Tag Archives: news

British & Irish Lions score new partnership with golfing brand Titleist

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The British & Irish Lions has scored a new licensing partnership with the world-leading golf brand, Titleist.

The agreement is one of a number of new license deals secured by brand licensing specialist The Point.1888, who has partnered with the Lions to create a new range of products ahead of the Tour to South Africa in 2021 to face world champions, the Springboks.

Recognised as the game’s leading performance equipment brand, Titleist will offer a range of high-specification, Lions branded accessories including golf balls, golf bags and golf club head covers, as well as gloves and towels.

 Today’s announcement comes off the back of the enormous interest in next summer’s Tour, with record numbers of travel packages and tickets being sold to Lions and Springbok supporters, as well as a spate of commercial partnerships recently being announced including Vodafone, Castle Lager, Hackett, Canterbury and Famous Grouse.

“We are delighted to welcome Titleist to our growing family of licensees,” said Tom Halsey, British & Irish Lions Commercial Director. “Titleist products are top quality and, like the Lions, are known around the world for being a symbol of excellence.

“I am sure Lions supporters will be keen to take to the course with the number one ball in golf, featuring the famous Lions crest.”

 Titleist is the latest in a list of recent Lions’ license deals secured by The Point.1888, which include FOCO UK (face coverings, towels and garden gnomes), Vision Sports Publishing (The British & Irish Lions – The Official History), Danilo (Lions branded calendars and diaries for 2021), Zak (a range of British & Irish Lions homewares, gifting and mealtime and drinkware), Oddballs (men’s and women’s Lions underwear), Game on Glove (supporters’ merchandise and accessories), Brecrest (babywear, including bibs, sleep suits and baby grows), BDA (premium corporate products including pins and leather goods), and Zenith (collectible coins commemorating past Lions captains).

“We are absolutely delighted to bring two iconic brands in golf and rugby together to offer fans a unique collection of products to celebrate the Lions Tour,” said Hannah Stevens, head of retail at The Point 1888.

“As a retail-first brand extension company we are actively planning for a truly spectacular summer of rugby with our retail and new licensee partners.”

Aardman teams with Bandai Namco Entertainment to develop a new multi-media IP

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Aardman, the multi-award winning animation studio behind the Wallace & Gromit franchise and Chicken Run, has partnered with Bandai Namco to develop a brand new IP.

As reported in Licensing.biz’s sister title, MCV, the partnership’s first major project will exist across multiple media, and the team will approach partners in early 2021 with the development materials. The collaboration will combine Aardman’s talent of creating characters and worlds with Bandai Namco’s expertise in  publishing and development to create games for “current and future platforms.”

“Interactive Entertainment is a huge growth area within the entertainment world,” said Sean Clarke, managing director of Aardman, “and with new emerging technology blurring the lines of watching and playing, we are keen to develop strategic partnerships with partners such as BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe that share our vision of creating new IP that embraces this new world and cement our studio’s reputation as a multi-disciplinary creative hub.”

“This new partnership with Aardman is a dream come true, as it opens up a world of possibilities,” said Hervé Hoerdt, SVP of digital, marketing & content at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, “The teams at Aardman and BNEE are a perfect cultural and creative fit to build a successful long term partnership, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

Further details about the collaboration will be available at a later date.

A birthday party with Richard Cadell and tickets for Lions vs Japan among prizes in The Light Fund’s silent auction

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The Light Fund is looking to bring a little Christmas cheer to the end of a tough year with the launch of a silent auction and prize draw, offering entrants the chance to win ‘some incredible money can’t buy prizes.’

With industry events and get-togethers put on hold throughout 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Light Fund has missed vital opportunities to raise funds for the causes it supports this year. The silent auction is the organisation’s bid to recoup some of those with the help of the industry.

There’s a spectacular array of prizes and auction lots, including the chance to have Sooty and Richard Cadell host a birthday party for a lucky child and five friends, or for author Jonny Duddle to Zoom into a classroom to host a Gigantosaurus live drawing and reading event.

