Starting Lineup is back

Hasbro, Inc., in partnership with global digital sports platform Fanatics, has announced the official re-launch of Starting Lineup, an iconic sports collectibles brand. Set to launch this autumn, the new product line will continue its legacy of bringing fans and collectors their favourite athletes in action figure form.

Starting September 22, products from the Starting Lineup brand will be available exclusively on Hasbro Pulse and across the Fanatics network of online sites, including Fanatics.com and official league stores.  

“We’re thrilled to be bringing back one of the most beloved sports collectibles brands of all time, Starting Lineup, and to be teaming up with Fanatics for its highly anticipated return this fall,” says Eric Nyman, President and COO of Hasbro. “The fast-growing sports collectibles category presents great opportunities to connect with fans of all ages, and we’ve got many exciting announcements to come from the brand in the months ahead.” 

Originally launched in 1988, the Starting Lineup brand developed a massive following by bringing enthusiasts figures of their favourite all-star players from a variety of sports for more than a decade. The return of the brand will introduce an all-new era of notable athletes to its classic heritage with figures featuring design like never before.  

“Hasbro’s Starting Lineup is an iconic collectibles brand, and Fanatics is thrilled to be the exclusive partner to help re-launch this historic product line and introduce a new generation of sports stars to fans and collectors everywhere,” says Jack Boyle, Fanatics Commerce Global Co-President of Direct-to-Consumer. 

For more information on the upcoming launch of the Starting Lineup brand, as well as a teaser trailer, visit Hasbro Pulse | Where Fans Come First.

 

Laura Ashley taps IMG for global brand expansion

Iconic brand Laura Ashley has appointed IMG to expand fashion, home and lifestyle products that reflect the British heritage brand in a fresh, modern way in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East.

The multi-year deal will see IMG work with the brand to create new Laura Ashley apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty and homeware items through carefully selected licensing and retail partnerships and collaborations.

In 2021, Laura Ashley successfully relaunched a home collection with its main retail partner NEXT on a dedicated e-commerce platform and in over 50 NEXT stores across the UK.

Carolyn D’Angelo, Managing Director, Brands at Gordon Brothers and President of Laura Ashley, says: “We are excited to be working with IMG to expand the brand globally. Following the success of our spring home collection relaunch and fall fashion collaboration last year, it is clear there is a strong customer appetite for a new wave of Laura Ashley lifestyle products. We look forward to seeing the first designs of our 2023 fashion relaunch spring to life for the brand’s 70th anniversary and for the next generation of Laura Ashley customers.”

Tim Smith, Vice President, IMG, commented: “For almost 70 years, Laura Ashley’s iconic, quality-led designs, prints and patterns have continued to inspire the most coveted styles and fashion trends around the world. We are eager to leverage this rich heritage and the Laura Ashley archive, comprising more than 98,000 pieces of unique artwork, textiles and footage, to develop relevant new fashion and lifestyle products for existing and new fans of the brand.”

For more information on Laura Ashley, visit www.lauraashley.com.

For more information on licensing opportunities in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East, visit www.imglicensing.com.

Sprayground partners with Hershey’s for sweet fashion collab

Sprayground, the streetwear brand known for its artistically designed backpacks, accessories and apparel, is teaming up with America’s number one chocolate brand, Hershey’s, to create a mouthwatering crossover set to delight those who have a sweet tooth for chocolate and an eye for fashion.

Known for collaborations with notable celebrities and companies, including Marvel, Nickelodeon, Star Wars, Spike Lee and Shaquille O’Neal, Sprayground will be introducing a hyper-realistic backpack that features an augmented-reality Hershey’s chocolate bar, featuring the iconic Hershey’s chocolate bar “pips”, as well as Sprayground’s iconic shark bite that fans know and love.

Sprayground has integrated functionality into the backpack design with designated partitions for USB sticks, wires, cables and a laptop, a velour pouch  and zippered compartments.

Founder and Creative Director of Sprayground, David BenDavid, says: “The Sprayground and Hershey’s collection is the perfect pairing of style and sweetness. Bringing our iconic brands to life beyond the chocolate shop and into the world of streetwear is an exciting way to connect with our fashion-forward customers who like to think outside of the box!”

