Category Archives: Highlight

Peter Rabbit is announced as first licence for My 1st Years by Penguin Ventures

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My 1st Years has partnered with THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT to develop a DTR range in a deal executed by Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (owner of THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT brand and part of Penguin Random House).

Following the success of the print on demand personalised product range featuring PETER RABBIT from official licensees, My 1st Years will now develop a Direct to Retail range to expand their offering of bespoke products.  This is the first time My 1st Years has worked directly with a licensor on development.  The cross-category offering will include apparel and fashion accessories from Dennicci; nursery and homeware; stationery and gifts, all of which can be personalised by consumers and ordered directly online.

Susan Bolsover, Global Licensing and Consumer Products Director, Penguin Ventures says: “Our DTR for print on demand and personalised products with My 1st Years is not only a fantastic addition to THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT licensing family, but will provide gifters with a great opportunity to purchase something truly unique for even the littlest of Peter Rabbit fans this Christmas. We are proud to support an incredibly entrepreneurial and homegrown business whose extensive experience in the UK baby and infant market means Peter Rabbit is in great hands.”

“We have been delighted with the response to the Peter Rabbit licensed products that we currently personalise and so decided to grow the range by developing our very own licensed products,” says Amy Weaver, Head of Buying at My 1st Years. “As newcomers to the world of licensing, My 1st Years is thrilled to be working with Penguin Ventures on a brand as established and as well-loved as Peter Rabbit.  We can’t wait to share the new range which is designed and personalised at our UK studio in Northampton in time for customers this Christmas.”

The new range will be available before Christmas directly from the My 1st Years website.

HarperCollins secures exclusive world rights for Cbeebies hit show Tee and Mo

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HarperCollins Children’s Books has secured exclusive world rights to publish the tie-in books for the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies hit show Tee and Mo. The deal was concluded by Juliet Matthews, Colour Publisher at HarperCollins Children’s Books, from Plug-In Media via Val Fry and Fryday Brands.

Exploring the relationship between Tee, a little monkey, and Mo, his first-time monkey mum, Tee and Mo is narrated and sung by Lauren Laverne, and is a multi-platform brand that has captured the hearts of parents and children worldwide. Featuring light-hearted storylines and catchy melodies, it has gained huge popularity since the show first aired in 2018. With an album of original music, animated original songs as well as a YouTube channel and apps, there are multiple ways for fans to engage with the brand. Series two launches in spring 2022.

The new range of colour publishing will launch in May 2022 with Are We Ready to Go?, the first in a series of paperback picture books with original stories based on BAFTA-winning animated music-video series Tee and Mo Song Time. This will be accompanied by simultaneous audio downloads of the story and the song.

“I was excited by Tee and Mo the very first time I saw it and have been following its development over the last few years,” says Juliet Matthews at HarperCollins. “Now, with a raft of creative accolades and global ambition, it’s the perfect time to launch a series of books and audio based on the original songs, sung so brilliantly by Lauren Laverne. Tee and Mo embody that wonderful and slightly overwhelming relationship between a first-time mum and her child in such a charming and funny way that you can’t help but fall in love with them.”

Dominic Minns at Plug-In Media says: “Tee and Mo has always been designed as a dual-audience brand, creating opportunities for children and their caregivers to see themselves reflected in the stories, and in doing so laugh and bond together. There has never been a more dual audience platform than picture books and it has always been our dream for Tee and Mo to find a home in print. HarperCollins has the most incredible track record in creating iconic stories that bring people together. We are incredibly honoured that they have chosen to bring Tee and Mo into their wider family of brands, and we look forward to a long relationship together.”

 

Kids Industries to reveal new research on sustainability at Brand Licensing Europe

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Family-focused marketing agency Kids Industries (KI) is launching a new report today at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) exploring the relationship children and their parents have with the environment.

Hot on the heels of COP26 and the announcement that Government is planning to change the primary curriculum to include climate change science and sustainability studies, the survey of 2,001 children and parents in the UK and US shines a light on current perceptions today and what families would like to see change.

It showed that the current understanding of climate concerns and topics is limited:

  • 65 percent of children aged 5-15 do not know what ‘sustainability’ means – this includes 80 percent of 5–7-year-olds and 50 percent of 12-15 year olds
  • 65 percent of children aged 5-15 do not know what ‘sustainability’ means – this includes 80 percent of 5–7-year-olds and 50 percent of 12-15 year olds
  • 87 percent of UK children don’t know what ‘greenwashing’ means
  • 86 percent don’t understand the term ‘bioplastic’
  • 42 percent of UK children are confused about environmental issues (this confusion reduces with age) – this rises to 53 percent amongst US children

Children do think the environment is important: 

While 63 percent of UK children (67 percent in the US) aged 5-15 believe our impact on the environment and wildlife is the most important issue we face today, the specifics vary by country.

