Osan and Sockshop acquire Caroline Gardner licence

Leading sock retailers Osan and Sockshop have acquired the licence for Caroline Gardner socks to be sold in the UK.

Launching for SS22, the Caroline Gardner sock collection incorporates the distinctive patterns and colour palette that the boutique brand is renowned for. The collection features fun floral and dainty love heart motifs that are instantly recognisable and consistent with Caroline Gardner’s wider product offering, in wearable tones of grey, black and blush pink. Designs are available in classic anklet and trainer styles.

A spokesperson for Osan commented: “We are delighted to announce our licensing agreement with such an iconic and much-loved brand. We’re really proud of the Caroline Gardner collection and we hope the designs bring as much joy to our customers as they will comfort.”

Angus Gardner, Director at Caroline Gardner, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Osan and Sockshop. Their professionalism and commitment to quality have been our own keystones whilst building our business over the last 30 years. We see such relationships as long-term partnerships and very much look forward to working with the team for many years to come.”

Discover the collection at sockshop.co.uk here. Styles are available in sizes 4-8 and retail from £6.99.

Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit postponed

The organisers of B&LIS Europe have issued an update about the event, which was due to take place on 21 June, 2022.

Due to national rail strikes on June 21, 23 & 25, and a London tube strike on June 21, the event will now take place later in the year, at a date to be confirmed shortly.

The Sustainability in Licensing Conference, which was slated for 22 June, is also being postponed and will now take place on 18 October 2022.

If you have booked a ticket for B&LIS, you will be issued with a full refund. If you have booked a ticket for B&LIS and SILC, the organisers will refund 50% of the ticket price and leave the remaining 50% to go towards the postponed SILC date. If you are unable to make the postponed date, contact the organisers for a full refund. All questions should be directed to the B&LIS customer service team at brandlicensinginnovationsummitcs@informa.com.

Epic Rights to develop a global retail merchandise programme for New Kids on the Block

On the heels of their latest release, the high-octane anthem “Bring Back the Time”, and their North American Mixtape Tour, multi-platinum pop artists New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) have appointed Epic Rights as their global licensing agent to develop a global merchandise programme.

Since the band first debuted in 1984, NKOTB, consisting of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, have sold more than 80 million records. To coincide with the tour and multiple initiatives, starting in 2022 through 2024, Epic Rights will develop a robust licensing programme for the band across multiple categories, including apparel, footwear, accessories, gaming, spirits, home décor, collectibles, and more. Initial product launch for some categories will hit retail shelves in time for the holiday season 2022.

“New Kids on the Block is one of the most successful pop boy bands of all time with multiple number-one hits and legions of fans just as eager to engage with them today as when they first started,” says Lisa Streff, SVP, Global Licensing, Epic Rights. “With the Mixtape 2022 tour starting in May, a cruise in October, and other initiatives in the works, we have endless opportunities to create a distinctive line of merchandise that represents the band, featuring retro nostalgia from the 80s and 90s as well as products that speak to who they are today.  We are so excited to add New Kids on the Block to our roster of amazing artists.”

NKOTB’s Danny Wood adds: “We can’t wait to get back on the road this summer and perform for our fans, old and new! With all of the exciting plans we have coming, we wanted to create a unique, fresh, and memorable product line, and Epic Rights is the premiere agency for artists who want to develop merchandise lines that speak to their fans.  We are thrilled to begin the process with Lisa and the team to bring all of our ideas to life!”

NKOTB has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide – including back-to-back international number-one songs, 1988’s “Hangin’ Tough” and 1990’s “Step By Step” – and a series of crossover smash R&B pop hits like “You Got It (The Right Stuff),”  “Cover Girl,” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “Hangin’ Tough,” “I’ll Be Loving You” and “Tonight.”

Since reuniting in 2007, NKOTB have toured consistently to sold-out arenas, have sold nearly 4 million tickets and have doubled their crowd sizes. The Boston natives have been bestowed with their very own “New Kids on the Block Day,” and have played Fenway three times before. The group solidified their place in Hollywood with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since reuniting and will continue representing Boston on their journey long into the future.

For more information on NKOTB, visit www.nkotb.com.

