Poetic Brands adds Schitt’s Creek to its portfolio

Apparel manufacturer Poetic Brands has partnered with ITV Studios to create a range of adult apparel based on the hugely popular riches-to-rags comedy drama Schitt’s Creek.

The new range is set to include men’s and women’s T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and nightwear for distribution across Europe.

Schitt’s Creek made a record-breaking sweep of the 2020 Emmy awards with nine wins, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and has also won a plethora of other awards in its six-year run, including ACTRA awards, Canadian Screen Awards, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, Screen Actors Guild Awards and many more.

ITV Studios has secured a number of international broadcasters for the series, taking the total count to 197 territories. When the sixth and final series launched on Netflix in September 2020, users in the US watched 968 million minutes (Nielsen Streaming Rankings, September 2020), moving the show to the most-watched on the platform.

Elliott Matthews, Executive Director at Poetic Brands, commented: “Schitt’s Creek is one of those series that will go down in history and despite there being no more production, it will continue to be popular with its army of fans. We’re really excited to be launching this apparel range – the brand is part of adult pop culture in the UK and we’re sure it will be a big hit.”

Christina Lima, VP Global Franchise Management and Creative Services at ITV Studios, added: “Schitt’s Creek is one of those brands that everyone wishes to have in their portfolio. After the huge success with the licensing programme in North America, it is time to bring it to Europe. We are very pleased to welcome Poetic Brands as one of our first signed partners in the UK.”

Schitt’s Creek is produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. for CBC and Pop TV.

Poetic Brands signs deal with Walkers for adult apparel

Apparel specialist Poetic Brands has partnered with Walkers to launch a range of adult clothing in the UK and Ireland, through a deal brokered by Walkers’ licensing agency IMG.

The new collection will include sweatshirts, T-shirts, joggers, shorts and more, all taking inspiration from the iconic brand which originated in 1948 and quickly became the most popular crisp brand in the UK.

Utilising the instantly recognisable branding and graphics synonymous with Walkers, the collection is set to tap into the nation’s demand for heritage brands.

Elliott Matthews, Managing Director of Poetic Brands, commented: “Walkers is a dream property to work with as it holds a place in the hearts of many. We’re having fun with the iconic logo and branding for this collection and creating some on-trend pieces which are sure to be a hit.”

Sam Barker, Senior Licensing Director at IMG, added: “The Walkers brand is instantly recognisable and has a timeless appeal that is loved by consumers of all ages, which will be highlighted throughout this apparel collection with Poetic Brands.”

Poetic scores with NFL at Missguided

In its latest collaboration with leading online ladies wear retailer Missguided, Poetic Brands has created a range of NFL apparel targeted at young women.

The new range encompasses a wide offering of products based around some of the key teams in the NFL, including the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers, combined with Missguided branding. Products include varsity jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, leggings, mini dresses, crop tops, T-shirts, co-ord sets, jumper dresses and cardigans.

The new collection follows on from Poetic’s recent NFL collection of menswear for high street retailer Primark, and builds on the apparel specialist’s partnership with the brand.

Over the past 100 years, NFL has become a key part of US culture and has established itself as the most popular spectator sport in the United States. The popularity of American Football has spread worldwide, providing a huge fanbase throughout the UK, so much so that international games are now played each year in leading London venues.

Elliot Matthews, managing director at Poetic Brands, commented: “We’re really thrilled with the NFL x Missguided collection as it’s perfect for the target audience, with relaxed yet stylish options to suit all tastes. NFL is a great brand to work with as its diverse branding and individual team graphics mean it can be applied to designs for a wide variety of consumers and work brilliantly across each one.”

Poetic Brands debuts NFL collection at Primark

A range of men’s T-shirts and sweatshirts from Poetic Brands, based on the American football league, NFL, will launch in Primark this month. The initial collection will be followed up with a larger offering to coincide with the Super Bowl event in February 2022.

Drawing on the rich history of American Football, the collection will feature the instantly recognisable logo of the NFL, as well as the branding of the popular teams that make up the league.

Founded in 1920, the NFL has become a key part of US heritage and culture and is celebrated throughout all states, having become the most popular spectator sport in the United States.

The popularity of American Football has spread worldwide, providing an extensive fanbase throughout the UK, so much so that international games are now played each year in leading London venues. The NFL London Games returned in 2021 and are being planned again for 2022.

Elliott Matthews, Director of Poetic Brands, says: “We’re really excited to launch the first range with Primark. NFL is an iconic brand, and with excitement gearing for the next Super Bowl early in 2022 and the London Games to follow, we’re sure the collection will be a bit hit with fans.”

 

MGM details its Legally Blonde Turns 21 merchandise and interactive entertainment campaign

MGM has lifted the lid on its latest campaign, a commemorative celebration of the popular Hollywood film, Legally Blonde as it celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2022.