“Expanding Hershey’s beyond the candy aisle and into fashion creates a unique opportunity to connect chocolate lovers and fashion seekers nationwide,” adds Ernie Savo, Senior Director, Licensing, The Hershey Company. “Partnering with David and the team at Sprayground to create a mouthwatering, almost edible Hershey’s backpack confirms that this will be a must-have accessory of the summer.”

The collection will be available from April 15 at www.sprayground.com and exclusive U.S. stores nationwide, including Hershey’s Chocolate World.

The London Sock Exchange puts best foot forward with TfL Collection

The London Sock Exchange has launched its TfL Collection – a range of socks developed in collaboration with Transport for London, celebrating the city’s most iconic transport through the medium of yarn. The deal was secured by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agency.

The London Sock Exchange team has worked closely with the TfL brand and design team to create six distinct pairs of socks. The socks have been knitted using The London Sock Exchange’s signature 200-needle knitting process – giving each pair a finer, stronger, more comfortable finish, and next-level detail in design. The socks are available in single pairs (£12) or special edition giftboxes (£30 or £60) from thelondonsockexchange.net.

  • The Tube Inspired by the London Underground trains – this pair features a Tube train spiralling around the wearer’s ankle.
  • The Routemaster Inspired by the world’s most famous bus: the double-decker red Routemaster – this pair features an all-over pattern made of buses rendered in isometric, 3D form.
  • The Platform Inspired by the platform safety graphics including yellow and white lines, and the ‘Mind The Gap’ mantra – this pair features a simple monochrome graphic with yellow and white lines.
  • Tickets, Please Inspired by London’s Oyster cards, travelcards and railway tickets – this pair features an all-over pattern built up of colourful tickets familiar to any Londoner.
  • The Gingerline & The H&C Inspired by Harry Beck’s iconic map of the London Underground. These socks feature repeat patterns made up of interchange stations as represented on TfL’s line diagrams – creating a polka-dot style sock with a London twist.

A promotional campaign featuring striking photography shot on the TfL network is set to run across national and social media.

“TfL owns a unique, vibrant and rich history, represented by iconic design such as the roundel and tube map,” says Jo Edwards, Head of Global Licensing, TSBA Group. “At their British studio, The London Sock Exchange took these assets to create exclusive designs which feel playful, contemporary and full of charm.”

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London, adds: “This creative collaboration celebrates the instantly recognisable and historic design of London’s transport network, showcasing classic British heritage with a twist. By using eye-catching designs such as the iconic Routemaster bus, as well as modern designs like the Oyster card in the range, these new products are a great way for people to take a little bit of London with them wherever they go.”

To view the socks, visit  https://thelondonsockexchange.net/pages/tfl-lookbook , and http://thelondonsockexchange.net/

For more information on the collaboration, or to find out how you can partner with the TfL brand, contact TSBA at enquiries@tsbagroup.com.

Lalique Group to create fragrances for Superdry

Lalique Group has announced a worldwide perfume licensing agreement with global fashion brand Superdry, in a deal brokered by IMG.

Under the terms of the agreement, which will initially run through 2032, Lalique Group will exclusively create and distribute a collection of women’s and men’s perfumes for Superdry, with the first fragrance being launched in spring 2024. Building on Superdry’s reputation within key markets including the UK, US, Europe, and Asia, the fragrance will be distributed and marketed through Lalique Group’s global distribution network.

Founded in the UK in 2003, Superdry has a significant global presence. It operates in over 50 countries with 228 physical stores, around 480 franchisees and licensees, and Superdry’s digital experience superdry.com retailing to over 100 countries worldwide.

Roger von der Weid, CEO of Lalique Group, says: “We are delighted to be Superdry’s exclusive perfume partner. Working with this young, dynamic brand with its distinctive style offers us a great opportunity to further expand our brand portfolio and to increasingly target the young generation as part of our client base.”

Julian Dunkerton, CEO of Superdry, adds: “We’ve got great momentum in our brand and its distinct style choices. These will be complemented by our new Superdry fragrances and I am excited to be partnering with Lalique Group, a premium partner very consistent with our brand. Importantly, our agreement also includes strong commitments on the sustainability of how the fragrances are produced and packaged.”