Motul appoints IAM as licensing agent for South Korea

The global lifestyle brand Motul has appointed IAM Allrights as its agent for South Korea.

Offering a wide range of licensing and consulting services, IAM (an abbreviation of Intangible Assets Management) is a leading name in the Korean licensing business with a strong portfolio of clients that includes diverse overseas brands such as Police, Baldessarini, BeeDees and Galian, along with a number of major domestic brands.

As well as identifying potential licensees, retail and marketing strategies that convey the personality and spirit of the Motul brand, IAM will be actively engaged in maximising brand values by looking beyond traditional merchandise licensing and by capitalising on various business opportunities.

This has an obvious appeal for Motul, a brand with strong potential within and beyond the automotive space in which it originally made its name. IAM will therefore develop a licensing programme targeting motorcycle and car enthusiasts, automotive professionals, motor-caravan owners and a growing outdoor and leisure market for families. Key categories will include workwear, maintenance tools and equipment alongside lifestyle categories such as apparel, accessories and gifting.

Motul is a world-renowned company specialising in the formulation, production and global distribution of high-tech engine lubricants. For many decades it has also been a dedicated technical partner and official supplier to some of the finest motor racing teams and manufacturers in history. Its presence today extends to over 160 countries, and numerous event partnerships including the Dakar Rally, Le Mans and Goodwood Revival.

The Motul brand is now bringing its 100-year heritage, and its associations with speed, style, adventure, performance, elegance and above all winning, to a major lifestyle branding campaign. It will be targeting a wide range of categories, ranging from apparel, stationery, houseware and apparel to backpacks, phone covers and car accessories.

IAM is the newest addition to a fast-growing Motul agency network which now includes global licensing agent Aspire for WildBrain CPLG, as well as recently appointed agents for Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

KS Kim, President of IAM, says: “Motul is a world-class brand whose rich heritage and global reputation will be the perfect inspiration for a varied licensing programme that will maximise the brand’s presence and profitability in the Korean market. We fully intend to provide many opportunities for Korean consumers to enjoy a new and wider experience of the Motul brand.”

Managing the Motul campaign is Laurent Taieb, a licensing specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He says: “With its extensive marketing networks in Korea and Asia, exclusive access to the Korean market and expertise in understanding and bridging cultural and market barriers, IAM is the perfect partner to build the presence of the Motul brand in Korea. We’re delighted to be working with such a respected and expert partner in this key market.”

 

WildBrain drums up Jungle Beat partnership with Sunrise Animation Studios

WildBrain has partnered with Jungle Beat Animation to manage worldwide distribution rights for all content in the popular animated kids’ property Jungle Beat. The exclusive partnership will see WildBrain grow the global footprint of the Jungle Beat brand through worldwide distribution, including YouTube channel management and ad sales on its premium kids’ and family AVOD network, as well as linear broadcast in Canada on its Family Channel.

All Jungle Beat content is produced in a partnership between Jungle Beat Animation and South Africa’s Sunrise Animation Studios. Today’s news comes at a pivotal time, as Jungle Beat Animation in partnership with Sandcastle Studios announces the greenlight of their second feature film, Jungle Beat 2: The Past, currently in production at Sunrise Animation Studios for release in 2023. This follows the success of the brand’s first film, Jungle Beat: The Movie, released in 2021.

Deirdre Brennan, COO at WildBrain, says: “Jungle Beat is hugely popular with kids worldwide, who are drawn to its authentic, funny characters and adventures rooted in friendship. The Sunrise team believe in inspiring through story and we’re delighted to be partnering to expand that audience across all territories and platforms, harnessing the power of our YouTube growth engine, WildBrain Spark, delivering the content to our Canadian television audience through Family Channel, and exploring new opportunities to experience Jungle Beat through our consumer products licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG.”

Phil Cunningham, Founder of Sunrise Animation Studios, adds: “We’re delighted to be working with such an innovative, agile, fun and well-organised global company as WildBrain. We believe Jungle Beat is positioned to become a leading global property for preschool children, and WildBrain’s synergy and cohesion across all platforms and brand touchpoints is going to be a key part of making that happen.”