In honour of the first film’s milestone, MGM’s licensing and consumer products division has launched Legally Blonde Turns 21, a broad campaign featuring merchandising and interactive entertainment focusing on the film’s key tenets of empowerment, education, humour, and pink fashion.

MGM is encouraging fans to celebrate through a wide-ranging roster of blue-chip partners, with 21 licensing partners already on board across the US, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and Chile spanning apparel, accessories, collectables, interactive entertainment and more.

Some of the licensees to have signed with MGM for the Legally Blonde Turns 21 campaign, include Jerry Leigh of California for costumes and apparel, Park Agencies for apparel and hats, and POetic Brands for pyjamas, loungewear, and apparel. They are joined by Olympia Le Tan for designer bags and clutches, and Solent Brands Limited for home decor, health and beauty, stationery, and cell phone cases.

Meanwhile, Funko is delivering on the collectables space, while PlaySide Studios is readying a mobile game, and TCG Entertainment is rolling out its concert series.

“Legally Blonde continues to inspire fans around the world with its positive messages and confident characters and has led to some incredible pop culture partnerships and products over the years,” said Robert Marick, executive vice president of Global Consumer Products and Experiences.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the iconic film in 2022, and bring our dedicated fans new and exciting merchandise to honor the milestone.”

Over the past two decades, Legally Blonde and the bold and confident Elle Woods have become a part of pop culture, inspiring fashion collaborations, product launches and a first-of-its-kind Legally Blonde themed mobile game from PlaySide Studios.

Later this year, MGM is also set to launch a movie-themed concert tour to celebrate the fun music of this widely loved franchise. Legally Blonde is making its return to the big screen with Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor co-writing the script for the film’s third iteration, Legally Blonde 3which will see Reese Witherspoon reprise her role as the beloved Elle Woods.

Poetic Brands, BB Design, and Aykroyd & Sons sign up with The Brilliant World of Tom Gates

Poetic Brands, BB Design, Woodmansterne, and Aykroyd & Sons are the first licensing partners to on board the popular children’s series, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, as licensing agent, The Point. 1888 builds out UK partnerships for the IP.

Based on the successful children’s book series written and illustrated by Liz Pichon, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates follows the hilarious antics and adventures of Tom Gates at home and school in a mixed-media magazine format TV series.

Since The Point.1888’s appointment late last year as the brand’s first-ever UK licensing agent, the agency has attracted a lot of partner interest, based on the popularity of the book series and the increased brand awareness that Tom Gates has enjoyed since the TV series premiered in January 2021.

In addition, Liz Pichon’s 18th Tom Gates title, Ten Tremendous Tales, was published by Scholastic in February and went straight to the top of the children’s book charts.

The Point.1888 worked with Liz Pichon and the TGE team to identify the most relevant categories for an initial range of products focused on encouraging children’s creativity. It has now secured its first licensees, including Poetic Brands for daywear, BB Designs for back to school and stationery, Woodmansterne for greetings cards, and Aykroyd & Sons for nightwear.

Liz Keynes, commercial director, TG Entertainment Ltd, said: “The incredible feedback to the new Sky Kids television series shows how eager young fans are to engage with Tom Gates as he moves from page to screen to shelf. The best-in-class partners The Point.1888 has lined up to launch at retail later this year have developed some epic first product ranges featuring Tom’s distinctive hand-drawn style.”

Janine Richmond, head of product and brand at The Point.1888, added: “In its 10th anniversary year, the Tom Gates brand has had an amazing start to 2021. We are thrilled to be at this stage with our licensing plans and have an ambitious programme launching later this year. This success is in part due to a fantastic collaboration between The Point.1888 and the whole Tom Gates team who have been open to embracing a range of exciting new ideas.”

Products are expected to launch in stores this summer.

Moonbug’s CoComelon joins Poetic Brands growing children’s and baby wear portfolio

The popular pre-school property, CoComelon is stepping into the baby and children’s wear market thanks to a new partnership between Poetic Brands and Moonbug Entertainment.

In a deal brokered by the brand’s EMEA licensing agent, The Point. 1888, Poetic Brands will develop and launch a collection spanning children’s daywear, outerwear, and swimwear, along with towels, winter accessories, and sleeping bags. The new range will focus on the bright, playful, nursery-rhyme singing characters of CoComelon.

The consumer products programme for the property recently kicked off when Jazwares launched a toy line incorporating plush, role-play, vehicles and mini-figures.         

Anne Bradford, director, Poetic Brands, said: “From day one, it’s been important to ensure that every brand that we sign has an angle that is truly unique. CoComelon has an incredible global audience and massive brand adoption, creating a huge opportunity for retailers to engage with.  

“As soon as we discussed CoComelon with The Point.1888, we knew that this was perfect for us, and it is completely new to the apparel market. This will give us the opportunity to create ranges that will provide everything a preschooler needs from their t-shirts and sweats right through to their puddle suits and jackets. With its core engagement of one to four-year-olds, this is a fabulous new opportunity for retail.”

