Tag Archives: lead

Moose Toys fast-tracks licensing and entertainment programmes for global sales phenom Magic Mixies

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Moose Toys’ interactive Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron has eclipsed its previous smash-hit Shopkins to become the highest-grossing SKU per week in Moose Toys’ history.

The demand for the product has prompted the company to accelerate a global consumer products licensing programme with top agents in key territories, as well as a robust content plan via strategic entertainment partnerships.

“The worldwide excitement surrounding Magic Mixies has been extraordinary,” says Paul Solomon, co-owner, Moose Toys. “We planned an incredibly aggressive forecast, but sales have far exceeded what we imagined. We tripled our forecast knowing this product was going to strike a chord with kids and their parents. Seeing the response and faced with current shipping challenges, we mobilized quickly to find a work-around, even air shipping goods to meet demand.

“While we expect Magic Mixies to be available during the holiday selling season, given the velocity in preorder and early sales, we expect a complete sell-out.

“Magic Mixies will be the next mega franchise to launch from a hit toy. We’re looking forward to seeing the magic our partners bring to a vast array of consumer products through our world-class global licensing and entertainment programmes.”

In the month since its October 1 launch, Magic Mixies has consistently appeared as the number-one bestselling toy on Amazon and has been named on all major retailer top toy lists, including Walmart Top Rated for Kids, Target and Amazon’s Toys We Love. It has achieved nearly 100,000 units sold by online and instore retailers for the week of Oct 17 nationally, and won top toy accolades in France, Spain and Canada.

Moose Toys will kick off a “very robust” consumer product programme at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) on November 17. A licensing agents announcement is forthcoming.

“Magic Mixies is a great example of how Moose Toys continues to diversify its brand portfolio,” says Menal McGrath, Vice President, Global Licensing, Moose Toys. “Magic Mixies has strong licensing appeal. Across the board and around the globe, reception to the brand has been so positive we fast-tracked the licensing programme for Fall/Holiday 2022.”

 

 

Aardman and Netflix secure promotional partners for musical short Robin Robin

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Award-winning independent studio Aardman has announced partnerships with the UK’s largest nature conservation charity the RSPB and Twinkl Educational Publishing, for animated musical short Robin Robin.

Robin Robin is a 30-minute festive holiday short, created by its directors Dan Ojari and Mikey Please. The stop-motion film was produced at the Aardman studios in Bristol, is due to launch on Netflix in November 2021 and features the voices of Gillian Anderson, Richard E. Grant, Adeel Akhtar and Bronte Carmichael.

This Christmas season the RSPB is inviting families to celebrate their inner robin with a series of Robin Robin-themed adventure trails on over 30 of its nature reserves around the UK and exclusive activity packs. Running from 24 November to 10 January, the trails will encourage young adventurers to learn to sing like a robin, find their very own superpower, and use all their senses to connect with the robin within. Other activities on offer include nest building, storytelling events and robin-themed crafts, while RSPB nature reserve cafés will also be offering Robin Robin-themed food and drink.

Kate Struthers, RSPB Visitor Experience and Event manager, says: “We are so excited to be working with Aardman and Netflix to celebrate the festive magic of the robin with families across the UK. They’re one of the UK’s most beloved birds and a true Christmas icon. Our new trails will immerse families in the Robin Robin story and bring it to life amongst nature, and we hope the film and our adventure trails can inspire everyone to discover robins and other wildlife near them and get outside in nature. Our Robin Robin activity pack also includes activities and ideas on how you can help robins and other wildlife at home this winter.”

Alongside the trails, Aardman and Netflix have partnered with educational publisher Twinkl to create exciting new Robin Robin learning materials to use at school and home. Twinkl will be providing the official resources for young viewers aged 3 to 11, prior to the film’s release, and the storyline fits perfectly into their wider campaign about wellbeing this Christmas, with inspirational messages about being happy with what you have and finding where you belong.

