Tag Archives: news

The Rolling Stones launch virtual RS No.9 Carnaby store for social-distancing shoppers

Posted on by

The Rolling Stones have followed up on the launch of the band – and brand’s – world first flagship store in London’s Soho, with the introduction of a new, global e-commerce shop featuring virtual experiences that allow customers to shop ‘inside the store’ from anywhere in the world.

The launch has been designed for those that can’t currently get to the Carnaby Street store in person. Once a shopper enters the virtual RS No. 9 Carnaby store, they can select from the products on offer as the experience takes them on a ‘seamless user journey’ over the store’s two floors.

They will then be able to shop the new fashion forward autumn/winter collection for men and women, which is infleunced by workwear and also showcases the athleisure trend. Childrenswear, accessories and Christmas baubles complete the offer.

The immersive 360° website shines a light on the artistic history of the physical store location on Carnaby Street and shares insider anecdotes about the architecture and design features. Created in partnership with the Rolling Stones and Bravado, Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company, the new online store specializes in fashion and accessories.

The store is also tapping into the Black Friday sale this year, offering UK customers a rare opportunity to get 20 per cent off purchases over £50. 

John Habbouch, GM and CFO, Bravado, said: “We are excited to be able to take the brand new RS No. 9 Carnaby store to the world and to allow customers and fans to shop the collection from the comfort of their own homes through an immersive and unique online experience of this exciting retail space.”

Peter Andre signs up to support Snowman Enterprises’ Winter Windows charity campaign

Posted on by

Television personality and singer-songwriter, Peter Andre has signed on to support the launch of Snowman Enterprises Ltd’s 2020 winter charity campaign to raise funds for children’s hospices in the UK.

Inspired by the rainbows displayed in support of key workers earlier this year, families and independent retailers are encouraged to create a scene from Raymond Briggs’ timeless picture book, The Snowman in their windows, to share a little magic with their community this winter. 

Peter Andre and his family will be creating their own window display at home to encourage the nation to join the campaign.

Andre said: “Who better than Raymond Briggs’ beloved Snowman to bring families and communities together this winter to create some festive cheer? Not only will The Snowman window scenes sprinkle some much needed magic across the UK, they will raise vital funds for children’s hospices. So you can have fun creating and sharing your Snowman window and know that you’ve made a difference in doing so. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without The Snowman, and this year Christmas most definitely has come early.” 

Snowman Enterprises Ltd has pledged £1 to children’s hospice charities Together For Short Lives and Chestnut Tree House (of which Raymond Briggs is a patron) for every Snowman window scene shared on social media.

Raymond Briggs CBE, author of The Snowman, said: “After a very challenging year, I couldn’t be happier to think that my Snowman is helping to raise the nation’s spirits but more importantly, is raising funds for children’s hospices around the UK. 

“I know how vital these services are and the huge difference they make to the lives of young people and their families.  It would be wonderful to see The Snowman popping up in windows around the UK this winter.”  

Every Wednesday for six weeks a new line art illustration from The Snowman will be made available at https://www.thesnowman.com/winter-windows and shared on The Snowman social media channels.  

These can be printed off and coloured in, or used to inspire Snowman artwork, and added to window scenes. A bumper Snowman prize bundle will be awarded to one lucky winner of a Winter Window scene shared on Facebook or Instagram.

LEGO Art grows its mosaic-building ‘relaxation’ portfolio with Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests sets

Posted on by

The LEGO Group is growing its LEGO Art portfolio with the launch of a range of Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests sets, designed to give Harry Potter fans and adult LEGO builders the chance to display their house allegiances.

The new 2D tile mosaic wall art sets each allow Harry Potter enthusiasts to build one of four different Hogwarts house crests: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw with the 4,249 piece set. Four sets can be combined to make the ultimate Hogwarts crest.

LEGO Art offers adults a creative experience to help them relax and recharge as they transform a blank canvas (or in this case, small interlinking base plates) using LEGO tiles. The new LEGO Art Harry Potter Crests set can be reimagined in a number of different ways to display a different crest if loyalties change.

The new launch also comes with an immersive soundtrack designed to give fans a ‘behind the scenes’ peek into the Wizarding World as experts talk more about Hogwarts and the different houses. The range and its soundtrack is designed to helping builders “switch off and explore their love of Harry Potter as they build”.

The soundtrack includes stories of those close to the Wizarding World™ including Miraphora Mina, graphic designer for the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts films, Eduardo Lima, graphic designer for the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts films, Alan Gilmore, creative director for the Harry Potter films, Pierre Bohanna, head prop maker for theHarry Potter & Fantastic Beasts films, and Kitt Kossmann, LEGO designer.