Meanwhile, as and when real life events return, there are some great lots available including a week’s holiday in Cornwall,  a trip for two people to the MTV European music awards (including the after show party), and a pair of  tickets to watch the Lions VS Japan at Murrayfield.

You can view the prizes and auction lots, make your bids, and buy tickets over on the website – www.givergy.uk/TheLightFund. 

The Light Fund raffle is now also selling tickets – £10 each – for the chance to win more prizes, including a £500 online shopping voucher with The Entertainer/Early Learning Centre, or a £500 voucher for Selfridges.

Within three days of launching, the total donations were already up to £4,000, but with the support of the industry and its family and friends, the organisation is looking to raise a lot more.

Bids for the auction will close on 17th December, 2020, and the raffle will also be drawn on the same day.

Anyone who has items they would like to donate as prizes should please contact Anne Bradford AnneB@poeticbrands.com / 07788 585343. New lots and prizes would be very welcome and there is still plenty of time to add them.

Fisher-Price partners with PGS Entertainment to launch Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight toy line

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Mattel has entered into a multi-year global licensing agreement with PGS Entertainment to launch a full line of Fisher-Price toys based on the upcoming animated pre-school series, Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight.

Under the agreement, Mattel and its Fisher-Price brand will develop new figures, play-sets, plush, vehicles and more. The officially licensed toy range is tipped to launch in 2022.

Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight is a comedy adventure series based on a story created by Dankerleroux and Françoise de Guibert for Editions Gulf Stream. Presented in CGI animation, the show, which will initially consist of 52 11-minute episodes, will follow a small grasshopper-sized boy named Gus who wishes to become the greatest knight in all the kingdom of Karamel, a medieval setting with a modern twist.

“We are always looking for new properties that offer strong, toyetic qualities. From the moment we first saw the world of Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight, we were drawn to its compelling story,” said Nick Karamanos, SVP of Entertainment Partnerships, Mattel.

“We look forward to partnering with the PGS team to develop a range of preschool toys that will bring this new property to life and engage kids through play.”

Philippe Soutter, Co-Founder, PGS Entertainment, added: “We’re extremely pleased with the developments on Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight, and with having Mattel on board.

“With leading broadcasters already set up across the world, we’re certain that Gus will bring massive success to both broadcasters and licensees. Having a partner like Mattel to expand the Gus universe is a big milestone for the brand’s growth.”

Penguin Random House launches National Trust, Christmas Grotto, and Instagram campaigns for Peter Rabbit

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Penguin Random House UK has launched a series of new brand activations for Peter Rabbit, giving families the chance to come together this winter as lockdown restrictions lift in the UK.

Leading the charge is a dedicated partnership with the National Trust that will see a series of Peter Rabbit Winter Activity Trails launch across 90 National Trust places within the UK this month. The trails will offer families nature-themed activities in outdoor settings, while a range of Peter Rabbit gifts will be stocked at all National Trust shops and online.

The ambitious partnership will bring Peter Rabbit to the Trust’s impressive family audience with an expected 1.7m visitors accessing the trails this winter. Dates and locations are all available on the National Trust website.

Meanwhile, a series of digital activities will be available at a dedicated Peter Rabbit area on the National Trust website, including festive storytelling and audio clips from the recently released Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales and activity sheets, to support partners across the Peter Rabbit brand, will be promoted to the Trust’s combined social media following of 2.7m followers.

“Penguin Random House UK has worked in partnership with the National Trust for many years to protect Beatrix Potter’s legacy in the Lake District,” said Izzy Richardson, global brand director, Penguin Random House Children’s Owned Brands.

“We are so excited that our partnership can now bring the adventures of Peter Rabbit and friends to National Trust supporters and their families in an entirely new and immersive way.

“The trails will place Peter in some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the UK and offer families the opportunity to create memorable experiences together this winter.”

The trails and digital campaign use the festive illustrations from a new book, ‘Peter Rabbit: Christmas is Coming’ which provides a story and an activity to share, every day throughout December.