Christmas TV time can be transformed into an opportunity for learning as these completely free resources can also be used by parents, creating a time for families to come together and engage in fun activities based on this new Christmas classic. From writing and maths mystery activities on the rules of ‘The Sneak’ to recreating the ‘Sticky Brown Poo’ cake, these educational materials link learning directly with scenes from the Netflix special, so children can engage with everything they experience off the screen as well as on it. Children can also step behind the curtain, whether it’s exploring scientific facts about robins, composing music, or even learning how to create a stop-motion animation. Find out more at twinkl.co.uk/robinrobin

“Being able to link Twinkl learning materials with Netflix programming makes for a really powerful opportunity for educators and parents,” says Jonathan Seaton, Co-Founder and CEO of Twinkl. “We love the idea of bringing a new dimension of off-screen learning to the Netflix ecosystem through Robin Robin.”

In addition, Macmillan Children’s Books have just launched a publishing range associated with the new film which includes a classic picture book, film tie-in picture book and range of activity and novelty books.

Robin Robin launches on Netflix on November 24 – netflix.com/robinrobin

International Olympic Committee launches unified Olympic Shop

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the launch of a unified online Olympic shop developed in collaboration with global merchandise leader Fanatics. The launch of the Olympic Shop comes as Paris 2024 marks its 1,000-day countdown to the opening of the next Olympic Summer Games.

Through the Olympic Shop, fans will be able to purchase official Olympic and Paralympic Games merchandise produced by licensees and suppliers appointed by the IOC and the Organising Committees of the upcoming Games editions, Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28.

“This is an exciting launch for us, as fans from an increasing number of territories will be able to purchase official Olympic merchandising and connect with the magic of the Olympic Games ahead of each edition,” says Timo Lumme, IOC Television & Marketing Services Managing Director. “We are looking forward to collaborating on this new shop with the Organising Committees of Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28 to engage with a broader fanbase and offer collectables and goods that convey the values of the Olympic Movement, in line with the IOC Global Licensing Strategy.”

The Olympic Shop will offer the largest assortment of Olympic-branded merchandise to date, distributed through Fanatics’ vertical, on-demand manufacturing model and globally connected supply chain, as part of three Olympic core licensing collections: The Olympic and Paralympic Games Collection; The Olympic Heritage Collection and the Olympic Collection, which targets a young and active audience through unique branded products exclusively available online and at The Olympic Museum Shop in Lausanne, Switzerland, such as toys and games, bags, stationary items and sports equipment.

The different collections are currently available in the United States, Mexico and Europe, including France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and will expand further by summer 2022, with exclusive product launches along the way. Visa, the Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic payment partner, is the official way to pay on the Olympic Shop.

The Olympic Shop complements the Olympic store on Tmall, developed in collaboration with Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Alibaba and which remains the official platform for Chinese fans to purchase official Olympic and Paralympic products.

Brand Licensing Europe announces 2021 Kelvyn Gardner License This! shortlist

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Brand Licensing Europe has unveiled the nine finalists who will battle it out to win one of three Kelvyn Gardner License This! awards. BLE takes place in person from 17-19 November at ExCeL London followed by an online event running from 30 November to 1 December. It’s free to register at www.brandlicensing.eu.

There are three categories for 2021, including a brand-new Product Design award launched in partnership with Mojo Nation, where designers have been tasked to invent a desktop accessory inspired by Aardman’s Morph IP. The Character & Animation and Brand & Design categories are both aimed at unlicensed brands and properties and judges look for new creative concepts which have the potential to spread across multiple product categories.

Chair of the judging panel, Ian Downes, director Start Licensing, says: “The standard of entries this year for the Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition was very high. It was encouraging to see so many original ideas and concepts. The entrants put a lot of effort into the competition crafting some compelling entries and it was tough to draw up a shortlist. Based on the quality of entries it is clear that there is no shortage of creativity in and around licensing at the moment and the industry can be assured there is plenty of fresh thinking going on.”

The nine finalists are:

