Hunter Price welcomes Nikki Samuels as Commercial Director

Consumer products business Hunter Price International has appointed brand and licensing expert Nikki Samuels as Commercial Director to help guide the Manchester-based business, which is on target to exceed its £40m sales forecast this year.

Nikki, the former Licensing Director and founder of character product manufacturer Sambro, brings decades of experience and knowledge to the Hunter Price team. He joins as part of the company’s ambitious growth strategy across its core product categories, including home and lifestyle, toys and activity and stationery and craft.

Following the appointment, Co-founder Jeremy Winburn will now take up the role of Trading Director, to focus on the company’s fast-paced reactionary trading business. Nikki will concentrate on the longer-term strategic vision for the business and new business development opportunities.

Hunter Price has established itself as a leading supplier of consumer products for the UK’s top retailers, with a host of successful own brands, such as ToyMania and SplashMania, as well as partnerships with the likes of Warner Bros, Cocomelon and the Style Sisters.

Most recently, the business has created and launched the new home and lifestyle brand Chapter B, for TV personality Billie Faiers, which will hit the market with the likes of Next and Very later this year.

Jeremy Winburn says: “We are industry innovators – and over the past two years we’ve continued to adapt and evolve, to carve out very clear areas of focus to help us achieve our goals.

“We’ve been strengthening our fantastic teams with the best talent, from buying and design, to sales and marketing. We’ve elevated our whole thought process and approach to enable us to deliver excellence within the industry.

“Nikki really shares our passion for product and his addition to the team will be invaluable as we start activating our plans over the coming years.”

Speaking about his new role, Nikki says: “When you set foot in Devon Mill – the home of Hunter Price – you’re hit with such an incredible energy of excitement and passion. The talent and drive to create outstanding products is like no other business I’ve known and that’s what brought me here.

“We’ve got really solid foundations as a business and now it’s time to maximise our opportunities and potential across our core categories in the UK and throughout Europe. It’s a really exciting time and we’re looking forward to sharing lots more with you about our plans throughout the year.”

Nikki will also sit on the board of directors alongside co-founders Jeremy Winburn and Managing Director Josh Eden, Operations Director Jonathan Alexander and toys Sales Director, Richard Belford.

Billie Faiers unveils home and lifestyle brand Chapter B at Spring Fair

 

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to be marked by official stamps and coins

Birmingham 2022 and CGF Partnerships have signed a licensing deal with The Royal Mint and Royal Mail to produce commemorative coins and stamps to mark the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham 2022 marks the third time the Games have been hosted in England in its ninety-two year history, and each of those Games have been commemorated through the release of collectable Royal Mail stamps and Royal Mint coins, anchoring this significant event in history and contributing to the celebration of the Commonwealth Games.

Both The Royal Mint and Royal Mail have been awarded exclusive rights as Official Licensees to create a series of Birmingham 2022 themed coins and stamps to celebrate and mark the global sports event, which takes place from 28 July to 8 August.

The special 50 pence piece takes inspiration from Birmingham’s bedrock of innovation, creativity and architecture. Designed by Natasha Preece of the Royal Mint, the coin features the iconic design of the Library of Birmingham. It was released as part of the Royal Mint’s 2022 Annual Sets on 4 January 2022, which includes a coin designed in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Birmingham 2022 collection features one main coin design, offered in a range of precious metals and will also include base metal designs featuring England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland coins and a Home Nations set.

Royal Mail has a rich history of issuing stamps to mark the Commonwealth Games being held in the UK. The Company has commemorated the British Empire Games 1925, Cardiff 1958, Edinburgh 1970, Edinburgh 1986, Manchester 2002 and most recently, Glasgow 2014 with Special Stamps as lasting souvenirs of the event for collectors and fans.

Details and images of the Special Stamps being issued by Royal Mail will be announced closer to the launch of the Games in July.

Ian Reid, CEO at Birmingham 2022, says: “These very special coins and stamps will be a perfect reminder of the excitement and thrill people will have by being part of Birmingham 2022. Both the Royal Mint and Royal Mail are organisations who have excellent international reputations, and the partnerships are a perfect fit for our incredible global event. The commemorative sets are a wonderful way to celebrate the Games and for the whole country to get involved in Birmingham 2022 and our festival of sport and culture!”

Both the commemorative coins and stamps will be available to buy in July, from post offices, the official Birmingham 2022 retail stores and online.