In the UK, they are:

  1. Plastic waste (53 percent)
  2. Climate change (50 percent)

In the US, they are:

  1. Pollution (41 percent)
  2. Saving endangered species (39 percent)

Children are trying to do their part – even if it is small: 

  • 94 percent of UK children (92 percent US) have done something for the environment, most commonly recycling (63 percent UK, 36 percent US).
  • 83 percent of UK and US children US agree everyone can be environmentally friendly if they try hard enough.
  • 70 percent of UK children (76 percent US) agree it is important to them that their lifestyle is more environmentally friendly.
  • 69 percent of UK children (77 percent US) would do more for the environment if they had more time and money.

The circular economy and product reuse, recycle, repurpose

 It’s clear that plastic is still king, but planet-friendly toy options are catching up.

Plastic toys were the most popular toy category purchased in the past 12 months by UK parents (40 percent) and US parents (52 percent), followed by second-hand toys in the UK (37 percent) and wooden toys in the US (38 percent)

In the US, plastic toys are also the most frequently bought (32 percent) but in the UK, more parents buy second hand (25 percent) over plastic (22 percent).

What happens when toys outlive their use:

  • Thrown away and heading to landfill (14 percent UK/16 percent US)
  • Given to charity (32 percent UK/26 percent US)

Interestingly, 25 percent of UK parents said that they had bought a ‘sustainable’ toy in the past year (rising to 37 percent of US parents).

 What next? 

Parents want to see…

  1. Products that are easier to recycle (48 percent UK/41 percent of US)
  2. Cheaper sustainable product options (45 percent UK/32 percent US)
  3. Products that are easier to refurbish or fix (37 percent UK/35 percent US parents).

Gary Pope, CEO and Co-Founder at Kids Industries and Children’s Commissioner for Products of Change, commented: “The introduction of a new environment-based curriculum couldn’t come at a better time. Children need supporting in their knowledge of the issues at hand and what they can do to make a difference – never underestimate the power of collective responsibility. That said, parents don’t want more information, they want it to be easier and they’re looking for companies that can facilitate this.

“The demand for new solutions from children and their parents is evident – and just as recycling is at the forefront of children’s minds, it’s playing on their parents thinking, too, and best of all, it’s the easiest solution. There’s now a genuine desire too for toys that are produced more sustainably – a consciousness to see less waste. The toy industry has a responsibility to review these figures and adjust accordingly. The time to take action and listen to wants and desires in these areas is now.”

Meet Gary Pope at the BLE Sustainability Activation 17-19 November, ExCeL London. He is also presenting in the Retail Trends Lounge at 10am on Friday 19 November, which is accessible to retailers and press badge holders.

 

Scan the QR code to download the full report for FREE

King Features and Jade City Foods introduce Popeye foods line

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King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters, along with Florida-based food and beverage company Jade City Foods, has announced a new collection of high-end Popeye & Friends-inspired hot sauces and coffee. This latest expansion within the food category further solidifies Popeye as one of the most sought-after pop culture properties.

The spinach-loving sailorman and his friends will feature on packaging for four Popeye Signature Hot Sauces: Popeye’s ‘Strong to the Finish Hot Sauce’ (Jalapeño Spinach), Eugene the Jeep’s ‘Jeep! Jeep! Magic Hot Sauce’ (Pineapple Habanero), Wimpy’s ‘I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for Some Burger Sauce Today’ (Sweet & Smokey Sriracha) and Bluto’s ‘You Can’t Handle My Hot Sauce, Runt!’ (Reaper, Scorpion & Ghost Peppers).

Additionally, the Jade City food line includes Popeye Signature Coffee, which will be available in three unique blends: Olive Oyl’s ‘I’m Too Kind-Hearted Blend’ (a Clean & Fruity Light Roast), Bluto’s ‘No Good Sailor Blend’ (a Bombastic & Balanced Medium Roast) and Popeye’s ‘Blow Me Down Blend!’ (a Courageously Strong Dark Roast).

“The Jade City team knows good food and they really connect with the Popeye brand,” says King Features Vice President, North America Licensing, Jarred Goro. “Their focus on delivering top-quality products that taste good paired with their creative approach to the development process — from ingredient selection to packaging — makes them the perfect partner to release this unique line of hot sauce flavours and signature coffee blends. We are thrilled to kick off the launch and can’t wait to see how fans respond.”