WildBrain will distribute the brand’s film franchise, comprised of Jungle Beat: The Movie (1 x 90’) and Jungle Beat 2: The Past (1 x 90’), as well as the entire 130-episode library of the Jungle Beat series, consisting of three seasons of Jungle Beat (13 x 5’ each), five seasons of Jungle Beat: Munki and Trunk (13 x 5’ each) and two seasons of Jungle Beat: The Explorers (13 x 2’ each).

 

 

 

Wrangler named official denim sponsor of iconic music festivals

One of America’s most recognised denim labels, Wrangler, has announced a collaboration with three iconic music festivals. The sponsorship kicks off with “75 Days of Summer”, a sweepstake offering 75 days of prizes to destination music festivals Lollapalooza (Chicago and Berlin) and Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest).

At each festival, Wrangler will activate onsite showcasing its brand heritage to music fans in a variety of ways. In the Wrangler booth, an interactive customer space, fans can buy exclusive denim festival merchandise and personalise it with free laser customisation specific to the festival. The brand will also offer enhanced personalisation options for select artists and VIPs behind the scenes. A complete line of Wrangler x Lollapalooza apparel, including tees and denim, will also be available on Wrangler.com.

“Fans are thrilled to be back to experiencing music and showcasing festival fashion in real life,” says Holly Wheeler, vice president global marketing for Wrangler. “At a time when Western influence continues to surge in the world of fashion, festivals are combining different genres, fan bases, lifestyles and experiences across the globe. With a record-breaking summer season, diverse lineups and trailblazing interactive options for fans, we’re thrilled to collaborate with C3 Presents and Live Nation to celebrate with music fans in ways we haven’t before.”

“Music festivals have always acted as launchpads for the latest and most creative fashion trends,” adds Stephanie Adamson, senior merchandise manager at C3 Presents. “Festivals invite a spirit of individuality, and the creative possibilities are endless at the intersection of fashion and music. Our collaboration with Wrangler is a relevant and timely expression of that.”

Visit Wrangler at Lollapalooza Chicago July 28-31, 2022; Lollapalooza Berlin September 24-25, 2022; and at ACL on October 7-9 and October 14-16, 2022. Visit livenation.com/wrangler75sweeps for additional details regarding the ‘75 Days of Summer Music’ sweepstakes. To learn more about the Wrangler’s collaboration with Live Nation festivals and #Wrangler75, visit Wrangler.com.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing announces the arrival of Bluey toys in Italy

Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Italian agent for BBC Studios’ property Bluey, has announced the arrival at retail of new Bluey toys from Giochi Preziosi, the Italian distributor of master toy licensee Moose Toys.

Bluey toys are now available in large-scale retail shops and major toy shop chains across Italy.

Bluey has been a massive success in Italy on Disney+, Rai YoYo and YouTube, and this timely collection of toys inspired by the colourful world of the little blue heeler is a real treat for fans of Bluey, her family and friends.

The line includes 20cm plush toys of Bluey and sister Bingo and six sets of action figures, four of which consist of two characters from the animated series (Grannies, Cousins, Pool Time, Skateboard) and two of which highlight four characters (Bluey’s Family, Bluey’s Friends). There will also be two mini playsets (Bingo’s Playroom and Bluey’s Playground) and, of course, the Heeler 4WD Family Vehicle.

The promotion and launch of the collection have left nothing to chance – inside 70 Toys Center shops there is a dedicated shelf, with an eye-catching layout and logo and a luminous sign. Supporting the launch, the rich media plan will include commercials on all preschool target TV stations. There will also be an integrated launch plan on the social channels of both Bluey and Giochi Preziosi.

Bluey has enjoyed excellent results in terms of views, registering an incredible 10.38% share on RaiYoYo in the 4-7-year-old range, taking second place on the podium on RaiYoYo for total time spent and occupying third place for the most viewed series by children on demand on Rai Play.

Further confirmation of the extraordinary success of the little Aussie dog in Italy comes in the form of the many licensing agreements already secured by Maurizio Distefano Licensing. Several products will be launched in the market in the coming months. Multiprint will produce a collection of stamp sets inspired by the series, Dulcop will offer a range of soap bubbles dedicated to the characters and Diramix plans a sticker album. Grabo meanwhile will bring Bluey to its inflatable balloons, Halantex will bring out Bluey bedding, and finally Dolfin, looking to 2023, will sweeten the Epiphany with a dedicated selection of Epiphany stockings.