With the new licence for Superdry fragrances, Lalique Group is expanding its existing perfume portfolio, which includes the brands Lalique Parfums, Brioni, Jaguar Fragrances, Bentley Fragrances, Parfums Grès, and Parfums Samouraï.

WildBrain CPLG rebrands lifestyle division as ASPIRE

Entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency WildBrain CPLG has rebranded its rapidly growing Lifestyle division under the new name “ASPIRE”, with an expanded mandate to accelerate growth of the agency’s Corporate & Lifestyle brands portfolio.

The dedicated group and new brand, flying under the WildBrain CPLG banner, reflect the agency’s commitment to growing meaningful opportunities for existing and new partners in the Corporate and Lifestyle space. ASPIRE will focus on building long-term strategic partnerships for leading global brands across such categories as art and heritage institutions, FMCG, fashion and lifestyle, hardware and automotive. As part of the rebrand, the agency has today unveiled a dedicated logo for the ASPIRE division.

Under the continued leadership of Victoria Whellans (pictured), who takes on a new role as Commercial Director for ASPIRE (previously Group Brands Director, Lifestyle), the rebranded division will aim to develop innovative, relevant and authentic brand extensions, creating new consumer touchpoints and opening incremental revenue streams for partners. Whellans will work closely with Jasen Wright, VP North America, to drive the global strategy for ASPIRE, with a focus on North America as a key territory of initial expansion.

The ASPIRE group will grow with new hires in key locations worldwide, including New York, Europe and APAC, supported by international and local sales teams.

Whellans says: “The launch of ASPIRE underlines our commitment to delivering dedicated, best-in-class global partnerships to harness the huge opportunities we see in the growing Corporate and Lifestyle sector. Since we launched our Lifestyle division two years ago, we have generated new revenue streams for multiple licensor brands, extending them into new areas through our global reach and leading capabilities in licensing and brand management. We look forward now to building on this strong foundation with the ASPIRE brand.”

Jasen Wright adds: “The licensing of Corporate and Lifestyle brands continues to see meaningful growth as brands explore new paths outside of their core use to reach consumers at retail. We see significant opportunity to expand this part of our business and look forward to opening up new avenues for our partners to help build their brands for the future.”

ASPIRE’s diverse Corporate & Lifestyle brand portfolio includes recently signed partners such as Sauber Motorsports and its Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, The Master Lock Company, the University of Southern California and internationally renowned artist Romero Britto. Its partners also continue to launch innovative collections, with recent highlights from OSPREY LONDON X Sitting Spiritually, who have launched a premium garden furniture range this month; a new OSPREY LONDON Spring-Summer footwear collection from 33 Joints; a Karcher role play toy range in development from Simba Dickie Group; and a Yale University apparel and accessories collection launching at Reliance Fashion Lifestyle, India’s largest fashion retailer.

Additional new deals across the portfolio include University of Southern California and Truecare Kids in India for apparel and accessories, and Kikkoman and Park Agencies for apparel, nightwear, accessories and home gifting for UK, Eire, Germany, Poland, Denmark and France.

Find out more at  www.cplg.com/aspire

 

FIBA appoints IMG as FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023’s global master licensee

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, has appointed IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, as global master licensee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, taking place 25 August – 10 September 2023 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. This is the first time in the history of the competition that multiple countries will host the global tournament, which will feature 32 national teams.

The quadrennial tournament, which is the International Basketball Federation’s flagship men’s event, has grown exponentially since the first event in 1950, with a record 32 national teams (increased from 24) competing in 2019 in host country China, across eight cities, where Spain were crowned champions for the second time.

The multi-year deal will see IMG work with FIBA to develop an extensive range of merchandising products celebrating the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. A broad line of products featuring the event logo, its brand identity and marks, the Naismith Trophy, the mascot and the host countries collection will be available for fans in a variety of items, sizes and colours. The programme will include products in key licensing categories such as apparel, toys and games, souvenirs, accessories, stationery, homeware, bags and luggage, and more.