“Popeye has always been a love of mine from the early Fleischer cartoons to more recent IDW comics,” says Jade City founder Cliff Wiener. “It’s really fun to dig in and create foods inspired by the characters we know and love.”

The signature coffee blends and hot sauces are available in the US at the new online store, www.food.popeye.com, starting from November 16. Following the initial launch, Jade City Foods is set to introduce three hot cocoa blends – ‘Sea-Salty Sailor Salted Caramel,’ ‘Goo-Goo Gooey Chocolate’ and ‘“Oh, Dear!” Peppermint’ – along with a limited-edition ghost pepper hot sauce, ‘Bruiser Boys Club’ (Ghost Pepper Blueberry Hot Sauce), on Black Friday.

 

The Premier League and Panini announce further multi-year extension

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The Premier League and Panini have announced a further multi-year extension to the Premier League collectables license granted to Panini in 2019.

Domestically, sales of Premier League Adrenalyn trading cards have doubled this year, confirming Adrenalyn as the market-leading brand for trading cards in the UK. Panini has also established the iconic Panini sticker album brand as the number-one collectable in the UK with Premier League sticker sales last season climbing to the highest level for 15 years, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Internationally, Premier League collectables are at an all-time high as Panini leverage the strength of the Premier League brand worldwide thanks to its global network.

Mike Riddell, Panini UK Managing Director, says: “We are proud to be awarded the most prestigious license in the UK, and we relish the prospect of continuing to grow the market in the coming years.”

“Panini has ignited the Football collectables market in the USA, China and internationally,” says Peter Warsop, Panini Group Licensing Director. “The Premier League will continue to attract new fans and collectors with Panini enjoying continued substantial growth both domestically and through 60-plus other International markets.”

Will Brass, Premier League Chief Commercial Officer, adds: “Stickers and trading cards are a great way for fans around the world to engage with the Premier League and its clubs. Panini has been a great partner since becoming the Premier League’s official sticker and trading card licensee in 2019, and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship over coming seasons.”

The Point.1888 launches dedicated retail services arm

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The Point.1888 has launched a new business arm, Spotlight.1888, dedicated to helping brands and licensees with retail services, and retailers with licensing strategy.

Based on an extension of its market leading retail-first model – whereby The Point.1888 creates new products for its brands based on the gaps it sees at retail as well as what it thinks the brand’s target demographic might like – Spotlight will work directly with retailers and brands to help them fill the gaps themselves using the agency’s retail team expertise.

The new business comprises a dedicated account team, with a mix of buyer experience across a number of retailers (Harrods, John Lewis, Sainsburys and Kingfisher, to name a few), along with dedicated licensing retail professionals.

Heading up the new business arm will be The Point.1888’s Head of Retail, Hannah Stevens, who has been working on the idea of Spotlight.1888 for many years alongside leading retail expert and Managing Director Will Stewart.

“We are constantly discussing with retailers, licensees and brand owners the different ways to activate licensed brands at retail and are delighted to finally provide an official channel for this, in the form of Spotlight.1888,” says Hannah. “There couldn’t be a better time to launch, and the full team will be at BLE to discuss our approach with any prospective licensees, retailers or brands.”

Spotlight.1888 is the second new business The Point.1888 has launched this year. Story.1888, which launched in August, provides clients with creative services such as product branding and style guides, product marketing, strategy, content creation and campaign management.

To hear more about Spotlight.1888, visit stand C183 at BLE or contact the team at spotlight@thepoint1888.com.

UCLA partners with ZARA for exclusive men’s and children’s collection

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UCLA Trademarks & Licensing, an enterprise of Associated Students UCLA, has announced the launch of a new fashion collection for men and kids that celebrates the iconic UCLA brand. The new range features fleece crews, hoodies and long-sleeve tees from the ZARA “JOIN LIFE” label, embellished with UCLA’s Bruins mascot. The collection can be found in ZARA stores globally and at zara.com.

“UCLA enjoys opportunities to collaborate with some of the world’s most well-known fashion and lifestyle brands, something we do selectively and with purpose,” says Cynthia Holmes, Director of UCLA Trademarks and Licensing. “There is significant demand for UCLA products, at home in Los Angeles and around the world, which is a testament to the university’s universal brand appeal, message of optimism and commitment to education and service to communities worldwide.

