VeryNeko unveils Disney Women’s Empowerment collection

For the first time (in forever), online retailer VeryNeko has collaborated with four of its ambassadors; @disneymadmum, @kateballamy, @abritofcharlie, and @krystaleverdeen to launch a bespoke Disney Princess collection centred around women’s empowerment.

Now live on VeryNeko.co.uk, the new range features four mini collections, each focusing on a chosen Disney Princess: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Belle and Ariel.   

The mini collections are made up of three items; a printed t-shirt, a printed hoodie or sweatshirt, and a reversible bucket hat, all uniquely designed in the iconic colours of each princess. 

To see the full collection, visit Disney Princess Collection | VeryNeko

Mattel and Disney announce multi-year global licensing agreement for Disney Princess and Frozen franchises

Mattel has announced a multi-year global licensing agreement for the Disney Princess and Frozen franchises. Mattel will have the global licensing rights to develop lines of toys for Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing, including fashion dolls, small dolls, and figures. The collection is expected to launch at retailers around the globe at the beginning of 2023.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome back the Disney Princess and Frozen lines to Mattel,” says Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “As the worldwide leader in dolls, we look forward to bringing our unique Mattel Playbook approach to brand management, product and marketing expertise, and unrelenting attention to detail and quality to create innovative and inspiring lines for these iconic stories and characters.”

The new licensing arrangement builds on the existing licensing relationship between Mattel and Disney for Pixar Animation Studio’s Toy Story and Cars franchises, and the recently announced global licensing agreement for Lightyear.

“The courage and compassion found throughout our Disney Princess and Frozen stories and characters continue to inspire fans around the globe,” says Stephanie Young, President of Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “By furthering our longstanding relationship with Mattel, we look forward to expanding the worlds of Disney Princess and Frozen, introducing an innovative new era of these beloved franchises through captivating products and play opportunities.”

Through the agreement, Mattel will develop dolls based on Disney Princess including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Brave, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Pocahontas, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tangled, Disney Frozen, The Little Mermaid Live Action, Moana D+ Series, Tiana D+ Series, Aladdin Live Action, Beauty & the Beast Live Action, Cinderella Live Action, and Mulan Live Action.

 

 

Nintendo, Sonic, and Disney Princess help Jakks Pacific to “an excellent” Q1 2021

An “excellent beginning” to 2021 has seen net sales at the international toy maker, Jakks Pacific increase 26 per cent for the first quarter of the year, to $83.8 million compared to the $66.6 million of the same period last year.

The results, the company has been quick to point out, mark the highest year over year first quarter sales growth since Q1 2015, with “significant improvement in sales, gross margin, adjusted net income, and adjusted EBITDA.”

The results, stated Jakks Pacific’s chairman and CEO, Stephen Berman, are reflective of the efforts that the company has made to “broaden its product line, reduce its operating costs, and cut interest expense.”

“During the quarter, we drove double-digit sales increases in all of our toy divisions: Boys, Girls and Seasonal. We saw strong sales of products tied to video games, including Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog and Apex: Legends, a near doubling of sales in Disney Princess, solid initial sales of Raya and the Last Dragon, and continued strength in Black & Decker,” said Berman.

“We also registered strong sales of our own brands such as Perfectly Cute and Redo Skateboards. These sales gains easily offset the expected sales decreases we saw in Frozen, Frozen 2, and Fly Wheels.

“We are especially pleased by our continued success in reducing our operating costs, as reflected by our strong increase in gross margin and lower SG&A costs. Looking toward the balance of the year, we expect to continue to benefit from lean retail inventories and lower operating costs.

“Our retail POS trends remain positive, and we have a well-balanced line of new and continuing products planned for the holiday season. As we have for our 27-year history, we will focus on proven play patterns and our partnerships with world-class license partners and highly recognizable brands.

“As 2021 unfolds, we expect to see a return to more normal patterns of shopping, gift-giving and celebrating Halloween. We believe we are set up very well for a year of increased sales, improved EBITDA and a strengthened financial position, which we expect to generate strong momentum and can position us well for 2022 and beyond.”

Net sales for the first quarter 2021 were $83.8 million, up 26 per cent versus $66.6 million last year. The increase was driven primarily by higher sales of products across the firm’s Toys/Consumer Products segment which were up 28 per cent globally.

Net sales of Disguise costumes were essentially flat compared to last year.

Jakks Pacific recently detailed an extension of its partnership with SEGA of America to expand on its already popular toy line based on the hit video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog. The firm also recently picked up the North America toy and dress-up rights to the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Movie, across both Jakks Pacific and its costume division, Disguise.

H&A launches plastic-free gifts for kids as firm ramps up its sustainability drive

The toiletry and health and beauty specialist, H&A has taken its own stance against packaging waste with the launch of its new plastic-free stocking fillers, a range that is hitting shelves across the UK this autumn. The new range encompasses a raft of Disney licenses, including Disney Princess and Marvel’s Avengers.

Having taken the opportunity to inject new creativity into its reinvented approach to packaging, H&A now boasts ‘not a closed box in sight,’ as the company encourages tear & shares with hidden messages throughout.

Marketing manager, Holly Orton, said: “What makes us stand out this Christmas is our ability to strip out unnecessary plastics without compromising on creativity. Our products are open, secure, and exciting; we have phenomenally talented designers whose passion for delighting children while reducing our plastic footprint has made this possible.

“Our showstopping gifts have never looked so good.”

Meanwhile, the H&A team has also successfully made all of it s secondary product packaging 100 per cent recyclable, as it anticipates a continuation in consumer enthusiasm for reduced plastic and enhanced creativity.

“As market leaders we know from experience how important it is for shoppers to see product at the point of purchase and our innovative card platforms, waxed papers, and folding display trays make our products visible yet secure,” continued Orton.

“Our progress on plastics is a huge source of pride and positivity for us and we have new developments for 2021 already in the making,” she concluded.