News
Purple Ronnie surges ahead
Samantha Loveday Mar 17 2008, 10:34am
Character's Mothers' Day gift book is a Sunday Times bestseller.
Coolabi's Purple Ronnie licensing drive continues to go from strength to strength.
The latest success comes from the Purple Ronnie Little Book for a Lovely Mum, which climbed to number three in the Sunday Times' chart of general hardback bestsellers at the beginning of March.
The book is part of the popular range written by Ronnie creator Giles Andreae and reveals the character's softer side with a collection of poetic thoughts eulogising mothers. In the run up to Mothers' Day, the book outsold almost all the competition, including close rival My Bump and Me.
Book licensee Pan MacMillan has sold over 2.5 million copies of Purple Ronnie books to date. The publisher will launch two new titles, Lovely Grandma and Smashing Grandad, in June.
In addition, American publishing giant Andrews Mcmeel is launching Lovely Mom in May for US Mothers' Day and Smashing Dad in June for Fathers' Day.
"Gift books and greetings cards are the foundation of the Purple Ronnie licensing programme," said Janet Woodward, Coolabi's head of licensing. "We're delighted with the recent success which comes hot on the heels of the incredible sales we saw for the numerous Valentine's Day products.
"As 2008 progresses we will maintain our focus on celebration days, in addition to developing a range of products that will appeak to Ronnie fans all year round."
