Character.com launches Mighty Mike in the UK

Leading French Animation studio TeamTO and UK Licensing Agency This is Iris have been working together on a number of licensing collaborations for popular international kids’ animated comedy Mighty Mike (78 x 7).

The first of those collaborations to be announced is with leading online character specialists Character.com, with products launched on Monday 21 March. The first lines available to pug-loving consumers will be apparel, nightwear and backpacks, with licensees TDP, Aykroyds and William Lamb.

“We are really excited to be working with This is Iris and to be the first to market with Mighty Mike,” says Karen Hewitt, Co-Founder of Character.com. “We know how popular Mike and his friends are and we hope that this range will let their fans support their favourite canine in style.”

Mighty Mike can currently be seen on screens across the globe, from the US, UK and Australia to France, India and China. Top partner broadcasters include CITV, Cartoon Network, France Televisions, Super RTL, Family Channel Canada, Boing, YLE, and many more.

“We instantly loved this show the minute it was presented to us,” says Sarah Lawrence of This is Iris. “Throughout the last year we’ve heard from licensees and retailers who have been watching Mighty Mike with their children, telling us that it’s the perfect show to bridge the gap between preschool and tween, with families coming together to watch Mike’s humorous attempt to impress Iris, the neighbour’s poodle.

“We’re thrilled to be launching with Character.com. They loved the show and together with our partners have been fantastic in developing the collection during such a challenging time for all involved in manufacturing.

“We have every confidence in this show as further deals are to be announced shortly. Not only is this show funny and packed with character, being non-verbal and built around our love for our pets, especially pugs, means that this show reaches a much wider audience.”

Patricia De Wilde, Director of Marketing and New Business at TeamTO, adds: “We are delighted to be working with This is Iris to make Mighty Mike a household name in the UK. Sarah’s original and creative approach to bringing out Mike’s inherent humour, personality and charm is guaranteed to result in a spectacular licensing range. We can’t wait for UK fans to discover our favourite pet pug!”

For more information see: Mighty Mike – This is Iris and www.TeamTO.com

Honda Motor Europe signs with Faster Brands

Automotive and entertainment specialist Faster Brands has signed an agreement to represent Honda Motor Europe for the UK and Europe. The agency will source new licensed partnerships and collaborations for Honda across all major categories.

Faster Brands MD Chris Parkes says: “The Honda name is recognised the world over and I am proud to welcome such a prestigious brand to our client list. Work has already started on developing a strategic licensing plan and we will shortly be welcoming interest from potential partners in high-end lifestyle and fashion apparel.

“Faster Brands is excited about helping Honda celebrate its amazing heritage as well as on its journey towards becoming net-zero.”

 

McLaren Racing signs memorabilia licence agreement with The Memento Group

The Memento Group (TMG), the UK-based sports licensing, retail and memorabilia business, has confirmed a new multi-year licence agreement with Formula 1  team McLaren Racing allowing authentic, race-used memorabilia to be sold through www.f1authentics.com – F1’s official memorabilia platform.

The multi-year licence agreement will extend the relationship between McLaren Racing and The Memento Group until the end of the 2024 F1 season and is the largest commitment the F1 team has made to date to the F1 Authentics ecommerce platform.

Under the terms of the agreement, McLaren Racing will release official components and bodywork for the first time alongside heritage items and racewear pieces that have been available on F1 Authentics since 2019.

Barry Gough, CEO of The Memento Group (TMG), owners of F1 Authentics, says: “McLaren is a name steeped in F1 history. It is the second most successful Formula One team having won 12 Drivers’ Championships, eight Constructors’ Championships, and 183 races – one of which was claimed as part of a fantastic 1-2 at last season’s Italian Grand Prix.

“As a team on the rise, and one with an extremely loyal fan base, this is a great time to enhance our partnership. It marks an important step in giving those fans exclusive access to authentic merchandise, the latest memorabilia and for the first time ever, race-used McLaren car parts and bodywork.”

Lindsey Eckhouse, Director of Licensing, eCommerce & esports at McLaren Racing, adds: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with the Memento Group and F1 Authentics. The addition of official components and bodywork, which will be available for fans to purchase for the first time, allows us to give components a new lease of life and supports our mission to provide positive solutions to sustainability, through our people, technology, processes, operations and partners.”

F1 Authentics launched in 2019 and includes an online shop and auction featuring past and present F1 memorabilia, such as used race wear as well as bespoke show cars and restored ex-race cars. Each item of memorabilia features an authentic hologram that can be digitally registered.

Working directly with F1 teams and drivers, F1 Authentics also presents official licensed products. The Memento Group holds licence agreements with the following F1 teams: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, McLaren Racing, Alpine F1 Team, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN & Haas F1 Team.

