Jamie and Rebekah Vardy unveil first storybook for children

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.”

ZAG appoints former Zinkia exec Marie Doolan as Vice President of TV content

Award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG continues to build its executive leadership team, appointing former Zinkia executive Maria Doolan, who drove the global growth for the hit Pocoyo brand, to the newly created position of VP, TV Content. She reports to Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, and Julian Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Global Consumer Products.

In this new role, Doolan will be responsible for ZAG’s global strategy of content distribution across all platforms including television, home entertainment and digital media, for select properties in the ZAG Heroez portfolio — an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties. Her first priority will be focused on the company’s newest IP, Ghostforce, which was recently acquired by Disney Channels U.S. and debuted in October 2021 on Disney XD. Doolan will also work in partnership with ON kids & family (Mediawan) for the aspirational brand phenom Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, as well as all future ZAG properties.

“Maria has an extensive brand-management background, spearheading efforts across programme distribution and consumer products, and is an expert at driving strategy, building brands and adding value,” says Jeremy Zag. “In her new TV Content role, she will work closely with our consumer products executives to craft strategies for TV placement with best-in-class partners around the globe to build strong platforms from where we can launch new TV shows under  the ZAG Heroez universe.”

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to work with Jeremy, Julian and the global team at ZAG to further drive brand growth worldwide,” adds Doolan. “This new role will allow me to utilise one of my key strengths, which is to transfer big ideas into viable business plans on a global scale, and I am excited to begin diving in on building a global strategy for the content rollout of Ghostforce.

Doolan has over 20 years’ experience managing, marketing and selling TV and retail products and properties, spending 17 years with Zinkia Entertainment. During her tenure with the company, she served in several roles, most recently as Global Head of International TV Distribution & Co-Productions, developing partnerships with multinational players. Prior, she served as Executive Producer of the Early Learning Collaborative, securing a US Ready to Learn (RTL) grant with a local non-profit partner, becoming the first non-US brand to get an RTL grant. Twenty-three educational apps covering English-language learning and math for 3–5 year olds were developed. The grant managed a US$34 million development and marketing budget and supervised the project launch with complementary school marketing materials produced for nationwide US distribution.

In her earliest and most long-lasting role as Managing Director of Brand & Business Development, Doolan was responsible for financing, marketing and managing Pocoyo worldwide, defining the brand and product strategy and market positioning, and  developing key L&M partnerships.

TheSoul Publishing hires BuzzFeed leader to spearhead expansion

Award-winning digital studio TheSoul Publishing is expanding into the consumer product space with the appointment of Ines Pacheco as Director of Licensing. She brings extensive experience to the licensing space as TheSoul looks to bring its more than one billion social media followers a compelling line of products showcasing the studio’s universe of uplifting brands, including 5-Minute CraftsBright Side123Go! and Slick Slim Sam.

“There is a huge opportunity for TheSoul Publishing to bring its fans new and exciting ways to interact with our world class, market leading brands. From the kid-friendly Slick Slime Sam, to the LOL moments on 123 Go!, to the incredible DIY feats on 5-Minute Crafts, our entire offering has proven to both keep up with trends and remain ‘sticky’ to viewers across genres, locations, and age ranges,” says Patrik Wilkens, TheSoul Publishing’s Vice President of Operations. “Bringing in a professional with direct consumer product experience like Ines will help launch this growing aspect of our business and establish TheSoul Publishing brand as a household name.”

Pacheco previously managed global operations for brand licensing as BuzzFeed’s Vice President of Licensing and Brand Design Operations. She has an extensive portfolio of brand experience in categories including kitchenware, toys & games, pets, food & beverage, and apparel. She also developed and executed marketing campaigns for licensed products while building brand guidelines, creating logos, and designing packaging. In addition, Pacheco will draw on experience at The Wall Street Journal where she led the rollout of a new sales organization structure. Pacheco is a graduate of Harvard University.

“I’ve been a fan of TheSoul Publishing’s content for years and I believe there’s a huge opportunity for growth in this space,” says Pacheco. “We’re starting with a massive audience that any marketer would jump to have the opportunity to connect with. Now comes the fun part: figuring out exactly what our audience wants, and how to get it to them wherever they shop!”

In capitalising on crave-worthy consumer trends including cutting-edge 3D technology, stop motion, fun live-action, quirky music videos, craft projects and vibrant animation, TheSoul Publishing is enjoying huge success on social media. Its universally positive channels, including 5-Minute Crafts, 123 GO!, and Slick Slime Sam, are distributed across social media and streaming platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, TikTok, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Chinese platforms including Xigua, Douyin and Bilibili.

This latest high-profile hire follows TheSoul Publishing surpassing one billion subscribers across all of its social media platforms. Tubular Labs reports TheSoul Publishing has garnered the most online media views every month since October 2020, outpacing legacy creators including ViacomCBS, Sony Pictures, Comcast and The Walt Disney Company.