  1. Brand & Design Category:
  • Pencil & TIE® are the best of friends who live in Shibuya, Tokyo. Pencil, a graphic designer, is never seen without his pencil. Tie is his one-footed, cheeky friend (and a tie).
    Designer Mark creates onefold and witty stationery, which manifests itself in the (paper) product design and/or the illustration(s) used. With a lifelong passion for stationery, years of design experience for A-list brands and an attachment to Japanese culture, Pencil & TIE produces lovable and sustainable stationery products in its lab in the Netherlands.
  • Sophie Jonas-Hill and Tea for Tattoo, which brings together two great British passions – drinking tea and getting tattooed! Tea for tattoo is a series of hand-drawn motifs which bring together the colour palette and style of traditional blue and white ceramics, with the aesthetic and cheeky edge of old school tattoos. It’s distinctive because it carries Sophie’s unique hand drawn stamp, created by drawing separate parts of each image on tracing paper and then layering them together to create the look of glazed ceramic.
  • Aline Cervo – Aline Bea is a surface pattern designer, illustrator and digital nomad. Inspired by nature, simple things in life, and her own journey, she draws everything from flowers to buildings and abstract compositions. The stories embedded in her designs talk about bravery, courage, love and connection, about noticing the details, and abundance and presence. The beauty of being alive and enjoying every moment is what she expects to imprint on the world with her designs and products.
  1. Character & Animation Category:
  • Els Morris – Els Doodles: Rosie Roars’ is an illustrated little one’s story book. Rosie is three and her favourite animal is a lion, she even wants to be one when she grows up. Her family helps her to discover different animals and she decides that being a ‘buzzy, hopping, rainbow roaring me’ is the perfect person to be. This book teaches little ones that it’s good to celebrate who we are, while learning about others along the way.
  • Stacy Moore – Eat Dirt: Eat Dirt is a series of humorous stories and poems for children aged 2-5 years old, designed to inspire a love of veggies, gardening, and outdoor play, served up with a big dose of pure silliness. It is rich with bright colour and pint-sized humour to help foster creativity, inspire movement, encourage play and garden activity, and stimulate little brains for healthy growth. The lovable main characters include Grumpy Bean and his seven vegetable friends, plus the Green Thumb Chums and Toad.
  • Joel Mercer – SeedFolk. SeedFolk has been developed by the innovative creative team behind Seedlings Cards & Gifts; a lovable range of characters, who care for our native habitats and wildflower seeds. Joel says: “Unbeknownst to human eyes, there is a hidden world of little folk who guard and tend to our wildflowers and seeds. They are the SeedFolk, and this story follows adventures led by Yarrow, a courageous young wizard, and his dependable friend Buttercup, along with friends Mari and her little sister Gold, Clover and Bumble, the wise old Snowdrop, and the king’s daughter, Cornflower – as they set out to protect our native wildflowers.”
  1. Product Design Category
  • Jon Morse – Tomato Source
  • Chris de Junien – Imagine8
  • Wayne Lindsay – Imaginnovation

The three designers in this category will pitch their concepts to the judges during the live final on Friday 19 November.

Story House Egmont launches CoComelon Magazine

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Story House Egmont has launched CoComelon Magazine, based on Moonbug Entertainment’s successful preschool brand. The magazine aims to help preschoolers learn letters, numbers, and colours, and will cover important life lessons, providing parents with an opportunity to teach and play with their children as they enjoy the content together.

On YouTube, CoComelon is the no. 1 kids’ channel, the no. 1 educational channel, and the no. 2 channel worldwide. CoComelon garners 2.5 billion monthly views on YouTube and is adding to its 119 million subscribers every day.

On Netflix, CoComelon was 2020’s most watched show, and so far in 2021 it has been featured in the top 10 list for 258 consecutive days.

With further reach on BBC iPlayer, Cartoonito, Tiny POP and SKY Kids, this makes CoComelon the world’s most watched kids’ show, with the largest kids’ audience ever.

CoComelon is the latest addition to Story House Egmont’s pre-school portfolio which currently includes Thomas & Friends, Milkshake!, Ryan’s World, PAW Patrol, the UK’s no. 1 preschool magazine, and PAW Patrol EXTRA, which launched into the UK market in August this year. The launch issue comes with a Doctor Playset and complementary content inside the magazine which encourages young fans to ‘Play Doctors’. Issue 1 also includes 45 stickers alongside a tick-and-stick reward chart to incentivise all those mini milestones that young children achieve every day.

Over 14,000 retail outlets are stocking the magazine in the UK, enhanced by mass-market listings achieved across all major grocery, convenience, and discount outlets. Further promotional activity is happening in-store to celebrate the first issue at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, and LIDL, to drive prominence and awareness among consumers.

