world. WWE Action Figures have ranked as the No. 1 action figure property in the US and consistently hold a top ranking.

Mattel’s WWE Basic Action Figure Series is the longest-running continuous action figure assortment in history. Over the years, WWE and Mattel have launched multiple collaborations such as WWE and Ghostbusters and WWE and Masters of the Universe.

“Mattel is a true industry leader that continues to surprise and delight our fans around the world with innovative and creative WWE products that drive significant revenue for our retail partners,” says Sarah Cummins, WWE Senior Vice President, Consumer Products.

Nick Karamanos, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partnerships, Mattel, adds: “We are very pleased that WWE has once again chosen Mattel to help bring its storied history and characters to children and fans around the world. WWE is an important partner, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.”

The Wand Company partners with The Pokémon Company for new Poké Ball Replica Series

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The Wand Company has partnered with The Pokémon Company International to showcase the Poké Ball Replica Series. The new range will debut at MCM London Comic Con, from Friday 22 October through Sunday 24 October at ExCel London.

The Wand Company will be introducing the entire 2021 range at the event, launching the newest addition to the series, the Dusk Ball Replica, and revealing a sneak preview of the holiday season Premier Ball Replica, as well as the first replica of 2022, the Heal Ball Replica. Select Poké Ball Replicas will be available for sale at the event.

The Dusk Ball Replica will be available for pre-order at MCM London Comic Con and online via participating retailers around the world.

Established in 2009, The Wand Company is renowned for making functional prop replicas combining traditional design with high-tech wizardry. Their first product, the Kymera Magic Wand, has sold over 250,000 units. Since then, The Wand Company has developed and launched display-grade prop replicas from the television series Doctor Who and Star Trek, as well as the video game series ‘Fallout’.