For official McLaren Racing memorabilia and more visit www.f1authentics.com.

 

UNIQLO and Blue Note Records team for t-shirt collection

Blue Note Records and UNIQLO have teamed up once again for a new UT t-shirt collection featuring five new designs based on iconic Blue Note album covers that were selected by Blue Note President and GRAMMY-winning producer Don Was.

Brokered by Universal Music Group’s merchandising division, Bravado, via their team in Japan, the new UT collection is on sale today in UNIQLO stores worldwide and online at bluenote.lnk.to/uniqlo.

“We’re thrilled to team up with UNIQLO on this new UT collection that lets fans adorn themselves in the visionary designs of Reid Miles,” says Was. “In the 1950s and 60s Reid created an enduringly hip Blue Note aesthetic with album covers that were themselves works of art, and we hope new generations will discover his genius through UT.”

This is Blue Note’s fourth collaboration with UNIQLO and the second volume of the popular UT collection that was launched last year. UT asked Was to select 30 “Essential” Blue Note album covers from which the UT designers carefully selected the seven designs released in 2021 and the five additional designs featured in this new collection: Lee Morgan’s Cornbread and The Rumproller, Freddie Hubbard’s Hub-Tones, Andrew Hill’s Judgment, and Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch.

To celebrate the collaboration Blue Note has updated the official playlist BLUE NOTE MEETS UT, which was specially curated by Was for this collaboration.

SEGA and Hype. announce Sonic the Hedgehog collection

SEGA Europe and UK lifestyle brand HYPE. have announced an all-new line of licensed clothing and accessories celebrating SEGA’s entertainment icon, Sonic the Hedgehog. Featuring designs inspired by the high-octane speedster himself, the HYPE. x Sonic the Hedgehog capsule collection includes adult and children’s apparel and accessories for Sonic fans of all ages.

The 30-piece range celebrates the globally-recognised traditional Sonic the Hedgehog colour palette, with a monochrome theme and neon accents, fusing HYPE.’s signature contemporary silhouette shapes with Sonic’s Japanese-inspired roots to create everyday statement looks.

The line features fan-favourite Sonic the Hedgehog characters including Sonic, Super Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Shadow and Amy, entwined in HYPE.’s iconic tie-dye, gradient fade, galaxy and graffiti-spray-inspired prints.

With a diverse range of clothing items including hoodies, joggers, t-shirts and leggings, as well as a uniquely designed bowling shirt featuring a soon-to-be-iconic print in a monochrome theme with a contrasting collar (wear it oversized to get creative this layering season), Sonic fans can easily create a speedy statement look.

Additionally, fans of the Blue Blur can level up their on-the-go gear with the HYPE. x Sonic accessories, transporting their essentials in a standout backpack matching the apparel’s core prints and designs. Also available are two pencil cases boasting enlarged graphics and character placements.

The collection launches exclusively at HYPE.’s Carnaby London store, via justHYPE.com and selected retailers worldwide on the 31 March 2022.

BlackMilk Clothing to release Care Bears range

BlackMilk Clothing’s latest collaboration is a celebration of childhood nostalgia that is sure to get customers right in the feels.

Fans will be able to revisit their childhood memories with dresses, overalls, tops, active wear and accessories featuring their favourite Care Bears, including Care-A-Lot Bear, a brand-new bear designed especially for Care Bears’ 40th anniversary.

Stand-out styles in the 36-piece collection include faux fur ‘teddy’ jackets with bear-ear hoods in the colours and motifs of five favourite Care Bears: Cheer Bear, Funshine Bear, Good Luck Bear, Tenderheart Bear and Bedtime Bear.

Care Bears x BlackMilk will be available for purchase at 7am (AEST) 22 March. The collection lookbook can now be viewed on the BlackMilk website.

 

 

ZAG and Burger King join forces for Miraculous QSR promotion

Animation studio ZAG has partnered with Burger King on a global QSR promotion that features collectible premiums from the pop culture hit Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir with purchase of a King Jr. Meal. 

Zag’s global promotion with Burger King first launched internationally across Europe, Latin America, MENA and Pacific Asia, on January 17, and in France on January 24. The U.S. promotion is scheduled to launch on March 24, 2022, in approximately 7,200 participating Burger King restaurants.

The promotion features six branded premium items featuring characters from Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, including two Ladybug and Cat Noir eye masks, two character light-ups featuring Tikki and Phlagg, and two keepsake boxes, featuring Marinette and Adrian.

Guests of Burger King will receive one premium item in each King Jr. Meal purchased while supplies last. Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir will be featured on packaging, POP and digital/TV ads.

