Tag Archives: Lifestyle

Haribo expands its happy world with first 100th anniversary product launches

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The global confectionery brand, Haribo is preparing to celebrate its milestone 100th anniversary next year, with the latest launch in a roll-out of consumer products spanning toys, footwear, apparel, and homewares throughout 2021.

Developed through collaborations forged by IMG, Haribo’s consumer products programme kicked off last month with the worldwide unveiling of a partnership with PUMA and the launch of a PUMA footwear and apparel collection. The street wear brand has now released its second drop in the collab, a collection of ‘candy-coloured’ ranges that infuse Haribo’s Goldbears with some of its own classic silhouettes.

The latest launch includes the CA Pro, Street Rider, RS-X3, and Suede all in adult, junior, preschool, and infant sizing.

Further products partnerships and launches will include Haribo branded shoes for kids developed by the European footwear retailer, Deichmann. The line is scheduled to launch at the end of July this year.

Haribo is also moving in on the toys, collectables, and plush sector with a new range launching this autumn thanks to a multi-year, global deal with the US toymaker, Jakks Pacific. Meanwhile, KidsOne will launch branded tableware in Korea.

Andreas Kuhnle, head of global marketing at Haribo, said: “Haribo is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most popular brands in many countries around the world. Our lives are full of adventures and challenges. Every day and all over the world, little and big heroes face new tasks.

“For all of them, we at Haribo create small, carefree moments of childlike happiness with our products. That’s why brands that also stand for these little moments of joy in everyday life are a perfect fit for Haribo.”

Sven Thierhoff, VP of licensing at IMG, added: “It’s amazing to see the happy world of Haribo come to life through such a diverse, colourful programme of products that embody the brand’s quality-first values. Initial collaborations have been extremely popular with collectors and Haribo fans of all ages, and we can’t wait to develop together with Haribo and new partners new thrilling ideas for the centenary of the iconic Goldbear in 2022.”

Phat Kandi taps Active Merchandising for German, Swiss, and Austrian market and secures EMP

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Phat Kandi has tapped the German licensing agency, Active Merchandising to represent its brand across the German, Swiss, and Austrian territory, while also securing a new direct to retail partnership with the European brand, EMP.

Led by Anita van Esch, EMP has been signed on for Europe with a DTR for apparel and accessories, cross-branding Phat Kandi with its own label Black Blood by Gothicana, and introducing a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, leggings, skirts, dresses, shoes, mugs, bottles, towels, and more.

“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with EMP,” said Anita van Esch, owner of Active Merchandising. “Phat Kandi perfectly matches the consumer profile of EMP and we are keen to develop a cool collection of trendy products.”

Active Merchandising currently represents brands such as Molang, Chefclub, The Gruffalo, and more.

“Active Merchandising and Anita are a spot-on addition for our brand,” added Mel Williams, creative director of Kandi Co Creations. “With Anita’s background, expertise and the enthusiasm between us, we feel very confident to enter the market. We can’t wait to build out our network here! And what a way to kick off with EMP already signed on.”

Ludger Bußmann, Teamlead License Management at EMP, added: “Black Blood by Gothicana combines gloomy and occult designs and symbols with trendy fashion garments. A dark statement: provocative, flashy and anything but adapted. We are beyond excited to work with Mel Williams directly on a capsule collection uniting Phat Kandi with Black Blood by Gothicana.”

Phat Kandi is a bold statement brand with a Japanese, edgy twist and lends itself perfectly across consumer products in categories such as fashion, personal care, stationary, and digital.

The London Stationery Show to make its in-person return this October

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The London Stationery Show is preparing to make its return to the country’s capital this year, as the writing and paper products trade show takes up an autumn slot this October 5th to October 6th.

As well as bringing together all the biggest brands in stationery and gifts this autumn, the team are thrilled at the prospect of uniting suppliers and buyers for the first time in over two years.

“We’re very much looking forward to bringing new and existing customers together to do business face-to-face,” said event director, Alex Butler. “It’s been a challenging time for everyone, but as much as we’ve all adapted to a new digital world, the pandemic really has highlighted the importance of experiencing products in person before buying.

“We know our audience has missed those chance findings – stumbling across an amazing product that you didn’t know you were looking for – that only happen at exhibitions. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Business Design Centre this autumn.”

Some of stationery’s best loved brands are returning, including Cross, Cre8 Tapes, Kaweco, Leuchtturm, Sheaffer, Silvine, Stabilo, Staedtler, uni-ball, Pentel, Zebra Pen, Pukka Pads, edding, Montegrappa, Exacompta, Royal Talens, Ultratape, Manuscript Pen, ClaireFontaine, Avery, Hahnemühle, and Snopake.

The show will also welcome a line up of new brands, including Bark & Rock, Goldbuch, Makers Cabinet, Pixie Crew, Artcadia, London Block By Block, Accent Manufacturing and Carioca, among others. 

The London Stationery Show is taking place from October 5th to 6th at the Business Design Centre. Registration is now open via stationeryshow.co.uk.

Art Ask Agency reports ‘excellent worldwide sales’ of Kare Design’s Pets Rock wall art collection

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The Barcelona based Art Ask Agency is reporting ‘excellent sales results worldwide’ for the initial launch of a collection of Pets Rock wall art launched earlier this year by the home decor licensing partner, Kare Design.

Pets Rock is a brand centered on a cast of quirky artistic characters from the worlds of music, film, history, and fashion that have lent themselves to the home decor market across a wide age group and range of territories.