TheSoul Publishing has garnered numerous accolades including the ‘Digital Studio of the Year’ at the 2021 Digiday Video & TV Awards, a 2021 Drum Award win for Best Use of Pinterest, a 2021 Webby Award nomination for 5-Minute Crafts, a 2020 Streamy Award nomination (Best Brand Engagement), a pair of 2021 Shorty Award nominations (Best YouTube presence, Best Community Engagement), a 2021 Drum Award nomination (Video Team of the Year) and a Media Excellence Award win (Excellence in Original Content).

For further information about TheSoul Publishing visit the website.

 

The Point.1888 prepares for stellar performance with new client Moulin Rouge

The world-famous Parisian cabaret Moulin Rouge has appointed The Point.1888 to expand the brand into licensing.

The Moulin Rouge, named after the iconic red windmill on its roof, has a rich history spanning over 130 years. Its revue show Féérie is enjoyed by 600,000 guests every year, while its dazzling universe has inspired countless books, experiences, and movies, including Baz Luhrmann’sMoulin Rouge! (2001).

By teaming up with The Point.1888, Moulin Rouge will use brand licensing to extend its brand’s territory and boost engagement with its loyal fans.

The Point.1888 follows a retail-first model, whereby new products are created based on the gaps it sees at retail alongside what it thinks the brand’s target demographic might like, an approach that resonated with Moulin Rouge. The brand has thousands of stories to tell and The Point.1888’s intention is “to ensure that the new products and experiences developed tell these stories, and encapsulate the glitz and glamour of the much-loved brand”.

Commenting on the appointment, Rosanna Cousins, Retail Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Moulin Rouge is all about storytelling, and this ultimately is what we do here at The Point.1888. We help brands tell their stories, so to work with a brand with such creative flair and history is a real privilege.”

Eloïse Daire at Moulin Rouge added: “We immediately liked the innovative, retail-driven approach of The Point.1888. They were quick to grasp the objectives and challenges for our brand in the UK and proposed an interesting vision for our target demographics. We’re looking forward to developing inspiring new Moulin Rouge products and experiences along with them.”

Flowhaven strengthens executive team, adds Zag Entertainment and Warner Music Group to growing list of clients

Flowhaven, the leading Licensing Relationship Management platform (LRM), has strengthened its global leadership team with four strategic hires as the company continues its growth trajectory. Adam Rubin has joined the company as Vice President of Revenue, Tomi Heinonen as Vice President of Engineering; Alex Jones as User Experience Director, and Jourdan Strain as Marketing Director. These new additions will report directly to Kalle Törmä, Chief Executive Officer.

The hires come on the heels of a series of organisational developments that have accelerated the company’s growth. In the last year, Flowhaven raised US $16M in funding led by Sapphire Sport and more than doubled its teams in Helsinki, Los Angeles, and London. Additionally, the company also opened offices in Tokyo and strengthened its satellite operations in New York and Berlin.

“I’m incredibly proud of everything Flowhaven has achieved this year,” says Törmä. “We’ve seen our footprint double from two international offices to four, with nearly 100 team members and an increased global market share. It’s a true testament to our product and services that we have not lost a single customer to a competitor since the company’s inception. Our newest hires are yet another vital piece in our growth journey. I am thrilled that they chose to join Flowhaven’s mission and look forward to seeing how they will apply their unique skills to move it forward.”

Flowhaven also recently unveiled a new partnership with children’s entertainment giant, Zag Entertainment. The brand licensing software pioneers will help Zag oversee contracts, perform rights analysis, and design approval properties including the award-winning series “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.” Flowhaven has also added Warner Music Group to its growing list of clients.

Rocket appoints Emily Morgan as new Licensing Co-ordinator

Rocket Licensing has appointed Emily Morgan as its new Licensing Co-ordinator. Emily recently graduated from Exeter University with a first-class degree in History.

Emily will work alongside the Rocket team to carry out marketing duties, such as creating and updating brand materials, event management and PR, as well as liaising with licensees and brand owners. Emily will work across the diverse Rocket licensing portfolio of brands, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Elf on the Shelf, Beano, Kodak, Vikings Valhalla, Rocky, Legally Blonde, Dune, Enola Holmes, and many more.

Emily commented: “I’m thrilled to be working at Rocket Licensing and am looking forward to getting to know all of the great brands and licensors. I’m also really excited to attend BLE this month and look forward to meeting many of the industry there.”

Charlie Donaldson, Joint MD of Rocket Licensing, added: “We have a strong collection of brands at the moment and Rocket Licensing is going from strength to strength. We’re delighted to welcome Emily to the team to support us all across marketing and licensing activities – she’ll be a key member of staff.”

Rocket appoints Emily Morgan as new Licensing Co-ordinator

Rocket Licensing has appointed Emily Morgan as its new Licensing Co-ordinator. Emily recently graduated from Exeter University with a first-class degree in History.