An influencer campaign to promote the new book is currently underway with seven influencers showcasing family-friendly, festive activities and stories as well as a range of perfect Peter Rabbit licensed gifts. With new content posted every week, the ‘Festive Fridays’ campaign will reach a combined following of approximately 480,000 Instagram users during the crucial Q4 period.

In addition, Penguin Ventures (the licensing team at Penguin Random House) has worked with Eskimo Jo for the third year running to launch an official Peter Rabbit Christmas Grotto. The immersive experience will launch at Centre MK this December with Peter Rabbit and friends, welcoming back families as the shopping centre reopens this month.

Thomas Merrington, creative director at Penguin Ventures, said: “This is the third year into our partnership with Eskimo Jo and Vibration Music Ltd following two sell-out Peter Rabbit grottos at intu Trafford Centre.

“Together we have created an incredibly atmospheric and theatrical, interactive grotto. The cosy rabbits’ burrow and opportunity for children to get involved with crafting, is the perfect way to evolve Peter Rabbit for Christmas family audiences.”

Mattel and Sanrio to launch new doll range across Amazon and Smyths Toys in the UK

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Global toy maker Mattel and the lifestyle brand Sanrio are kicking off their new partnership with the launch of a new toy and accessory collection featuring Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Badtz Maru across Amazon and Smyths Toys in the UK from January 2021.

The never-before-seen collection will tap into the current nostalgia trend and will include a new doll line featuring fun characters of fashion, all accompanied by Hello Kitty and Friends. Fans can expect to find play-sets, surprise elements, collectables, and stationery.

Highlights from the collection will include:

Sanrio Double Dippers: Sanrio Double Dippers collectible sets are filled with sweet surprises. Each set includes one Hello Kitty figure, one removable hat accessory, and one doughnut or cake accessory

Hello Kitty and Friends Éclair Doll: Éclair doll comes dressed in trendy clothes and accessories like glittery high-top sneakers, a vinyl skirt, and bow headpiece to match her bestie, Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty and Friends Stylie Doll: Stylie doll comes dressed in trendy clothes and accessories like glittery high-top sneakers, a vinyl skirt, and bow headpiece to match her bestie, My Melody.

Hello Kitty and Friends Jazzlyn Doll: For fashion play, Jazzlyn doll comes dressed in trendy clothes and accessories like glittery high-top sneakers, a vinyl skirt, and headpiece to match her bestie, Badtz-Maru.

Hello Kitty and Friends Minis Hamburger Diner Playset: Savor the fun with this Hello Kitty Hamburger compact loaded with fun surprises.

Hello Kitty and Friends Minis Tea Party Playset: Pinkies up for this Hello Kitty Tea Party compact filled with surprises.

Hello Kitty and Friends Minis Beach Pencil Playset: Make a splash with this Hello Kitty Watermelon beach-themed pencil box set that features a playset, storage, and stationery supplies.

Hello Kitty and Friends Minis Carnival Pencil Playset: This Hello Kitty Candy Carnival pencil box set features a playset, storage, and stationery supplies.

Hello Kitty Plush: Made with soft fabrics and at 8-inches tall, she’s the perfect size for take-along play.

Sanrio Surprise Stamper: These Sanrio Surprise Minis collectibles are triple the fun, with eight to collect. Each figure is a self-stamper, pencil-topper, and keychain.

“This collection offers Sanrio fans a whole new way to experience the brand in a fun and entertaining way,” said Jill Koch, SVP of sales and business development at Sanrio, Inc. “Over the past 60 years, Sanrio has cemented a legacy built on the foundation of Small Gift, Big Smile and this collection with Mattel encompasses that so well.”

Silvia Figini, chief operating officer Sanrio – EMEA, India and Oceania, Mr Men – Worldwide, added: “The toy range will be an amazing combination of both cuteness and freshness and we are sure consumers will be excited: both young girls and their mothers will love spending time together playing with the tiny accessories and the surprise collectibles.”

The RHS and Dexam ready to launch Home Grown Children’s Collection

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The Royal Horticultural Society has given the specialist supplier of kitchen cookware, bakeware, and accessories, Dexam, license to produce a range of children’s backpacks and meal accessories using environmentally friendly or recycled material.