A Harry Potter logo tile adds the final touch to the impressive 15.5” (40cm) square tile mosaic before it is proudly hung on the wall. The new LEGO Art Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests set is designer for builders aged 18 and over, and will be available from January 1st, 2021 from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and other retailers globally priced from $119.99/€119.99.

YWOW Games partners with Swizzels as its continues plans to ‘revolutionise games and puzzles’

Posted on by

YWOW Games is continuing its mission to ‘revolutionise the games and puzzles industry’ through a new partnership with Swizzels for a range of Swizzels puzzles. It’s part of the company’s ongoing plans to bring household brands to the collectable jigsaw puzzles market.

In a deal brokered by Blonde Sheep Licensing, YWOW has struck up its partnership with the firm recognised as one of the longest established manufacturers of confectionery in the UK, to bring a puzzle assortment featuring a range of some of Swizzels’ most iconic brands.

Love Hearts and Drumstick Squashies will both feature in the collection.

YWOW kicked off the innovative brand ‘Mini Puzzles’ with Kellogg’s and Pringles earlier this year, with distribution channels reaching most major markets. According to the firm, the two licensed puzzle lines are selling out in major retailers in the UK and outperforming their competitors in specialty stores and hypermarkets.

‘It is evident from the brand’s success in these markets that the current circumstances make puzzles even more of an evergreen category,’ said the firm.

YWOW Games has indicated that it is ‘only just getting started’ with its licensing programme and has promised to bring the range to all markets.

“YWOW are already seeing success with other iconic brands across puzzles and I have no doubt this success will continue with the Swizzels brands,” said Natasha Dyson, managing director, Blonde Sheep Licensing. “It has been a pleasure working with such an enthusiastic team.”

Rocket Licensing named UK agency for hit pre-school series Floogals

Posted on by

Rocket Licensing has been named the UK licensing agency for the BAFTA and Emmy nominated pre-school animated TV series, Floogals, with plans for a consumer products programme encompassing toys, apparel, publishing, gifting, homewares, and food.

The programme, developed by Nevision, follows the adventures of Fleeker, Flo and Boomer – three pocket-sized aliens from the Planet Floog. The trio embark on a voyage of discovery of the world and its ‘hooman’ inhabitants.

Floogals series one to three airs daily on rotation on Milkshake! where it has ranked as the number three show on the channel in 2020, with a 721,000 reach and 70,000 average audience. Series two of the show also enjoys a daily slot on Nick Jr Too, where it took the number six spot in February and March 2020.

Series one to three of the show are also available on Universal Kids and on demand on Amazon Prime and YouTube Kids, reaching a wide audience of pre-schoolers globally.

Overall, the co-production between NBCUniversal’s Sprout channel, Zodiak Kids and Nevision, offers 130 x 11” episodes over its three series and is created by a prestigious team, including Nevision’s Nigel Pickard, Matt Porter and Ceri Barnes.

To date, Floogals has reached in excess of 11.5 million viewers in the UK, and since its launch, has reached over half of households in the UK with young children and over 60 per cent of four to five year-olds. It has also been sold to broadcasters in more than 50 territories worldwide by Zodiak Kids and Universal.

The brand is supported with an engaged and active social media strategy, and Rocket will be working on marketing partnerships as part of its licensing campaign.

Nevision’s Nigel Pickard said: “We are delighted to be working with Rocket Licensing who have such a great reputation in the licensing business and have delivered so successfully for all the brands they work with.”

Rocket Licensing is planning to work its usual magic on the consumer products programme for the Floogals brand, leading with toys, apparel, publishing, gifting, homewares and food.

Charlie Donaldson, joint-MD, Rocket Licensing, said: “Floogals has a uniquely attractive blend of live action and animation and its appeal can be seen in its huge success as a broadcast programme. This success gives us great scope for developing consumer products and promotional campaigns. 

“We’re really excited to roll out products for this fun, bright, popular brand and so far, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from both licensees and retailers alike.”

Luxury fashion firm MadaLuxe launches new licensing division in latest business expansion

Posted on by

The North American luxury fashion distributor, MadaLuxe Group, has launched a new licensing division with a primary focus on acquiring the worldwide exclusive licensing rights for all fashion categories from leading global luxury brands.

The new unit will be headed up by Steven Barbery, who has been promoted from SVP of Timepieces to the newly created role of president of licensing and timepieces.