“Our exclusive and first QSR program with Burger King restaurants worldwide offers a tremendous opportunity for ZAG to further the global awareness for Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and gives our young fans around the globe another chance to engage with the brand as we head into a year of major growth with new products debuting at retail, a new season of the series in production, and the debut of our US$100+ million animated feature,” says ZAG’s Julian Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Consumer Products.

The 3D-CGI-animated superhero action-comedy series Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, created by ZAG and co-produced with ON kids & family, is ranked by IMDB amongst the Top 10 Best Animated Shows in the last 20 years. Season four of the Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir animated TV series started to roll out in over 120 countries across the globe during spring/summer 2021, and ZAG is currently in production on season five of the series.

With a massive fan base of young adult “Miraculers,” (ages 15-25), Miraculous has become a digital planetary craze with over 29 billion views on YouTube (authorised and user-generated content), and 200 million downloads of the official app. Over 200 million products have been sold during the past four years and retail sales have surpassed US$1B worldwide to date. Miraculous is the winner of 25 awards, including the 2018 Teen Choice Award for Choice Animated Series.

Minecraft partners with Lacoste for apparel collection

Mojang Studios has partnered with Lacoste to launch the Minecraft x Lacoste apparel collection, featuring activewear, accessories and footwear, just in time for spring/summer 2022.

Minecraft fans will love seeing how the iconic blocky style of Minecraft has been translated to the world of fashion with Lacoste – including some of their most iconic pieces like printed polos, monochrome sweatshirts and more. The collection even features an updated crocodile Lacoste logo reimagined in the style of Minecraft.

To celebrate the partnership, Minecraft has released the Croco Island DLC available for the community to download for free via the Minecraft Marketplace today. Inspired by the Minecraft x Lacoste apparel collection, adventurers of the Croco Island DLC can explore a Lacoste theme park on a lush tropical island with hidden secrets and fun minigames, like tennis, and check out 30 unique Lacoste-themed skins.

The Minecraft x Lacoste apparel collection is available from today on Lacoste.com and at select retailers worldwide.

 

 

BuzzFeed’s Tasty cookware launches in the UK

BuzzFeed’s food network Tasty launches its popular cookware and kitchenware in the UK this week.

The line of kitchen products aims to bring the fun, ease and accessibility of Tasty’s signature recipe videos to consumers across the UK. The Tasty-branded cookware line includes 115 products, from non-stick cookware to high quality kitchen utensils, accessories and more. Prices range from £2.99 to £99.99 for the full pink set.

Hanna Sheinin, Head of International Licensing at BuzzFeed Inc, says: “Tasty has always made cooking more fun, and there is no better way to prepare delicious recipes at home than with our bright cookware range. We’re extremely proud to bring these products to the UK for a broad audience of beginner and more experienced cooks to enjoy.”

The Tasty cookware line features bright colours that pop in the kitchen, and includes all the tools necessary to prepare Tasty’s iconic recipes. The line includes non-stick aluminium cookware, non-stick metal bakeware, extra large cookie cutters, silicone-head utensils and soft-grip gadgets. The Tasty Kitchen line is used in Tasty videos and was designed and developed with the Tasty fan in mind, as BuzzFeed research shows that two out of three Tasty fans have made a Tasty recipe.

The collection will be available for purchase through the Tasty brand store on Amazon.

 

The Point.1888 partners with Ricochet to develop The Repair Shop brand

Ricochet, producers of The Repair Shop, has partnered with brand specialist The Point.1888 to explore potential licensing possibilities.  

The hugely popular show, which broadcasts on the BBC in the UK and across the world in various territories, sees a team of Britain’s most skilled craftspeople rescue and resurrect objects their owners thought were beyond saving. Together, the experts pool their talents and resources to restore these priceless pieces of family history, and bring them back to life.

An important goal in the brand licensing strategy, for both Ricochet and The Point.1888, is that every new product for The Repair Shop has a purpose, adding value to the consumer’s life in some way.

Since its creation seven years ago, The Point.1888 has prided itself on working with brands with purpose and authenticity, such as Team GB, which works to inspire younger generations into sport, and Battersea, which homes and cares for cats and dogs.

Janine Richmond, Head of Product and Brand at The Point.1888, says: “To work with a brand that the British public has really taken to heart is such a privilege. There are so many important elements to the show, from all the experts to the contributors and their cherished items, and all will play an important part in shaping our programme. The series plays an incredible role in enhancing people’s lives and so too, we hope, will the products we create.”

Joanna Ball, Managing Director of Ricochet, adds: “The Repair Shop is a very special place and in a short time has built a passionate and loyal audience. We are looking forward to working with The Point.1888 to translate the magic of the barn into product.”