These items will be available on-site at official promotional events in the lead-up to the World Cup and at all five venues hosting the 2023 competition, as well through other promotional and FIBA partner activities during the event. They will also be available at official fan shops and retailers in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia and via the official online store.

David Crocker, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director, says: “The Global Master Licensee is an important component in the build-up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and the road to the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Basketball fans are very passionate, and we want their World Cup experience to be engaging, memorable and exciting, and one they will never forget.”

Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG, adds: “The FIBA Basketball World Cup is the pinnacle global event of one of the world’s most popular sports. Basketball at the national team level has grown increasingly competitive with an ever-widening number of countries having a realistic chance to win the top prize – generating more passion, excitement and fan engagement. We will capitalise on that, working with FIBA to create an all-encompassing merchandise and retail programme for fans in all three host countries, as well as those tuning in from around the world.”

For more information on licensing opportunities, visit www.imglicensing.com.

Black Lives Matter expands licensee base with tonies

As part of its growth efforts, BLM Licensing Committee is expanding its licensee base.

The groups’ growth has been accelerated further with a partnership with kids’ audio system tonies. Through this partnership, the Black Lives Matter Licensing Committee will work closely with tonies on their product development strategy and creative development.

Saphia Maxamed, founder of Black Lives Matter Licensing Movement, says: “Our group has identified an area where they can help move the industry forward by being a voice on how to diversify product ranges to ensure both authenticity and inclusivity. We are aware that not every category can carry our licence, after all, the products and partners need to make sense. However, we are extremely happy the industry is open to working through how they can best support the movement and make the changes needed to be supportive of the black community. Being able to give guidance to such an important partner in our industry is incredible, and we’re looking forward to working together.”

All monies received from the partnership will be donated to a beneficiary that will be announced in due course.

Liz Peters, Head of UK & Eire Portfolio at tonies, comments: “We are really happy to be working with the BLM Licensing Committee. Here at tonies, we are committed to diversifying our portfolio and it is extremely important to us to make sure we are getting the look and feel of the product, as well as the content, right. The advice and support we have received from the team at BLM Licensing has been invaluable to us in developing our portfolio of Tonies and we are delighted that our fee will be going back into the community.”

First Paramount Global NFT collection to drop with Star Trek on 9 April

Paramount Global and RECUR have announced that Star Trek  will be the first NFT digital collection to drop from their multi-year partnership to bring Paramount’s entertainment brands and characters to the metaverse.

Fans will be able to access Star Trek digital collectibles starting 9 April through Paramount.xyz, the online portal to access Paramount’s iconic IP and franchises in the form of NFTs.

Through this fan-focused platform, Paramount and RECUR have created a unified environment where fans can buy, collect and trade NFTs as digital collectibles across Paramount’s leading portfolio of brands, including Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CBS, Showtime Networks Inc., and more.

Star Trek is the first franchise to launch and will be followed with collectibles from Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures.

Paramount.xyz allows fans to build a community, engage with peers, and unlock new, innovative and interactive experiences with properties and brands they love.

“Fans should be able to engage with our content wherever they are, including the metaverse,” says Pam Kaufman, President, Consumer Products and Experiences, Paramount. “Paramount.xyz will offer one seamless digital collectable experience for fans across our key franchises, starting with Star Trek,  an iconic franchise that is forward-thinking, innovative and multi-generational. We are thrilled to have a space that is accessible to everyone and allows another expression of fandom.”

The Star Trek collectibles will be housed in “Star Trek Continuum”, an experiential hub that will be the space for this first and future seasons of Star Trek NFTs. Here, fans will have the opportunity to own a piece of their favorite franchise while embarking on an entirely new journey.

The Star Trek Continuum sale will take place for 24 hours only on 9 April, 2022, starting at 11am ET. The cost per pack will be $250. There will never be more of these designs created and the minting window will only be open for 24 hours.

The Season 0 drop on 9 April will feature algorithmically-generated starships, and no two will be the same. The starships will be unveiled today, 8 April, at 1:45pm CT during Star Trek: Mission Chicago, where RECUR will be hosting a star-studded panel with talent from the franchise. Fans around the world can tune in to RECUR’s YouTube channel to view a live streamed unveiling of the coveted digital collectibles.

