Tag Archives: character options

BBC Studios signs new UK partners for Bluey and Hey Duggee

Posted on by

BBC Studios has signed UK licensing deals for Bluey and Hey Duggee for health and beauty products and wheeled toys, as Bluey is named the UK’s number one new toy property for 2021 by NPD.

New deals with H&A and MV Sports will see both properties expand in the UK and follow the recent announcement of agreements with Danilo, Amscan and Character Options for Bluey.

Mandy Thwaites, Director, Magazines & Consumer Products, UK Division at BBC Studios, says: “We’ve been extremely busy behind the scenes with Bluey and Hey Duggee and it’s great to see the interest both properties are generating. Personally, it was a real highlight to attend London Toy Fair and we had so many lovely conversations about the brands. It’s clear that our top dogs have great appeal across preschool audiences and people really connect to their warmth, inclusivity and humour.

“I’m excited to welcome H&A to our fabulous roster of partners and can’t wait for fans to see a great range of Bluey and Hey Duggee bath products on shelves. MV Sports has been a wonderful partner for Hey Duggee wheeled toys and are adding to that range as well as launching Bluey products in the UK. I’m also pleased to share details of further Character Options arts and crafts product lines for Bluey in addition to the deal we announced in December.

“Finally, I’m delighted to hear that Bluey has been confirmed as the number one new property in the UK. The buzz around the brand is phenomenal and it’s really capturing the hearts of the public – and we’re having so many fascinating conversations with potential and existing partners about what we can do to create innovative, sustainable and engaging products for fans of the show.”

Details of the new partnerships are as follows:

H&A, the UK’s number-one supplier of kids’ licensed toiletries, has signed an agreement with BBC Studios to produce health and beauty products including bubble baths, foams, bath bombs, shower gels, soaps and shampoos as well as bathtime accessories for both Bluey and Hey Duggee.

Livy Coare, Licensing and Marketing Manager at H&A, says: “H&A has a long-standing history with BBC Studios and we are thrilled to be working with them again to develop creative and innovative products across both Bluey and Hey Duggee. We are aligned with the BBC in our strategy to further develop sustainable products for kids’ bath time, and will be working closely together to execute exciting new product development.”

MV Sports, the UK’s leading designer of licensed wheeled toys, has agreed a deal to produce a range of Bluey branded bikes, trikes, scooters, ride-ons and accessories. MV Sports is an existing partner of BBC Studios; it already holds the license for Hey Duggee wheeled toys and has recently unveiled additions to the product range.

Phil Ratcliffe, Joint Managing Director, MV Sports, says: “We are delighted to be working on such a prestigious preschool property. Bluey already has a very strong pedigree of sales in other markets which we hope will be exceeded in the case of our UK range of wheeled toys.”

In addition to the recently announced deal for Bluey licensed Weebles toys, BBC Studios has agreed a licence for Character Options to produce activity-based arts and crafts products including colour-your-own backpacks; tabletop easels; craft sets; paint-up plaster figure sets; and scribblers. The new arts and crafts range is set to launch in A/W 2022.

 

BBC Studios signs new UK deals for Bluey

Posted on by

BBC Studios has signed UK licensing deals for Bluey with Character Options for Weebles, as well as Danilo (calendars, cards and gift stationary) and Amscan (party wares).

The deal with Character Options should see Bluey versions of classic toy Weebles on UK shelves in July 2022.

Mark Hunt, Marketing Director, Character Options, says: “We are delighted to be a part of the Bluey family. Weebles has heritage with iconic branding that is highly recognisable amongst parents, and we believe Bluey figures that wobble but don’t fall down, is a play pattern that perfectly aligns with the target age group.”

Danilo product lines are set to include calendars, cards, gift wrap and sets and will launch in spring/summer 2022.

Amscan have extended their partnership with BBC Studios to include Bluey, and will have foil/latex balloons, party goods and dress up/costumes available for fans from January 2023.