British fashion label Chinti & Parker launches Care Bears collection

Bulldog Licensing’s latest partner to celebrate the Care Bears’ 40th anniversary by joining the consumer products programme is luxury knitwear label Chinti & Parker.

Established in 2009, Chinti & Parker produces knitwear that celebrates joyful colour, timeless shapes and innovative textures. Now, using some of its favourite intarsia knitting techniques and intricate embroidery, Chinti & Parker brings the colourful Care Bears to life in a collection of cashmere jumpers, hoodies, sweat pants and T-shirts. The range is the latest in a line of nostalgic collaborations for the fashion label and features oversized, slouchy fits and a bold colour palette designed to keep the look cool rather than cutesy.

While the Care Bears have grown through various looks and styles over the last 40 years, the rainbow colours, main characters and unique belly badges, along with the core messages of kindness and caring, remain iconic and instantly recognisable.

Designs in the Chinti & Parker collection range from the classic Care Bears logo to the faces of characters including Grumpy Bear and Lucky Bear, as well as jumpers with Cheer Bear and Funshine Bear emerging from their pockets, and fun slogans such as ‘Good Vibes’.

Sophie Yates, Licensing Executive at Bulldog Licensing, says: “This collaboration is a great addition to the Care Bears licensing programme and clearly demonstrates the strength of the Care Bears brand. We can’t wait to see these pieces being styled and shared over the coming weeks.”

“Chinti & Parker have always been effortlessly cool and fun,” adds Roubina Tchoboian, VP of International Licensing at Cloudco Entertainment, owner of the Care Bears brand. “We’ve been a fan of their nostalgia collections for quite some time and are thrilled to see the Care Bears collection come to life as we celebrate 40 years of sharing and caring.”

The Chinti & Parker x Care Bears collection is available to buy online now at chintiandparker.com/collections/chinti-parker-x-care-bears.

The LEGO Group unveils six new Jurassic World Dominion sets

 The LEGO Group and Universal Brand Development have officially revealed six new sets inspired by the upcoming feature film Jurassic World Dominion, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, set to hit cinemas in June 2022. Each set offers a chance for fans to dive into their very own prehistoric world, with endless creativity, storytelling and adventure, with fan-favourite characters like Owen, Claire, Ian Malcolm and Dr. Ellie Sattler.

The six new sets are:

10938 LEGO® DUPLO® Dinosaur Nursery

Age: 2+

Piece Count: 27

Price: 19.99 EUR/USD

Measures: The Triceratops stands over 1 in. (5 cm) tall and the set can be reconfigured to inspire endless imaginative play possibilities

Description: Animal-loving toddlers can join Jurassic World’s Claire Dearing to care for three baby dinosaurs. This set includes a Triceratops in a cave, a Pteranodon in a nest, and a Brachiosaurus using its long neck to nibble leaves from a tree. 

76943 LEGO® Jurassic World Pteranodon Chase

Age: 4+

Piece Count: 91

Price: 19.99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 4.5 in. (12 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep

Description: Includes a brick-built dock, fish stall and buggy, Owen Grady and Maisie minifigures with a fishing rod and lasso, and a Pteranodon figure. 

76944 LEGO® Jurassic World T. rex Dinosaur Breakout

Age: 4+

Piece Count: 140

Price: 49.99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 2.5 in. (6cm) deep, and the T. rex stands over 4 in. (11 cm) tall

Description: Build the airport with a helipad, a helicopter and a fence for the mighty T. rex to smash through. The set also includes Owen Grady, Zia Rodriguez and wildlife guard minifigures, plus a dinosaur egg, walkie-talkie and tranquiliser.

76945 LEGO® Jurassic World Atrociraptor Dinosaur: Bike Chase

Age: 6+

Piece Count: 167

Price: 19.99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 2.5 in. (6 cm) high, 7 in. (17 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep. This playset combines with the T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout (76948) set

Description: Features a market with a wall for the Atrociraptor and motorcycle to smash through, a battle pit for two small dinosaur figures, plus Owen Grady and Rainn Delacourt minifigures.

 76946 LEGO® Jurassic World Blue & Beta Velociraptor Capture

Age: 6+

Piece Count: 173

Price: 29.99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 2.5 in. (6 cm) high, 5.5 in. (14 cm) long and 2.5 in. (6 cm) wide, and the whole playset can be combined with other LEGO® Jurassic World building toys

Description: With Maisie and Rainn Delacourt minifigures, dinosaurs Blue and Beta, a truck, bike and a dinosaur cage with a trap, plus a chicken drumstick to use as dinosaur bait.  