“We are delighted to be launching the CoComelon magazine and sharing this joyful brand in a printed format with thousands of young families across our publishing network,” says Laura Adnitt, Story House Egmont Publishing & Brand Management Director. “CoComelon, with its mind-blowing reach and ‘of the moment’ relevance, is a wonderful addition to our publishing portfolio. We are incredibly excited by this new entry into the market and can’t wait to see the consumer reaction to CoComelon magazine.”

Katie Wilkinson, Publishing Manager for Moonbug’s EMEA Licensing Agent, ThePoint.1888, says: “To launch a new title into 14,000 retailers in the UK from the start is quite incredible and shows the immense popularity of CoComelon.  Story House Egmont have done an incredible job capturing the essence of this brand in a new magazine and are supporting with an exciting marketing plan.  I cannot wait to see this launch.”

CoComelon magazine will launch in UK, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia in 2021, with Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland all due to market in early 2022.

Brand Licensing Europe partners with ExpressTest by CignPost to facilitate testing needs for international attendees

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Brand Licensing Europe has partnered with ExpressTest by CignPost to facilitate all testing requirements for international attendees. Anyone needing to take a day two test to enter England will be able to purchase a ‘click and collect’ testing kit to be picked up at ExCeL. The tests can be self-administered in any location with results uploaded online. Those requiring a ‘fit to fly’ test for re-entry into their country of origin will also be able to benefit from an onsite service with tests carried out by CignPost staff in secure private meeting rooms at the venue.

The test booking service will open during the first week of November and information will be communicated via the BLE website, social media channels and direct communications with event customers. Attendees are also reminded to join the next BLE webinar at 2pm (BST) Tuesday October 26, where the team will provide information on this new partnership as well as the show’s health and safety plan. Attendees can register for the webinar here.

ExpressTest by CignPost is one of the leading UK testing providers, an ABTA partner and a UK government listed COVID-19 screening service, which provides fast, accurate and reliable testing. They said: “We are delighted to be working with Brand Licensing Europe as official testing partner, providing both gold-standard PCR and lateral flow tests for exhibitors and delegates alike.  ExpressTest has been at the forefront of testing to help businesses operate through the pandemic.”

This latest partnership is just one of the many measures in place to help the safe return to live events by organiser Informa Markets. In addition to requiring proof of vaccination, negative test or natural immunity to enter ExCeL and an extremely comprehensive list of other safety measures, organisers are now also requiring that masks are worn by attendees. Medical exemptions will apply, as well as allowing for the removal of masks when eating and drinking. The team is also asking attendees to be respectful of each other during business meetings and wear a mask if their meeting partner requests it.

The full BLE health and safety plan can be found here and ExCeL London’s safety plan can be found here.

“As a safe event organiser, BLE is committed to going above and beyond UK government guidelines with a robust set of safety measures and the facilitation of required testing for international attendees,” said Anna Knight, VP Licensing, Informa Markets.

“We are all looking forward to the return of Brand Licensing Europe and the bringing together of the licensing industry. Nevertheless, it’s imperative that we do this as safely as possible and remove any challenges related to international travel for a significant contingent of our audience. I’m pleased to be announcing our partnership with CignPost and to reiterate our commitment to attendee safety as we approach the final countdown to BLE 2021.”

Barbie and River Island collaborate on new girlswear collection

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Barbie and high-street retailer River Island have teamed up to launch a new girlswear collection. This marks the second collaboration for the brands, following the sell-out success of their first partnership.

The collection is inspired by sports athleisure and features lush pink velour tracksuits, sporty crop tops, trainers, leggings and hoodies, including sets that are designed to be worn together or mixed and matched. Key pieces feature Barbie motifs and slogans such as ‘You Go Girl’ and ‘Stay Strong’, designed to empower mini fashion icons.

Gemma Daniels, Mattel’s Head of Softlines EMEA says: “Barbie’s appeal transcends categories and ages, and following the successful launch for Barbie’s 60th, we are excited to partner with River Island once again to offer a fashion-forward collection of kids’ apparel that will excite girls and mums alike.”

The collection will launch with a dedicated social campaign featuring River Island’s ‘mini-insiders’ modelling their favourite looks from the collection.

Barbie x River Island is available now online and in selected flagship stores. Prices start at £15.