Mandy Thwaites, Director, Magazines & Consumer Products, UK Division at BBC Studios, says: “Bluey has been a huge success for us in 2021, rounded off with a great performance at Christmas in the UK. We’re delighted to bring new partners on board to continue this growth and can’t wait to work with Character Options, Danilo and Amscan on exciting new products for Bluey fans.”

These new product lines complement a growing range across UK and EMEA which has been bolstered recently by licensing expansion in Italy and Greece. New products will also be launched in Spring 2022 from master toy partner Moose, including talking plush toys and the Bluey caravan. Crayola are also set to launch product lines in the UK in early 2022.

Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC Kids Australia, co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios, and distributed internationally by BBC Studios outside of Australia.

New licensing opportunities for hit animation Bluey as it launches in Italy and Greece

Pokémon’s 25th birthday celebrations continue with Selfridges toy-space takeovers

Posted on by

The Pokémon Company International has taken over part of Selfridges’ toy space in three UK stores.

The pop-up activation, which launched on December 13 and will run until the end of January, forms part of the final celebrations of the yearlong celebration of the brand’s 25th anniversary.

Special branded areas have been created at the Selfridges stores on Oxford Street in London, in Birmingham’s Bullring and in the Trafford Centre in Manchester, to promote the Pokémon range in-store and provide a fun and immersive experience for fans of all ages. In addition to a wide selection of Pokémon products, the activation also offers great photo opportunities, including costume character visits to the Oxford Street store

The Pokémon spaces have a Pikachu motif — the iconic Pokémon has been the face of the 25th anniversary. Its bright yellow image can be seen on displays and shelving, as well as digital screens that share promotional content from the different Pokémon brand pillars.

Winner of Best Gaming Licensed Property at the 2021 Licensing Awards, Pokémon is offering a wide range of product across the pop-ups, including special 25th anniversary items.

On display are toys from Jazwares (distributed by Character Options), including an exciting relaunch of the volcano-themed backpack playset, as well as new silver figurines and Pokémon plush. Construction sets from Mattel, collectibles from the Wand Company and Funko Pop! exclusives are also available. The Wand Company’s new Poké Balls feature their latest release, the Dusk Ball replica, while new Funko Pop! Pokémon include silver metallic anniversary figurines.

The new launch from the market-leading Pokémon Trading Card Game is also available. Pokémon TCG: Celebrations commemorates 25 years of the brand and includes remakes of classic TCG cards. Jointly featured is the newly released Sword & Shield—Fusion Strike expansion.

“We are delighted to team up once more with Selfridges for this exciting activity,” says Mathieu Galante, Licensing Director (EMEA) forThe Pokémon Company International. “We have had an amazing year as we’ve celebrated our 25th anniversary and there could be no better way to conclude the festivities than with this takeover in such a prestigious store. We’re sure fans old and new will be thrilled with what’s on offer when they visit these fun and vibrant Pokémon pop-ups.”

The takeover follows a successful collaboration with Selfridges in 2018, at its flagship Oxford Street store, which featured a branded wall, exclusive merchandise and a special event.

Yahoo Ryot Lab, Charli Cohen and Selfridges create virtual 3D experience for limited edition Charli Cohen x Pokémon collection

Character Group reports “very strong first half year performance” as turnover grows 44 per cent

Posted on by

The Character Group has reported a “very strong performance” for the half-year ending February, 28 2021 with a turnover increase of 44 per cent to £74.5 million, and underlying pre-tax profit of £6.1m.

The toy firm has attributed the successful first half year trading to the strength of its portfolio of brands, with expectations for growth to continue through the second half of the financial year, and beyond Christmas 2021. The group has seen success in building sales growth momentum across both the international and domestic markets.