76947 LEGO® Jurassic World Quetzalcoatlus Plane Ambush

Age: 7+

Piece Count: 293

Price: 49.99 EUR/ 39.99 USD

Measures: The Quetzalcoatlus dinosaur figure measures over 11.5 in. (29 cm) wide and has posable wings and a snapping beak; The airplane measures over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 8.5 in. (22 cm) long and 11.5 in. (30 cm) wide, and Owen’s motorcycle from the 76945 set fits inside the cargo hold

Description: Features an airplane with space in the cockpit for Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Kayla Watts. The plane also has spinning propellers, an opening cargo hold and engines designed to break off under attack from the Quetzalcoatlus. 

76948 LEGO® Jurassic World T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout

Age: 8+

Piece Count: 461

Price: 89.99 EUR/ 79.99 USD

Measures: The market measures over 7 in. (18 cm) high, 10 in. (26 cm) wide and 3.5 in. (9 cm) deep, and it combines with the LEGO® Jurassic World Atrociraptor Dinosaur: Bike Chase (76945) set

Description: Build a market with an enclosure for the T. rex and a big rig truck with a cage to transport the Atrociraptor. Also includes Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Rainn Delacourt and Soyona Santos minifigures, plus two tranquilisers.

 These new sets will be widely available starting April 17, 2022 on LEGO.com, in LEGO Retail Stores and at major retailers worldwide.

 

Bandai and Benetton partner for PAC-MAN kidswear

BANDAI NAMCO Europe has signed a licensing agreement with the Benetton Group S.r.l to develop a PAC-MAN kids apparel line, available worldwide.

The collection includes t-shirts and sweatshirts for both boys and girls and is already available in Benetton stores worldwide and the company’s online store.

“We are happy to have been able to forge this partnership with Benetton for our legendary PAC-MAN franchise,” says Aadil Tayouga, EMEA Head of Licensing and Strategic Partnerships at BANDAI NAMCO Europe S.A.S. ”Both our brands are colourful, have a long history, and appeal to all generations. We are really proud of this collection that captures the fun, joy as well as the colourful side of PAC-MAN.”

 

 

WildBrain CPLG partners with Moose Toys for Magic Mixies licensing programme

Entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency WildBrain CPLG is partnering with Moose Toys to handle representation of the global toy company’s mega-hit Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, as well as planned line extensions for the brand.

Under its dedicated North America office, WildBrain CPLG will represent Magic Mixies in the U.S. and Canada to build a cross-category merchandise offering, targeting kids aged 5–8 years old. The initial focus for the consumer products roll-out will be on the apparel, sleepwear, publishing, accessories and homeware categories. Moose will be building the brand’s presence even further with a comprehensive content plan later this year.

Jasen Wright, VP North America at WildBrain CPLG, says: “As we continue building our successful relationship with Moose Toys, it’s fantastic to add yet another of their exciting brands to our remit. Magic Mixies has captured the attention of kids and retailers alike, as demonstrated by the stand-out sales since launch. The brand has significant potential beyond the core toy range, and we look forward to forging partnerships that extend the wonderment of Magic Mixies for kids across the U.S and Canada.”

Menal McGrath, Vice President, Global Licensing, Moose Toys, adds: “WildBrain CPLG has proven itself to be a dynamic and creative partner for our brands in the U.S. and Canada. Furthering our relationship with them by adding Magic Mixies to their portfolio was both the best and the right choice to solidify Mixies’ success. We look forward to seeing them work their ‘magic’ to expand the brand’s presence in lifestyle categories for the ultimate Magic Mixies fans.”

WildBrain CPLG also handles the global licensing programme for Moose Toys’ biggest boys’ franchise to date, Akedo – Ultimate Arcade Warriors. Additionally, the agency recently secured a partnership with Moose for a range of toys and playsets based on a fresh iteration of WildBrain’s Strawberry Shortcake brand and its new animated series, Berry in the Big City.

WildBrain CPLG partners with Moose Toys for Magic Mixies licensing programme

Entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency WildBrain CPLG is partnering with Moose Toys to handle representation of the global toy company’s mega-hit Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, as well as planned line extensions for the brand.