“This commitment also demands our attention to the impacts of production of UCLA-logoed products on the people who make them and the planet we live on. We are deeply engaged in these matters and the work that remains in front of us. Supporting the efforts and progress of others who are aligned with our goals is an important part of our journey of continuous improvement, so we’re delighted to have this UCLA collection featured on the ZARA JOIN LIFE label.”

“We are very proud to represent the UCLA brand and happy to see this collection from ZARA available world-wide to men and the children in their lives who aspire to live the UCLA dream,” says Malin Jähde Holm, Head of Softlines Licensing and Collaborations at Plus Licens AB, which represents the UCLA brand for licensing opportunities in the European market.

Men’s styles include full-cut sweatshirts with crewneck, long sleeves, ribbed trim and contrasting prints depicting the classic UCLA block arch and Bruins statue logos.

Kids’ styles include a crewneck sweatshirt as well as a long-sleeve tee-shirt and hoodie options featuring the UCLA mark together with the university’s seal or vintage Bruins character logo options.

For information on UCLA Trademarks & Licensing, and Associated Students UCLA, visit uclalifestyle.com

 

Barbie and Rue des Mille launch “Just As You Are” campaign and jewellery line

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Ahead of BLE, Barbie has debuted a new parter in Italian jewellery brand Rue des Mille.

Barbie’s can-do spirit, which exhorts girls to believe “You Can Be Anything”, is at the heart of the new jewellery line’s “Just As You Are” campaign, which stars real women living authentic lives.

Rue Des Mille’s aim is to tell stories through its collections, “transforming dreams into elegant, fun and versatile accessories”. Designed for adults, the special-edition Rue des Mille for Barbie collection will be distributed online and in concessions across Italy, from this week.

The collection is comprised of 10 fashion-forward pieces inspired by Barbie, including hoops, a chunky link bracelet, a velvet choker, rings, and more.

The campaign is fronted by Italian dancer Giulia Stabile, whose unique personality and dance moves have dazzled on TV shows and marked her out as a rising star.

“Barbie is more than an icon; it is also a brand with which we share visions and values,” says Federica Pieroni, Marketing Director of Rue des Mille. “Our jewels have always tried to illuminate the modern women who make their dreams reality, without ever forgetting their style and identity.”

“I am thrilled to announce the partnership with Rue des Mille,” says Andrea Ziella, Head of Marketing & Digital at Mattel Italia. “Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has become an international icon and muse.  Today, Barbie is the world’s number-one fashion doll and continues to spark imaginations and influence conversations. From female firsts to famous collaborations, Barbie is a reflection of the times – a snapshot of pop culture. Our new partnership encourages imagination and creativity and we are proud of this collection which allows fans to express themselves also through fashion.”

 

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy unveil first storybook for children

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Jamie and Rebekah Vardy have inked an agreement to launch their first range of children’s illustrated storybooks, with the debut title going on sale in time for World Book Day 2022.

Brokered by London Entertainment in partnership with the UK’s leading publisher in children’s annuals, Little Brother Books (LBB), the deal sees the family-focused couple embarking on a project close to their hearts. The Vardys have six children between them, ranging in age between two and 16, and both Jamie and Rebekah believe passionately in encouraging their children to be themselves and believe in their abilities.

Filled with colourful illustrations, the Vardy’s range of storybooks will be aimed at children aged three and up. Their first release, which will retail for £6.99, is titled ‘Cedric, the Little Sloth with a Big Dream’. The Be Yourself Guardians (B.U.G.) are the central characters in each book, with every title having a different storyline and never-ending B.U.G. support.

In this first book we meet Cedric, a loveable sloth with a passion for football and bags of enthusiasm. Cedric dreams of joining his favourite football team, the ‘Rainforest Rovers’, but has been told that sloths are too slow and too sleepy to be good footballers. The Be Yourself Guardians step in to boost Cedric’s confidence and remind him that he can follow his dream and join the team.

Jamie and Rebekah were delighted to have to the chance to collaborate on the project. They commented: “Working on this book together has been a dream for us.  We aren’t writers but we are experienced parents, and we know which messages we care most about instilling into our children; it isn’t about having to be the best or winning at everything, but is about trying your hardest, being happy and going after your dreams. We kept going over the list of topics that we felt passionate about, and we just kept coming back to the same one: just be yourself. We want children and their parents or guardians to realise that with the right words of encouragement and positive thoughts, they can achieve anything that they want to. It also means being whoever and whatever you want to be.