Goo Jit Zu is penetrating all major international markets, with distribution already achieved in more than 40 countries. The Character Group’s other major brands (Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Little Live Pets, Shimmer ‘n Sparkle InstaGlam, Stretch Armstrong, Fireman Sam, Scooby Doo) are also exceeding expectations.

In addition, there has been a focus on developing a sustainable, eco-friendly range of products over numerous brands with the new “World of Licensed Wood” range. This now includes a comprehensive selection of figures, vehicles and playsets. Licences within the range currently include Peppa Pig, Disney Princess and Fireman Sam.

There is also an Eco-Plush multi-licensed collection, which is being enthusiastically embraced by the industry and consumers alike.

Meanwhile, a partnership with Moonbug Entertainment has seen the creation of a master toy line for the new pre-school property, My Magic Pet Morphle – a range that will launch later this year.

The statement issued by The Group today ended with an outlook for the second-half of the financial year: “In the shorter term there are challenges, with the underlying delays at ports, shipping shortages and opportunistic pricing on freight rates (all principally fall-out resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic) and mounting pressure on the costs of production in China.

“However, with the substantial increase in Group sales in the first half, we have continued to see a strong performance from sales of our product portfolio in all our territories from the commencement of the second half of the year. This growth is forecast to continue through to and beyond Christmas 2021 and we are on target to deliver the best performance in a calendar year in the Group’s history.

“By working tirelessly and in close partnership with our customers, suppliers and brand owners, our personnel have delivered a seamless, efficient and safe transition from the old to the new “normal”.  Every one of our team members has played a significant role in this achievement and, on behalf of the Board and all the Group’s stakeholders, the Group wishes to express their gratitude to them.”

Character Options named master toy partner for Moonbug Entertainment’s Morphle

Posted on by

Character Options has been named the EMEA and Australian master toy partner for the popular children’s series Morphle in the latest advance for Moonbug Entertainment’s growing licensing plans.

The deal was brokered by The Point. 1888 and will see Character Options produce a range of Morphle branded play-sets, plush, vehicles, figures, bath toys, as well as dough.

This comes just a few months after The Point.1888 announcing multiple major licensee partnerships for two of Moonbug Entertainment Ltd.’s other world-famous brands, Cocomelon and Blippi.

With over 300 episodes created and broadcast via YouTube and Netflix globally, as well as other platforms, Morphle has amassed a following of over 18 million subscribers. It follows the adventures of an energetic little red creature who can morph into anything that Mila’s playful mind can imagine.

Mila’s dad runs the only magic pet store in the city – a fantastical place where you can find all sorts of cute and quirky pets who each have their own unique magic powers, and he has gifted Mila the most magic pet of all, Morphle. She shows him everything she knows about the world, and in particular how to have fun. With Morphle’s morphing powers and Mila’s boundless imagination every day is the most exciting playdate.

Jon Diver, Joint MD of The Character Group plc, said: “As the nature of the lead character, Morphle, is to morph into many different things, it gave us so much scope for toy development. As a result, we’re investing heavily in the brand and the range and are thoroughly enjoying working with Moonbug and The Point.1888.”

Bethan Garton, commercial director at The Point.1888, said: “When Character Options takes on a new brand, it fully commits to the partnership and on building the brand. We haven’t had the good fortune to work with the company before but it’s been a life-long dream of mine, having seen how they launched, developed and managed a number of successful preschool master toy programs.”

The Point.1888 was appointed last summer as Master Licensing Agency across EMEA for Moonbug Entertainment’s entire portfolio. Since coming on board, the brand extension specialist has sought to capitalise on the shows’ popularity with young children as well as the need to keep them entertained and engaged by signing licensees across a broad range of categories.

Character Options join Aykroyds TDP (Nightwear, Underwear & Swim), Poetic (Daywear), Zak (Lunchware), Character World (Bedding).

Product development and marketing plans are underway and The Point.1888 is currently in talks with retailers and distributors.  The range will launch in Q4 2021 with a full EMEA roll out in 2022.