Maurizio Distefano says: “As soon as I saw Bluey, I knew that it had strong potential in the Italian market but even this may be an understatement. The success of the animated series in Italy has encouraged many Italian licensees to partner with the property already and this success looks like continuing for some while.”

 

Hasbro unveils Buzz Lightyear Monopoly board

Hasbro has revealed the new Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear Edition Monopoly board game, giving another sneak peek into the highly anticipated Disney and Pixar movie Lightyear, which hits UK cinemas on 17 June.

The board takes players on a journey with Buzz Lightyear and an adventurous band of misfits on a hostile planet. As players race around the board to build Towers and Bases, they must take actions shown on the Hyperspeed and Crystallic Fusion cards – all while avoiding meeting Zurg.

Monopoly: Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear Edition Game is suitable for 2-6 players aged 8 and above. Retailing at £29.99, it will be available shortly to pre-order at Amazon.

24 Hours of Le Mans and The Outlierman team for luxury driving accessories

The Outlierman, maker of handcrafted luxury driving accessories, has announced a new three-year collaboration with the iconic endurance sportscar race 24 Hours of Le Mans, lasting until 2025, in a deal brokered by IMG.

The Outlierman will design and produce multiple limited-edition capsule licensed collections inspired by the most emblematic moments and symbols of 24 Hours of Le Mans, including luxury driving gloves, ties, pocket squares, silk and cashmere scarves, leather helmet bags, wallets and swim shorts.

24 hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active endurance race event and has been running since 1923. Held annually on the Circuit de la Sarthe, this year’s event will take place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June.

Andrea Mazzuca, Founder of The Outlierman, says: “We at The Outlierman are incredibly proud to be partnering with the historic and renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans. This new collaboration fills us with immense pride and marks a huge milestone for the brand.

“Each design we create will be a chapter of a great story to remember and to collect, and will reflect the moments that make the 24 Hours of Le Mans the most unique race in the world and in history. We also can’t wait to be part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary celebrations next year and have big plans in place for the occasion.”

The 24 Hours of Le Mans collections will be designed by The Outlierman’s Bologna-based designers, and crafted by the company’s  master craftspeople in their workshops between Naples and Como.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans license sits alongside The Outlierman’s current and past collaborations, including the likes of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Pagani and MINI John Cooper Works.

The latest Outlierman products can be found here.

 

SPYSCAPE brings the world of Batman to life

Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment on behalf of DC and SPYSCAPE have announced the opening of BATMAN x SPYSCAPE, a brand-new interactive experience that will drop fans into the heart of a Gotham City mystery. Public previews began on June 8 in New York City, and fans can sign-up online at spyscape.com.

Top scientists in Gotham City are missing and the world is in upheaval. The Bat-Signal is in the sky. Who will step in and help Batman solve the mystery at hand?  BATMAN x SPYSCAPE will take fans on a top-secret mission to infiltrate an underworld organisation, Leviathan, whose goal is to disrupt the Super Hero and Super-Villain communities.

The adventure features a seamless combination of an immersive physical experience enhanced with an interactive real-time app. Guests will be asked to download the BATMAN x SPYSCAPE app from the Apple or Google app stores in advance of their visit and immediately enter the story world. The experience plays out in three acts where they will be recruited by the mysterious Oracle, an alternate identity of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), to help solve some mysterious kidnappings, all while interacting with some of Gotham City’s most compelling characters via the app.

BATMAN x SPYSCAPE features an original narrative by critically acclaimed writer Gail Simone (who has penned both BATGIRL and WONDER WOMAN), an immersive exhibition design by Mona Kim Projects, and interactive experience design by SPYSCAPE, all aimed at bringing the world of DC’s Batman to life like never before.

The BATMAN x SPYSCAPE experience will also be supported with a highly curated range of bespoke merchandise including a BATMAN x SPYSCAPE Companion Book, also penned by Gail Simone with art by award-winning artist Jim Calafiore.