The journey continues later this year as fans can collect crew in Season 1 and go on voyages around the galaxy to seek out new planets and get digital collectible rewards. Season 0 starship owners will be rewarded with a crew member NFT leading into Season 1, and in Season 2 fans can use their crew to go on missions in a play-to-earn game.

“Fans are looking for new ways to engage with their favourite shows and franchises, and our innovative ecosystem gives them a community to be a part of for years to come,” says Zach Bruch, CEO of RECUR. “Through the introduction of Paramount.xyz and StarTrek.xyz, we’re providing fans with a unique way to embark on a journey to boldly go into the metaverse.”

Pre-registration for “Star Trek Continuum” opens today at StarTrek.xyz. Through this launch, RECUR and Paramount will be dropping 20,000 Star Trek  digital collectibles with an additional 2,000 in reserve. Continuum holders will get access to exclusive perks, events and the expanding content available to the NFTs digitally and in-real life.

For more information, visit Paramount.xyz and StarTrek.xyz.

ARTiSTORY launches its 2023 creatives to a global audience

ARTiSTORY has revealed its 2023 Spring Summer global arts and cultural trends and themes to licensees, retailers and DTC brands across the world.

The online global event on 6 April 2022 presented new collections inspired by trend research and the wealth of artists and artefacts in the archives of ARTiSTORY’s museum partners: The National Gallery, London; The Brooklyn Museum, New York; The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The National Palace Museum, Taipei; Dunhuang Inspiration, China and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Spain.

In addition, ARTiSTORY announced its collaboration with the Benaki Museum, Greece for a multi-year, global licensing programme, and a new partnership with the presitigious Parsons School of Design at The New School. The New York based university, which provides world-class education in design and art history, will work with ARTiSTORY’s Global Artists Programme to reinterpret museum pieces for a commercial context.

As for serving the global market, ARTiSTORY announced strategic partnership with Sevens Marketing Consulting. The two entities will work together to help Chinese DTC companies build their brand and increase sales in the global markets.

ARTiSTORY’s North America office also shared news of two new deals with Ruggable, a high-end DTC rug company and Jade City Foods, a specialty food manufacturer, who will be both working with ARTiSTORY’s museum partners for co-branded products.

Four new trend-led themes were launched: ‘Marvellous Menagerie’, ‘She Created’, ‘Glitz and Glam’, and a refreshed collection for ARTiSTORY’s popular ‘Botanical Affairs’ theme.

The new collections of prints and patterns are inspired by some of the world’s greatest artists, including Peter Paul Rubens, George Barbier, Clara Wolcott Driscoll, Maria Sybilla Merian and William Morris, with their iconically beautiful designs of florals and animals. Beatrix Potter and her famous bunnies celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rabbit and Easter. John James Audubon and George Stubbs bring together our natural environment, along with stories and legends of the Silk Road.

Female focused ‘She Created’ celebrates the work of Guan Daosheng, the oldest known artist in the collections, dating from the 13th century.

‘Glitz and Glam’ features splendid headdresses made by Chinese court artists and the flappers and feathers of the 1920s, bringing these beautiful crowns and jewels roaring back to life and ready to embrace the dazzling 2020s.

The collections are now available to licence across multiple product categories and territories, supported with storytelling content for merchandising, marketing and immersive experiences.

Yizan He, Founder and CEO of ARTiSTORY, says: “The annually refreshed themes are developed in line with the global fashion trends, and inspired by the collecitons from our museum partners. Via licensing, retailers and consumer brands can work closely with ARTiSTORY to develop attrative new product lines that are appealing to shoppers.  The ‘artifacts to merchandise’ capabilty is a key competitive strength of ARTiSTORY.”

Natasha Dyson, co-founder & licensing director, ARTiSTORY, also commented: “This was our second creative launch and we were very happy to welcome so many new attendees, in additional to those who re-joined us.  As well as presenting stunning designs our themes highlighted some important issues, such as sustainability and protecting the planet and its wildlife. We hope to encourage brands and retailers to create eco-friendly and sustainable products that also match the ethos of our museum partners”.