Harry Potter weaves magic across ecommerce platform Spread Group as sales leap 70 per cent

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been weaving its magic on the ecommerce platform Spread Group, helping drive UK licensing sales to a 70 per cent leap since the group extended its partnership with Warner Bros in December last year.

Increased demand for items – in particular the women’s hoodies range – themed around the Harry Potter franchise has fuelled a sales surge across the platform, with UK consumers ‘snapping up’ Hogwarts themed apparel. At the same time, another of Warner Bros’ leading franchises, Friends, has been subject to similar demand.

Annina Vettermann, licensing success manager at Spread Group, said: “We have been very surprised and pleased by the huge demand for women’s hoodies for both of these Warner Bros. brands. We think this is a gap in the market and fans have been happy to find merch they want to wear at Spread Group.”

Spread Group’s bestselling Harry Potter design is a gold Hogwarts coat of arms. This is closely followed by individual House hoodies. The most popular is Harry’s own Gryffindor (accounting for 40 per cent of sales). Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are vying for second place (22 per cent and 21 per cent respectively) and those ambitious Slytherins are not far behind either, on 17 per cent.

Meanwhile, the revival of 90s TV hit Friends has seen a rise in demand for its classic brand and images of the Central Perk gang. At Spread Group, sales of tote bags, hoodies and t-shirts have risen for both men and women.

Vettermann added: “2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, but we were delighted to see UK consumers being creative and taking advantage of these newly licensed designs. The strategic partnership has created exceptional results for the Spread Group and Warner Bros. partnership.”

Spread Group currently offers 14 Warner Bros. licenses, including Batman, Wonder Woman, Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes and Superman, in a wide range of products, colours and designs.

The Spread Group side of the partnership covers design, marketing and production, a presence on the Spreadshirt marketplace, Amazon and eBay. This licensing deal made Warner Bros. one of Spread Group’s largest partners. Its consumers can now access over 1,500 Warner designs on the Spreadshirt marketplaces in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia as well as over 1,000 item positions on Amazon.com.

The LEGO Group unveils F.R.I.E.N.D.S Apartment Set complete with Janice minifigure

Ready? Altogether now: Oh. My. God.

It’s official. The LEGO Group has just detailed the launch of the new LEGO F.R.I.E.N.D.S Apartments Set, a 2,048 brick set that allows fans to recreate their favourite scenes from the now iconic Warner Bros. sitcom.

Setting the scene of some of TV comedy’s most memorable moments, the build features both Monica and Rachel’s, and Chandler and Joey’s New York apartments, as well as – quite possibly – TV’s most famous adjoining hallway.

The new release from The LEGO Group follows the success of the LEGO Ideas Central Perk set released in 2019 and arrives complete with features and props – including the moment Monica put the Thanksgiving turkey on her head, and the one where Joey and Chandler had only a canoe as furniture, as well as the episode in which Phoebe’s dollhouse went up in flames.

Other accessories from the show include the Poking Device; Gladys, Phoebe’s creepy art piece; the cheesecake that falls on the floor; Pat the Dog; the chick and duck, and more.  The set also gives fans the real sense of the original filming studio with set lights and allows them to display both apartments either separately or linked together with the hallway.

The set also arrives with new minifigures of the gang in some of their most memorable outfits; Rachel’s iconic plaid skirt; Ross’ too tight leather pants; Monica in an apron; Phoebe in a classic floral look; Chandler in a suit and loud designer tie; and Joey wearing all of Chandler’s clothes.

And for the first time ever, Janice will also feature as a minifigure in a classic over-the-top gaudy outfit.

Anderson Ward Grubb, LEGO Set Designer said: “Following the success of the LEGO Ideas Central Perk set, we wanted to develop another tribute to this iconic TV show with a focus on the famous apartments. We worked directly from production photos of the set as well as watching and re-watching a lot of episodes so we could capture as many iconic moments as possible.

“One fun challenge was figuring out how to represent some aspects that change over the course of the show that appear in some episodes and not in others. I am looking forward to seeing if the eagle-eyed fans will spot them.”

LEGO The Friends Apartments set is available exclusively for LEGO VIP members from May 19th and from LEGO Stores and www.LEGO.com/Friends-Apartments from June 1st, 2021.

Warner Bros. teams with Toybox to let fans 3D print their own licensed toys at home

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with Toybox, a company specialised in 3D printers that allow fans to create their own toys at home, to enable audiences to print characters from across the Warner Bros. portfolio.

Marked by many as a major step forward in the ongoing development and evolution of the 3D printing space and its implications for the future of the toy industry, the new partnership will allow Toybox fans the chance to print items based on DC, Cartoon Network, Looney Tunes, Friends, even Seinfeld.

The deal also extends to classic films under the Warner Bros. banner, such as Polar Express and Elf.