Emily will work alongside the Rocket team to carry out marketing duties, such as creating and updating brand materials, event management and PR, as well as liaising with licensees and brand owners. Emily will work across the diverse Rocket licensing portfolio of brands, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Elf on the Shelf, Beano, Kodak, Vikings Valhalla, Rocky, Legally Blonde, Dune, Enola Holmes, and many more.

Emily commented: “I’m thrilled to be working at Rocket Licensing and am looking forward to getting to know all of the great brands and licensors. I’m also really excited to attend BLE this month and look forward to meeting many of the industry there.”

Charlie Donaldson, Joint MD of Rocket Licensing, added: “We have a strong collection of brands at the moment and Rocket Licensing is going from strength to strength. We’re delighted to welcome Emily to the team to support us all across marketing and licensing activities – she’ll be a key member of staff.”

Pitch Smarter Brands & Retail Conference 22: new event to launch in January next year

Ryan Beaird, Pitch Smarter Brands & Retail Conference Event Director (and former Licensing International UK Marketing Manager) has announced a new screening event for the UK licensing industry launching in January next year.

The Pitch Smarter Conference 22 will take place at the British Library on 20 January, from 9am till 6pm, and is free for licensees and retail buyers to attend. Registration is set to open soon at www.brandsretail.uk

“In the seven-plus years in the licensing industry I always felt, as did others in the business, the need for a screening day for the UK licensing industry,” says Ryan Beaird. “Feedback from the industry was positive so I felt that, given my years of event experience, the time was right to launch a new event in the calendar. Also, cementing it in the diary as the ‘first’ event in 2022, and before the toy show season started, just made sense. It also fits nicely into the retail calendar by being held in January.

“Our new Pitch Smarter Conference will get everyone in one place, together, on both sides of the licensing industry, making life easier for retail buyers and licensees to see what 20 character and entertainment brands have planned for their existing IPs – but more importantly, the opportunity to see new content and what IP owners and agents have planned for 2022 and going forward. If a brand taking part wants the audience to sign NDAs we can organise this, giving them piece of mind in showing under-wraps content as well.”

Brand owners and licensing agents can book slots of 15 minutes (30 minutes back-to-back slots are available) to screen and showcase their properties on stage in the 250-seat capacity British Library theatre, which has a giant front projection screen. There are only 20 slots available on the day.

There will also be a VIP party after the event for attendees. Details will be announced soon in the licensing press.

Anyone interested in booking a screening slot can email Ryan directly at ryan.beaird@brandsretail.uk

Semaphore Licensing signs Gabi Faye, star of the world’s #1 toy site on TikTok

Semaphore Licensing, known for creating successful licensing opportunities with products distributed at global retailers including Sephora, Target, Amazon, and Walmart, has welcomed TikTok creator Gabi Faye into its portfolio. With over 9.1 million followers on TikTok, Gabi Faye is known for her unique toy content, and has worked with leading brands including LOL Surprise!, Barbie, Fisher-Price, Spin Master and Mattel.

As the first international new media star to join Semaphore’s portfolio, Gabi Faye is a part of the licensing firm’s evolution, which is “dedicated to upping the ante by curating licensing deals that transcend perceived barriers”.

“We’re the firm creators work with who want to take their brands to the next level. Our family of companies supports them through all levels of their growth. Gabi Faye is an inspiring addition to our talent portfolio and we’re looking forward to adding additional international stars,” says Michael Bienstock, Founder and CEO, Semaphore Licensing

With its headquarters in Irvine, California, and a licensing HQ located in Colorado, Semaphore has grown to include a suite of services including accounting, tax preparation, payroll, insurance, and brand and licensing management since it was founded in 2002.

Lisle Licensing bolsters commercial team to support growth

Leeds-based agency Lisle Licensing has seen an uplift in new client business and increased licensing activity throughout 2021.  To support its growth, two new commercial team members have joined the agency to support the team.

Deborah Haigh (above left) joined as Commercial & Retail Manager at the beginning of October in a role where she will work alongside Francesca and Colin Lisle with key account management at both licensee and retail level. In particular, she will work closely on new brands including the Style Sisters and Kate Smith Co.

Deborah joins Lisle Licensing with a career roster that spans retail operations, and client and business management. Having worked with blue-chip brands including Asda, Tui and Jazz FM she comes with an enviable insight into both client and operational functions.

A new role of Commercial Assistant is being introduced into the business structure to support the senior team. Lisle Licensing has appointed Katie Moran (above right) to this role with immediate effect. With three years’ experience in administration and liaising with external suppliers, she is key in ensuring the smooth-running of the business. Katie will work closely with licensees on their product launches as well as coordinating marketing and brand activities.

Commenting on the appointments, Francesca Lisle says: “I’m thrilled that we have two exceptionally skilled executives joining our team, who also bring with them a passion for our client portfolio, can-do attitudes and a sense of fun. After all, our industry isn’t just about doing great business, but being immersive across all areas, and networking. I look forward to introducing them in-person with licensors, retailers and licensees at BLE next month.”