“Steven Barbery has continually proven his skill and vision by building our timepieces business to its current position as the largest distributor of luxury fashion Swiss Made watches in North America,” said Adam Freede, CEO of MadaLuxe Group.

“He has been promoted to this new role to continue leading that growth and to oversee all operations of our MadaLuxe licensing arm in addition to MadaLuxeTime.com, our full-price e-commerce channel for timepieces, which will grow into a multicategory full-line business.

“We’re extremely confident in his ability to advance our business as we continue to expand into new categories and areas of operation.”

Barbery joined MadaLuxe in 2017 to establish a watch division when the company acquired the exclusive distribution rights for Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo and Versus Versace watches. He created a distribution strategy that paralleled the parent brands’ strategies and expanded distribution into Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and other fine and luxury watch stores.

In 2019, MadaLuxe acquired the North America distribution rights for Fendi Timepieces.

The launch of the licensing arm is MadaLuxe’s most recent move to expand and evolve its business. In September, the company launched SLS Journey, an investment arm led by the group’s co-founder, Sandy Sholl. The investment division focuses on high-potential emerging companies that sit at the intersection of wellness, beauty, fashion and technology and that align with MadaLuxe’s vision in the luxury sector.

Popeye lands its first Australian sportswear partnership with The WOD Life

Posted on by

Merchantwise Licensing has brokered the first Australian Popeye sportswear collection withe the popular online sportswear label, The WOD Life. The deal was struck on behalf of King Features Syndicate.

Launching this month ahead of the Australian summer season, the limited-edition range of fashionably branded Popeye sportswear apparel for women and men includes a high-waisted booty short, fleet bra, motion shorts, slash crop, flex short and printed tank.

‘Popeye’s heart of gold, brave and compassionate personality shines across a number of branded sports and training accessories including a scrunchie, printed socks, an immerse headband as well as a quick dry towel and a face mask covering,’ said the company.

The branded range also extends to training support items including wrist wraps, strength wraps, a four-inch Velcro lifting belt as well as knee sleeves.

The WOD Life will be heavily supporting the range with a ‘Hype’ campaign pre-release followed by an early access marketing activity ahead of the launch at the end of this month. The WOD Life will also drive extensive marketing, digital, media and influencer outreach campaigns for the collaboration.

“For the past three years, The WOD Life has been releasing successful limited edition prints for our customers which can sell out in a matter of hours, said The WOD Life’s director, Ben Dineen.

“Popeye is a cartoon character which our customer base would be familiar with and may have grown up watching Popeye cartoons on TV or the movie during their childhood. We think our customers are going to really relate to the new Popeye x TWL range and will be excited to get into their training space to show off their new style.”

“We are so excited by this Popeye partnership with The WOD Life. Not only is it the first time we have launched an Australian Popeye branded sportswear collection, it is an incredibly comprehensive range featuring apparel, accessory and training support products that are sure to please both Popeye fans and The WOD Life’s extensive customer base,” said Merchantwise Licensing’s general manager, licensing, Kerryn McCormack.

Masha and the Bear become stars of a new branded zone at Turkey’s The Land of Legends theme park

Posted on by

Masha and the Bear are now the stars of the series own branded destination area within Turkey’s popular theme park, The Land of Legends, featuring a variety of rides and entertainment activities for visitors. The move is the result of a new partnership between Animaccord and The Land of Legends and Rixos Hotels.

The Land of Legends in Antalya has been attracting guests since it opened in 2016, operating throughout the year, including the holiday seasons such as New Year Eve. In 2020 Rixos Group presented its first ever licensed themed land in theme park – Masha and the Bear Land of Laughter – inspired by the popular animated family series.

The brand zone covers the area of 8000 m2.

Hande Tezerdi, Rixos Group’s business development director, said: “Masha and the Bear is a very strong IP throughout Europe, and all over the world.

“It is among the top five brands in Turkey, for most watchable episodes and for consumer brands. We met with Animaccord and explained our vision about what The Land of Legends wanted to create as a themed zone.”

Masha and the Bear now holds the position as centrepiece of The Land of Legends’ Land of Laughter with its ride, A Joyful Journey. The ride is billed as a slow-moving boat ride through the four seasons of the year, with Masha and the Bear as walking mascots with whom park visitors can take photos.

Guests enter Masha’s house before boarding boats that take them in and out of a show building. Most of the scenes show Masha interacting with the seasonal weather conditions and also holidays like Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s. Over 75 cartoon-inspired figurines populate the attraction, both static and animated. 