Becky Langer, senior commercial manager, Soft Goods at The Point.1888, added: “The brand has had such incredible digital success and we wanted to make sure that our licensing programme would enable fans to get enjoyment from it even while away from the TV or iPad.

“We’re thrilled to be in a position to announce this partnership and cannot wait to see the reaction from Cocomelon’s growing audience to the new product range.”

Poetic Brands grows its pre-school portfolio with Moonbug’s My Magic Pet Morphle

Poetic Brands is continuing to expand its baby, children’s wear, and accessories division, this time through an extended partnership with Moonbug Entertainment to develop an apparel range based on the My Magic Pet Morphle brand.

The deal was brokered by The Point. 1888 who manages the rights for Moonbug’s properties across EMEA and will see the apparel specialist create a collection of accessories, children’s clothes, outerwear, and swimwear.

Morphle is Mila’s magic red pet, who can morph into anything – a sweet puppy, a giant truck, a cool dinosaur or anything that Mila’s playful mind can imagine. With over 250 episodes in its library and content in 12 languages, the show teaches preschoolers the themes of friendship, problem solving and creativity, and is available on a range of digital platforms including YouTube, Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, and most recently, was part of a deal to be shown on Virgin Media platforms.

The consumer products programme for the imaginative and playful kids’ brand, managed by The Point.1888 has also begun with a deal with Thinkway Toys as Master Toy partner. 

Anne Bradford, director, Poetic Brands, said: “My Magic Pet Morphle offers fantastic animation based around a magic pet store, which will enable us to create some interactive and fun products. It completes a strong portfolio of properties for this area of the retail market.”

Becky Langer, senior commercial manager, soft goods at The Point.1888, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Poetic Brands on this exciting range for My Magic Pet Morphle fans. We believe that their design, manufacturing and speed to market capabilities will ensure that fantastic products come to market in 2021, quenching the pent-up consumer demand for this phenomenal growing brand.” 

MGA Entertainment lands fashion deal with Poetic Brands for Na! Na! Na! Surprise clothing

MGA Entertainment has made its latest fashion move through a partnership with the licensed apparel specialist, Poetic Brands to launch a clothing range based on the Na! Na! Na! Surprise doll range.

The specialist apparel licensee is working on a range of children’s apparel, outerwear and swimwear, nightwear and essentials based on the new property aimed at children aged three and older.

Poetic Brands will also launch a range of face masks for Na! Na! Na! Surprise and LOL Surprise OMG dolls in the coming months.

Na! Na! Na! Surprise launched in the US in late 2019, followed by the UK in September 2020. The collectible dolls offer a new unboxing experience, featuring a balloon that when blown up and then popped provides fans with a confetti surprise.

Inside the balloon is a plush pom, which holds one of six soft posable fashion dolls, outfits and shoes. Each doll has a special nametag that explains more about their style and personality.

Anne Bradford, director, Poetic Brands, said: “With the success of LOL Surprise and LOL Surprise OMG dolls on toy and apparel at retail, and a team experienced with working on both of these products, we jumped at the opportunity to work on Na! Na! Na! Surprise.

“The concept of Na! Na! Na! Surprise is perfect for its target customer and we are looking forward to creating daywear and nightwear ranges. In addition, we are producing face masks for OMG & Na! Na! Na! Surprise.”

Moonbug Entertainment signs Poetic Brands for Blippi apparel range

Moonbug Entertainment has signed Poetic Brands to design an apparel range based on the kids’ entertainment sensation, Blippi. The move arrives as digital entertainment brands continue to gather momentum in the licensing space.

Blippi has connected with children globally through his show Blippi, where he takes them on fun play-dates, learning through playing and doing. Blippi is available in the UK on Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. 

The children’s apparel range from Poetic Brands is set to include accessories, children’s daywear, outerwear and swimwear.            

The aim of Blippi is to inspire and explore children’s curiosity with fun and educational activities. The playful character takes children on adventures in each 15-minute episode, presenting viewers with a range of subjects and facts. 

Additionally, the wider consumer products programme for Blippi, managed throughout EMEA by brand licensing specialist The Point.1888, has begun with a toy range from Jazwares, featuring talking dolls, vehicles, role-play and outdoor toys. The property also features a monthly magazine from DJ Murphy.

Anne Bradford, Director, Poetic Brands, said: “Blippi is already an established kids’ phenomenon with over 15 billion views worldwide. There is no doubt that children are more than ready for Blippi to launch an apparel line and we are looking forward to discussing opportunities across retail.” 

Becky Langer, senior commercial manager, soft goods at The Point.1888, added: “What better way for a child to express their adoration for a brand than to wear clothing emblazoned with its characters? Apparel was one of our priorities when devising Blippi’s brand licensing programme, and with Poetic Brands being an advocate of the use of sustainable fabrics, it was our first choice.”