WWE and Mattel extend global partnership

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WWE and Mattel have announced a multi-year extension of their global master toy licensing agreement. The extended partnership includes exclusive rights around Action Figures, Action Figure Accessories and Kids Toy Title Belts.

The portfolio of innovative toys that Mattel and WWE have developed together since 2009 are currently stocked in more than 50 global markets around the world. WWE Action Figures have ranked as the No. 1 action figure property in the US and consistently hold a top ranking.

Mattel’s WWE Basic Action Figure Series is the longest-running continuous action figure assortment in history. Over the years, WWE and Mattel have launched multiple collaborations such as WWE and Ghostbusters and WWE and Masters of the Universe.

“Mattel is a true industry leader that continues to surprise and delight our fans around the world with innovative and creative WWE products that drive significant revenue for our retail partners,” says Sarah Cummins, WWE Senior Vice President, Consumer Products.

Nick Karamanos, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partnerships, Mattel, adds: “We are very pleased that WWE has once again chosen Mattel to help bring its storied history and characters to children and fans around the world. WWE is an important partner, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.”

Mattel announces licensing agreement for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming feature ‘Lightyear’

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Mattel has announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement for Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear, the origin story of Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear. Through the agreement, Mattel has global (excluding Japan) licensing rights to develop a line of toys for the Lightyear franchise, including action figures, playsets, role play, vehicles, preschool, games, plush, value figures, novelty, and more. The collection is expected to launch at retailers across the globe beginning June 2022.

The new licensing agreement builds on Mattel and Disney’s existing licensing relationships for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story and Cars franchises, among others.

“At Mattel, we treat our licensors’ properties as if they were our own,” says Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “For more than 15 years, Mattel has collaborated with Disney and Pixar to bring their amazing content to life with our innovative products and marketing initiatives. We are excited to further that collaboration by introducing a line of toys and play experiences for fans of all ages to enjoy, to infinity and beyond.”

Lightyear is a sci-fi action-adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) – the hero who inspired the toy. The film reveals how a young test pilot became the Space Ranger that we all know him to be today. Lightyear, directed by Angus MacLane (co-director of Finding Dory), will be released in cinemas on June 17, 2022.

Skew Studio creates the first National Trust brand licensing style guide

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Brand extension expert Skew has produced a portfolio of bespoke designs for the National Trust and its brand licensing collaborations. The original designs created by Skew are now available on a range of products, including the interior tile range from Sarsen Stone Group (pictured), lighting from Anglepoise and garden tools and accessories from Burgon & Ball.

“Good design should provoke a reaction, and make you feel, think or act,” says Oliver Dyer, MD, Skew Studio. “Places cared for by the National Trust stimulate the same response, whether a stunning period interior or a pristine piece of coastline, so working with the charity to create something original together was such a rewarding project.”

The guides provide a framework for further collaborations and product ranges, unlocking untapped stories, and bringing to life important themes and messages. With new products and a wider number of partners and licensees, the National Trust can reach new audiences, securing further sources of revenue to continue their conservation work.

Clare Brown, Head of Brand Licensing and Retailer Development, National Trust, says: “The National Trust is Europe’s largest conservation charity and has the privilege of taking care of natural and architectural assets which are loved by so many people… To create this project, we asked Skew to draw upon these places – the natural and the built – to create a cohesive collection of assets that are innovative, distinctive and vibrant. I love seeing their work on our products, and how this helps us to continue to care for nature, beauty and history for future generations.”

The new style guide is already proving a great asset to the licensing team and its day to day work with licensees, according to National Trust Brand Licensing Manager Michaela Davies. “I anticipate that the new style guide will also be instrumental in the charity forming further collaborations with new licensees, delivering new sources of income to support the work of the National Trust,” she says. “Developing the guide alongside the team at Skew was a great project, and their insight and designs are key to the flexibility of this asset and the licensee partners we can now reach.”

Sara Bignardi, Lead Designer, Skew Studio commented: “It was such a thrill working with the National Trust as it is an iconic and beloved British institution. Our multi-layered approach, utilising natural assets like pebbles, coastlines, foliage and outstanding architectural features, felt like working with the fabric which forms the country. Seeing our work come alive across diverse products and packaging is satisfying, but most importantly it’s how our designs and ideas connect with the National Trust brand in a cohesive and original way.”