Customers will be able to buy a range of toys starting with DC’s Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman by purchasing Toybox Bolts, an online currency unique to the Toybox platform. This is a first of its kind licensing agreement with a major studio that allows customers to print their toys at home.

Toys available to print at launch will be Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman action figures with nine points of articulation, Batarangs, Batman’s Batcave computer, Batmobile, Batman disc launcher, Bat-Signal, Justice League disc launchers, Daily Planet building; with additional items to follow.

Ben Baltes, CEO of Toybox, said: “We are so excited to announce this partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Toybox is the only platform to offer at home toy printing tied to a secure 3D printer. Bringing our Toybox users the world class properties from the WB catalogue is a dream for them and for us.”

Spread Group expands its partnership with Warner Bros for new licenses and markets

Spread Group – the firm formerly known as Spreadshirt – has expanded its partnership with Warner Bros to bring 14 of its brands including Harry Potter, Batman, and Friends, to new target markets in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.

The latest development is an extension of a European partnership that has existed between Spread Group and Warner Bros since 2012. Over the past eight years, Spread Group has developed more than 1,700 designs with popular Warner Bros. heroes and symbols across Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

The Warner Bros. brands are among some of the best-sellers on these European Spreadshirt marketplaces.

“We are excited about the opportunity to use our know-how to launch into new markets and to strategically develop our partnership with Warner Bros. In doing so, we will cover design, marketing and production, to the web presence on our Spreadshirt marketplace, as well as on Amazon and eBay – according to our 360-degree approach,” said Ann-Katrin Hager, head of licensing Europe of Spread Group.

The licensing deal will make Warner Bros. will one of Spread Group’s largest partners. It will offer over 1,000 Warner designs on the Spreadshirt marketplaces in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia as well as 1,500 item positions on Amazon.com.

Mad Beauty details full Warner Bros. Friends range as it readies for retail launch

The health and beauty specialist, Mad Beauty has witnessed the arrival of its Warner Bros. Friends collection, and could the company be any more excited? Going by the press release, it would appear the team has reached maximum excitement capacity, because for the first time, the iconic ’90s sitcom is making its way to the beauty aisles.

Announced at Spring Fair 2020, Mad Beauty is now ready to reveal its full Warner Bros Friends collection – the first collaboration with Warner Bros. since signing agreements earlier this year.

The launch collection features 15 pieces of beauty, bath, and body essentials, as well as a line up of lifestyle accessories. From pampering Turkey Sheet Face Masks, Advent Calendars, Eyeshadow Palettes, to Clip and Clean Hand Cleansing Gels, the new collection includes everything to bring the hilarity of Friends this autumn.

The full range includes a Central Perk Lip Balm Trio, Turkey Face Mask, 12 Days of Bath Fizzers, Iconic Yellow Frame Eyeshadow Palette, Pizza Box Bath Salts Selection , Silicone Coffee & Frame Hand Gel, Turkey Tangle Brush, Lobster Hand Cream Set, Quotes Clip & Clean Hand Gel, Regina Phalange Wearable Lip Balm, You’re My Lobster Bath Fizzers, Turkey Shower Cap, Central Perk Pamper Trio, Rescue Mask Set, and a Coffee Cup Lip Balm Duo.

“The level of interest and pre-orders in this range at shows and through sneak previews has been huge, and we are confident that this will be one of the best collections to date,” said a representative of Mad Beauty. “Could it be any more exciting?”

Mad Beauty partners with Warner Bros Consumer Products for Friends, DC, and Looney Tunes lines

The UK bath, body, and cosmetics specialist Mad Beauty has detailed a new partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products to develop a collection inspired by its iconic brands Friends, DC, and Looney Tunes. The new deal and subsequent collection will bolster the firm’s plans for growth across the UK and US.

The partnership marks another milestone for Mad Beauty who has cited ‘extraordinary growth’ over the last two years in home markets. Already 2020 has seen announcements including international extensions of existing brand licenses, the launch of Mad Beauty USA, and establishing new warehouse and fulfilment support.

The first collaboration coming out of the new partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be a collection inspired by the hit television series Friends. The assortment will launch into market from AW20, consisting of Eyeshadow Palette, Lip Glosses, Make-up Brushes, Face Masks, Shower hats, and more.

“We see ourselves as a beauty company that makes gifts rather than a gift company that makes beauty products and we believe that combining our experience in producing high quality beauty, bath and body ranges with some of Warner Bros’ most iconic characters is a winning formula that retailers will enjoy offering and fans will love,” said Mad Beauty’s managing director, Trevor Cash.

“We’re excited to partner with Mad Beauty on this wonderful new collection. This collaboration provides a great opportunity for fans to celebrate their favourite characters and incorporate them into their daily lives, said Rachel Wakley, general manager UK & Ireland, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.