Under its dedicated North America office, WildBrain CPLG will represent Magic Mixies in the U.S. and Canada to build a cross-category merchandise offering, targeting kids aged 5–8 years old. The initial focus for the consumer products roll-out will be on the apparel, sleepwear, publishing, accessories and homeware categories. Moose will be building the brand’s presence even further with a comprehensive content plan later this year.

Jasen Wright, VP North America at WildBrain CPLG, says: “As we continue building our successful relationship with Moose Toys, it’s fantastic to add yet another of their exciting brands to our remit. Magic Mixies has captured the attention of kids and retailers alike, as demonstrated by the stand-out sales since launch. The brand has significant potential beyond the core toy range, and we look forward to forging partnerships that extend the wonderment of Magic Mixies for kids across the U.S and Canada.”

Menal McGrath, Vice President, Global Licensing, Moose Toys, adds: “WildBrain CPLG has proven itself to be a dynamic and creative partner for our brands in the U.S. and Canada. Furthering our relationship with them by adding Magic Mixies to their portfolio was both the best and the right choice to solidify Mixies’ success. We look forward to seeing them work their ‘magic’ to expand the brand’s presence in lifestyle categories for the ultimate Magic Mixies fans.”

WildBrain CPLG also handles the global licensing programme for Moose Toys’ biggest boys’ franchise to date, Akedo – Ultimate Arcade Warriors. Additionally, the agency recently secured a partnership with Moose for a range of toys and playsets based on a fresh iteration of WildBrain’s Strawberry Shortcake brand and its new animated series, Berry in the Big City.

WEB Eyewear is official eyewear partner of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN

WEB Eyewear and Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN have entered a multi-year partnership, starting 2022.

WEB Eyewear, a house brand of leading eyewear company Marcolin since 2008, aims to expand its international reach via the deal. The WEB Eyewear logo will appear on the team’s C42 cars, and the helmets and suits of the team’s drivers Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou, and the partnership will be underlined by the development of a branded capsule collection of sunglasses and optical frames, available in the second half of 2022.

“WEB Eyewear’s ambition is to create a new chapter in its own story, credible and consistent with the brand legacy but looking forward to a global future,” says Fabrizio Curci, Marcolin CEO & General Manager. “The partnership with Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN is certainly a significant step forward along this path. We are thrilled to enter the Formula One world alongside such an important brand.”

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN adds: “We are delighted to start our journey with WEB Eyewear. Their commitment to style is a perfect match for our team, a blend of Italian elegance and Swiss precision, and theirs is a prestigious brand we are proud to have with us on the world stage. We are excited to develop a special collection with them and we can’t wait to present it to our fans later this year.”

 

WEB Eyewear is official eyewear partner of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN

WEB Eyewear and Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN have entered a multi-year partnership, starting 2022.

WEB Eyewear, a house brand of leading eyewear company Marcolin since 2008, aims to expand its international reach via the deal. The WEB Eyewear logo will appear on the team’s C42 cars, and the helmets and suits of the team’s drivers Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou, and the partnership will be underlined by the development of a branded capsule collection of sunglasses and optical frames, available in the second half of 2022.

“WEB Eyewear’s ambition is to create a new chapter in its own story, credible and consistent with the brand legacy but looking forward to a global future,” says Fabrizio Curci, Marcolin CEO & General Manager. “The partnership with Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN is certainly a significant step forward along this path. We are thrilled to enter the Formula One world alongside such an important brand.”

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN adds: “We are delighted to start our journey with WEB Eyewear. Their commitment to style is a perfect match for our team, a blend of Italian elegance and Swiss precision, and theirs is a prestigious brand we are proud to have with us on the world stage. We are excited to develop a special collection with them and we can’t wait to present it to our fans later this year.”

 

France Rugby names New Era as its official headwear licensee

France Rugby has announced lifestyle and sports headwear company New Era as its official headwear licensee, in a multi-year deal brokered by IMG.

The first collection kicking off the partnership features France Rugby’s iconic blue, white and red logo across five pieces of merchandise. The new line includes the 9FORTY Adjustable, 9FIFTY Snapback and Trucker styles, as well as two beanie models – the Jake Beanie and the Engineered Cuff Beanie.

The 2022/23 collection is available now at Neweracap.eu and Boutique.ffr.fr.

Further styles will launch later in the year.