Called the Home Grown Children’s Collection, the range includes backpacks, lunch bags with matching drinks bottles, lunchboxes, children’s aprons, toddler messy play aprons and children’s eating gift sets.

The items in the range are all illustrated with engaging illustrations featuring bright and very colourful images of carrots and apples with captions like “I am growing every day”, “Home harvest” and “Locally grown”. 

The range has also been designed with the environment in mind. The lunch bags, backpacks and aprons are made from recycled plastic bottles via a process which turns the plastic into a durable and practical fabric. The bags are wipe clean and the aprons are 40°C machine washable.

Meanwhile, the lunch boxes and kids’ eating sets are made from bamboo fibre. Bamboo is renewable, biodegradable and grows quickly without fertilisers. It is also naturally antibacterial.

The range is expected to launch in spring 2021. It will be available at high street stores, garden centres, RHS shops and online, including the official RHS online store, shop.rhs.org.uk.

These are the first non-publishing-related products to use the children’s style guide, which will see its licensing debut in a range of books from Scholastic. The first Scholastic titles will launch in February 2021.

Dexam was founded in 1957 selling kitchen gadgets and cookware. Its range today has everything you need from peeling to chopping and mixing to baking. Ethical production is fundamental to the integrity of its products.

Cathy Snow, licensing manager, RHS, said: “Bringing our children’s style guide artwork to homeware for the first time requires a partner that understands our aims and that has a reputation for quality – and that is a perfect description of Dexam.

“These children’s backpacks and meal accessories are practical and stylish, as well as environmentally friendly. They’re also a lot of fun.”

Helen Boardman, product manager, Dexam, added: “The RHS children’s style guide and our own 60 years of experience in kitchenware and lunch accessories have combined to produce this very child and environmentally friendly range.

“We’ve greatly enjoyed partnering with the RHS on the Home Grown Children’s Collection, which we are sure will delight both children and parents.”

Poetic Brands teams with Sunny Side Up to launch Let’s Get Lyrical range based on famous song lyrics

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Poetic Brands has partnered with the licensing agency, Sunny Side Up to launch the Let’s Get Lyrical range of day and night wear, a collection that will be based upon the lyrics of well-known songs.

The Let’s Get Lyrical range will include all baby layette fashion daywear and nightwear; children’s daywear, outerwear, nightwear and essentials, swimwear, towelling ponchos and beach towels; adult daywear, outerwear, nightwear and essentials, swimwear and beach towels; along with hard and soft shell suitcases, luggage and bags. 

Sunny Side Up Licensing represents licensing opportunities utilising some of the largest libraries of song lyrics both in the UK, and globally. The agency holds representation rights to the copyright of millions of songs with the world’s leading music publishers. In the new deal with Poetic Brands, lyrics will be applied to apparel and accessories for every age group. 

“Music is in our lives every day. Something will happen and more often than not, a memory will trigger a song or vice versa,” said Anne Bradford, director at Poetic Brands. “Having worked with Michael on a number of projects over the years, we quickly started to talk when I arrived at Poetic Brands and have been developing product to share at retail throughout lockdown. 

“What we love about this is being able to take it from conception (maternity wear) right the way through baby, kids and adults’ apparel. The opportunities here are endless.”

Michael Gottlieb, director, Sunny Side Up Licensing, added: “Lyrics are the poetry of our time and music has become the soundtrack to people’s lives. Sunny Side Up Licensing is delighted to be working with Poetic Brands to bring lyrics to life on apparel through what we expect to be a long partnership.”

Peanuts Worldwide continues its 70th celebrations with new European and Middle East partners

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As Peanuts continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year, its licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG has inked a new wave of deals across Europe and the Middle East, with new collections inspired by Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts gang.

The swathe of new deals with take the Peanuts property into new partnerships across fashion, accessories, homewares and gifts for children and adults.