An indoor play structure called Bear’s Funhouse and a splashpad play area provide other attractions within the land. A quick service restaurant features Russian cuisine while the train-themed Food Station restaurant provides indoor and outdoor sit-down options. Windows on one side of the train face the land while “windows” on the opposite side are actually screens that show animated scenes and characters from the TV series.

Rise in shoppers planning to stay local this year, as “support for indies has never been so important”

Posted on by

With the Prime Minister’s confirmation that all non-essential shops will be able to reopen across England when the nation-wide lockdown lifts on December 2nd playing like music to many a retailer’s ears amid the essential Christmas shopping period, independent toy shops are rallying the message that ‘shopping local has never been so important.’

A still self-isolating Boris Johnson made the announcement to the House of Commons via a video link yesterday afternoon, confirming that retailers who have been deemed ‘non-essential’ will be able to open their doors to Christmas shoppers in time to meet the crucial golden quarter sales. The PM stated that as the lockdown lifts, a stricter and more stringent three-tier system will be put into place across the country.

The confirmation has arrived as a note of assurance to an independent toy retail scene who had – widely speaking – felt ‘stitched up’ by the numerous loopholes that others had managed to negotiate in order to remain open under the ‘essential retail’ banner, and subsequently capitalise on the current demand for toys and games. It was a general mood that provoked the British Toy and Hobby Association to pen an open letter to Number 10 imploring Johnson to offer assurances to the trade.

Yesterday’s confirmation has been welcomed by bodies such as the British Retail Consortium and independent retailers across the country, who see the move as a silver lining as they prepare now for the all important Christmas shopping season. However, there’s no illusion that it will be an easy ride, and more than ever, they say, it is important to promote the message of #shoplocal.

Small Stuff, an award-winning, independent eco-conscious children’s lifestyle store and community space was invited on to Times Radio as Johnson made the announcement to talk about what this now means for the country’s independent retail scene.

In a tweet posted last night, the retailer stated: “Positive news that we can reopen on the 2nd Dec. We will be opening safely with plenty of measures in place. The message of #shoplocal has never been so important – support us if you can.”

A new research paper created by Visa in partnership with the Centre for Economic and Business Research, however, suggests that the mountain retailers now face this quarter, may not be quite so treacherous after all. The socio-economic paper nopw suggests that as many as four in five Brits plan to support local businesses as much, or more than, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The research – launched alongside Visa’s Where You Shop Matters Christmas campaign (one that champions Britain’s local, independent businesses for a third consecutive year) – suggests that 54 per cent of British consumers plan to do some of their Christmas locally this year, whether that is online or in store. Three in five consumers are concerned that independent businesses will not survive if their local community does not back them through this time.

Visa and CEBR go on to state that for every £10 spent with local businesses, more than a third stays within the local area. When it comes to customer intentions this Christmas, Brits currently spend just over one fifth of their money locally, but will be willing to spend half with local independents this year.

What’s clear is that the impact of the pandemic this year has given rise to the ‘altruistic customer’, a term coined by BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson in reference to the shopper who intends to spend more with local retailers this year in show of support of the community.

At the same time, she stated, it has ‘accelerated the importance of “social purpose” of the retailer.

Speaking on the latest developments and the announcement of shops reopening on December 2nd, Dickinson said: “Shops – from high streets to retail parks – play an integral role in the run-up to Christmas.

“While retailers have stepped up their online delivery over the course of 2020, the bulk of Christmas shopping tends to be done in store. The Government’s decision to keep all of retail open will help to preserve jobs and the economy and help keep Christmas a festive occasion for everyone.”

 

Waxwork Records lifts lid on Universal’s 1932 classic horror The Mummy Spinature

Posted on by

Waxwork Records, the cult and pop culture record label and specialist in the collectables space, has lifted the lid on its latest Spinature collectable figure: The Mummy, as played by British actor William Henry Platt (stage name of Boris Karloff) who played the infamous monster in Universal’s 1932 classic fantasy horror film.

The new Spinature features a detailed sculpt of Karloff in his iconic mummy look and stands at around four inches tall. The new release features detailed likeness, bandages, ring, and The Mummy’s classic pose.

This is the latest launch from Waxwork Records who partnered with Universal to release a series of collectable Spinatures figures from across its vault of Monster movies. Earlier this year, the firm launched its Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein figures, while – hitting the Halloween market – it detailed its Halloween II and Halloween III collection on October 30th.

Many more Spinatures are to come this autumn/winter, including Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, The Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Wolfman, and The Invisible Man.