“Our dream is for the Be Yourself Guardians (B.U.G.s) to become identifiable characters that boost children’s confidence, ease their anxieties and help them to believe in themselves through these storybooks. LBB put us together with an amazing writer and illustrator to guide us through this process. We’ve shown the drafts and sketches to our children throughout, so it’s been a real family affair and we hope that readers love the first book as much as our family does.”

Matthew Reynolds, MD of Little Brother Books, adds: “It’s been a pleasure working on this new title and format with Jamie and Rebekah Vardy, and our editorial team. With our experience of current kids’ trends and the important message the B.U.G. team are sharing with kids and parents, we are certain this first book will be loved by children but trusted and respected by parents. We can’t wait to see it hitting bookshelves from February 2022.”

WarnerMedia celebrates 25 years of Space Jam

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Celebrating 25 years since Bugs Bunny and the Tune Squad defeated the Monstars in an epic basketball showdown, WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences has announced a collection of 90s-inspired merchandise, an upcoming NFT drop, an all-new digital comic from DC, and more to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Space Jam.

The iconic film’s silver anniversary follows the global release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated/live action film Space Jam: A New Legacy earlier this year, which debuted at the top of the box office and scored the biggest opening for a family film earlier this year. Now streaming audiences can also view the original film at home with family and friends on HBO Max, where a new generation of fans can experience the frenetic, fun mashup adventure.

“Space Jam was the iconic film moment of 1996, and its cultural impact is undeniable. Today, it continues to spark nostalgia and excitement for millennials who were kids when it debuted, and that fervour has been passed to a new generation with the release of Space Jam: A New Legacy,” says Josh Hackbarth, Vice President of Franchise Development, WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences. “We are pleased to celebrate the movie’s many groundbreaking achievements in ticket sales, merchandising, music, theme and design. Its legacy continues to live on with kids and families still enjoying everything that is Space Jam.”

Debuting on 15 November 1996, the original Space Jam earned $230M at the box office at launch and became the No. 1 grossing basketball film of all time, influencing everything from fast food to fashion and redefining movie merchandising. Its soundtrack was a best-seller and went platinum six times.

The film was also one of the first to have a dedicated promotional website. Today, www.SpaceJam.com/1996 remains untouched, an homage to the early internet and a testament to the brand’s enduring appeal to audiences across numerous generations.

Inviting fans everywhere to join the jam and celebrate this iconic film, the “Space Jam” 25th anniversary offerings include:

  • NTWRK’s “Space Jam 96” fashion collection, launching on 15 November. The collection includes new  “Space Jam” rugs by Rugtomize, along with an exclusive “Space Jam” print designed by artist Aaron Kai.
  • Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes Shop is offering fans a variety of all-new “Space Jam” inspired apparel by unveiling the fourth drop in its popular ACME Intern collection, featuring original designs inspired by the film. Among the must-have items, fans can purchase a t-shirt with artwork of the original Space Jam website’s homepage.
  • House of Highlights, the No 1 digital media brand for Gen Z and part of the Bleacher Report brand portfolio, has unveiled a collaboration with DOC (Dustin O. Canalin) in honour of the Space Jam 25th Anniversary. House of Highlights’ brand new Space Jam collection showcases the Looney Tunes reimagining some of the most iconic moments in basketball history.
  • DJ Steve Aoki’s fashion and music label, Dim Mak, recently launched “Dim Mak x Space Jam 96,” a limited-edition streetwear capsule featuring 90s-inspired tees and hoodies in bright tie-dyes and featuring the Looney Tunes squad.
  • Comic book fans can also download a free Space Jam 25th anniversary comic book from DC, as highlighted by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes Shop, on the Stellar Souvenirs page of the original Space Jam
  • Nifty’s“Starting 5” Challenge will let fans own a special piece of Space Jam Beginning on 15 November, Nifty’s will encourage fans to collect as many Tune Squad or Goon Squad NFT’s from Space Jam: A New Legacy as they can before 13 January, 2022. Collectors who hold five or more NFT’s on 14 January, 2022 will be eligible to receive a limited edition Monstar NFT. Each of the Monstars will have their own unique NFT, totalling five designs. For every five Tune Squad or Goon Squad NFT’s a user holds (each NFT must feature an individual player on either team), they will be eligible for a Monstar NFT.
  • Fans can also enjoy iconic 90s tunes when they purchase the recently reissued vinyl edition of the multi-platinum soundtrack “Space Jam (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)”, released by Rhino Entertainment..

Space Jam is currently available on Digital and 4K Ultra HD via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film also received a special 25th anniversary DVD and Blu Ray release earlier this year, and an exclusive Space Jam double feature box set is at retail nationwide.