New collaborations in the UK include Cath Kidston for a Peanuts 70th anniversary collection spanning fashion, homewares and accessories; Vayyu for an autumn/winter fashion collection for men and women; Cribstar for its second Peanuts kids’ apparel collection; Flamingo Candles for a range of scented candles; and Bamford for adult watches.

Completing the UK line-up is Tatty Devine who will launch its second Peanuts-inspired jewellery collection, and BeArty who will launch a collection of digital wall art.

Next, and from Spain, Bershka is launching a fashion collection; Andres Gallardo is on board for a range of handmade jewellery; and Woodys has created a range of 70th anniversary eyewear featuring the Peanuts gang. Also in the region, Panapop has launched a range of accessories and watches, and fashion retailer Desigual launched an apparel collection for both kids and adults.

In Germany, new collections include MDM for 70th anniversary commemorative coins, and s.Oliver for a Peanuts women’s fashion collaboration. Together with Peanuts Worldwide, WildBrain CPLG executed a publicity campaign for Peanuts’ 70th anniversary in Germany which resulted in extensive broadcast, print, online and social media coverage.

For the Middle East and North Africa, Babyshop has created a themed children’s fashion collection.

Tara Botwick, senior director, territory management EMEA for Peanuts Worldwide, said: “It’s been an exciting year for Peanuts and it’s fantastic to see the continued expansion of the merchandise offering for fans across Europe and beyond.

“From on-trend fashion collections, through thoughtful gifts and luxury accessories, these new ranges offer something for Peanuts fans of all ages.”

Charles M. Schulz first introduced Charlie Brown to the world in the comics pages of seven American newspapers in 1950. In the following days and years, he was joined by friends Lucy and Linus, his sister Sally, and, of course, everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy.

Seven decades later, the Peanuts gang has left an indelible mark on global pop culture and this fall has seen an abundance of merchandise celebrating the brand’s 70th anniversary around the world.

Peanuts Worldwide continues its 70th celebrations with new European and Middle East partners

Posted on by

As Peanuts continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year, its licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG has inked a new wave of deals across Europe and the Middle East, with new collections inspired by Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts gang.

The swathe of new deals with take the Peanuts property into new partnerships across fashion, accessories, homewares and gifts for children and adults.

New collaborations in the UK include Cath Kidston for a Peanuts 70th anniversary collection spanning fashion, homewares and accessories; Vayyu for an autumn/winter fashion collection for men and women; Cribstar for its second Peanuts kids’ apparel collection; Flamingo Candles for a range of scented candles; and Bamford for adult watches.

Completing the UK line-up is Tatty Devine who will launch its second Peanuts-inspired jewellery collection, and BeArty who will launch a collection of digital wall art.

Next, and from Spain, Bershka is launching a fashion collection; Andres Gallardo is on board for a range of handmade jewellery; and Woodys has created a range of 70th anniversary eyewear featuring the Peanuts gang. Also in the region, Panapop has launched a range of accessories and watches, and fashion retailer Desigual launched an apparel collection for both kids and adults.

In Germany, new collections include MDM for 70th anniversary commemorative coins, and s.Oliver for a Peanuts women’s fashion collaboration. Together with Peanuts Worldwide, WildBrain CPLG executed a publicity campaign for Peanuts’ 70th anniversary in Germany which resulted in extensive broadcast, print, online and social media coverage.

For the Middle East and North Africa, Babyshop has created a themed children’s fashion collection.

Tara Botwick, senior director, territory management EMEA for Peanuts Worldwide, said: “It’s been an exciting year for Peanuts and it’s fantastic to see the continued expansion of the merchandise offering for fans across Europe and beyond.

“From on-trend fashion collections, through thoughtful gifts and luxury accessories, these new ranges offer something for Peanuts fans of all ages.”

Charles M. Schulz first introduced Charlie Brown to the world in the comics pages of seven American newspapers in 1950. In the following days and years, he was joined by friends Lucy and Linus, his sister Sally, and, of course, everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy.

Seven decades later, the Peanuts gang has left an indelible mark on global pop culture and this fall has seen an abundance of merchandise celebrating the brand’s 70th anniversary around the world.