The Kare collection includes glass framed wall art, acrylic wall art and canvas prints. Since its launch, Art Ask Agency has cited ‘excellent sales results worldwide.’ Kare Design GmbH is a recognised name in the home decor market with more than 200 shops in 50 countries.

‘The Kare brand symbolises furnishing ideas which are unique, non-conformist and authentic. Since 1981, the company has been surprising its fans worldwide with an incomparable and inexhaustible variety of new furniture, lighting and furnishing accessories, all expressing an intense passion for design,’ read a statement from the firm.

“Having Kare Design GmbH for a partner for Pets Rock is a great combination. Both stand out from the crowd and are very authentic,” said Maria Strid, owner of Art Ask Agency.

In addition, Pets Rock has recently launched a new style guide, The Love Book, with themes of positivity, love, hope and happiness because “life is better together”.

The new guide features rainbow-coloured assets and is available to licensees in addition to The London Book style guide. Both style guides compliment the quirky Pets Rock characters from the worlds of film, fashion and music.

The first licensee to launch the new style is Teneues Books with their second Pets Rock book launch planned for September 2021 in all distribution channels.

Cath Kidston partners with Moomin Characters for new summer range of clothing, bags, and accessories

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The British lifestyle brand, Cath Kidston has partnered with Moomin Charatcers to launch a new Moomin range for summer 2021, refreshing its archive prints – linen sprig and mushrooms – for a collaboration that celebrates ‘love and looking after one another.’

The new products range includes fashion for adults and children, from print dresses and pyjamas to Breton tops and embroidered shirts, as well as a selection of rucksacks, tote bags, and accessories. Stationery, water bottles, travel cups, and lunch boxes will all be available, as well as beakers and plates for children.

The colour palette for the collection is a ‘summery yellow and pink’, and the main characters featured are Moomintroll, Moominmamma, Snorkmaiden and Little My. The range boasts a strong floral theme, with characters depicted gardening, wearing traditional Scandinavian flower crowns, and enjoying meadows full of bright blooms.

Cath Kidston’s creative director, Holly Marler, said: “Nature was such an important inspiration to Moomin creator Tove Jansson – her illustrations are full of magical flowers, fascinating plants, and mysterious forests. We’re delighted to present this collection which takes its cue from Tove’s love of all things floral to celebrate summertime in bright, blooming colours.”

The price range of the collection begins at £7 for a Cath Kidston x Moomin pen and goes up to £75 for a patterned sleeveless midi shirt dress.

The Cath Kidston x Moomin range will be available to purchase from Cath Kidston 180 Piccadilly and cathkidston.com from 21st June.

Bulldog Licensing signs up with Marcus & Marcus as baby brand makes European licensing push

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The mother and baby brand, Marcus & Marcus has shifted its licensing focus on to the European market, with the appointment of Bulldog Licensing to head up its plans across the children’s space and into toys, gifts, nursery products and more.

Initially created as a range of infant feeding products, Marcus & Marcus recently revealed its plans to expand the brand name into the wider consumer products arena, taking on categories such as apparel and publishing by utilising its character IP that includes Marcus the lion cub, Lola the giraffe, Ollie the elephant, and Lucas the hippo.

Under its remit as European licensing agency for the multi award winning brand, Bulldog Licensing will be looking to partner with a raft of licensees across toys and gifts, nursery products, homewares, and more.

‘The founders of Marcus & Marcus are parents themselves with a love of unique, modern designs. Marcus & Marcus’ delivers simple, effective designs with quality, safe and sustainable products to keep children entertained and engaged,’ read a statement from the firm.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, added: “We’re really excited to be working with Marcus & Marcus. Their fun, bold designs offer a great opportunity for licensees to develop quality, smart and functional products in a wide range of categories to build on the existing, award-winning range using the instantly recognizable artwork.”

Lifestyle brand HYPE partners with Hasbro to launch exclusive NERF capsule collection and accessories

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The popular lifestyle brand, HYPE. is continuing its collaborative efforts with global toy players, this time with the launch of a new capsule collection and line of limited edition blasters with Hasbro’s NERF franchise.

The 40-piece apparel and accessory kidswear collection boasts ‘all-over prints, reflective detailing, and unisex shapes for kids aged four to 14’ in a range that is designed for all genders while utilising NERF’s core colour palette of orange and blue. It’s a range that according to the firm, ‘cements NERF’s position in the fashion and lifestyle space.’

“We are delighted to be partnering with Hype on this much-anticipated fashion collaboration which supports our strategy to elevate NERF into a true lifestyle brand, for all genders,” saidSally Carnota, UK licensing director at Hasbro. “The collection showcases a blend of the Hype signature design with key NERF iconography and we are so excited for the launch.”

The range highlights HYPE.’s signature camouflage print with numerous NERF references, while boasting host of a graffiti-spray, galaxy space and gradient effects in t-shirts, crop tees, long-sleeved tees, hoodies, joggers, tracksuits, leggings and shorts. Meanwhile, the collection’s featured heat map print nods to thermal vision, displaying the inspiration behind the collection combined with additional features such as MA1 pockets, rip stop panels and pocket overlays.

In the accessories range, kids can stay hydrated with the reusable metal water bottles, designed with the collaboration’s core prints, with matching backpacks in HYPE.’s traditional shape and lunch boxes, finished with dart storage holders.

Alongside the collection, HYPE. x NERF have come together to gift a limited number of blasters designed in the heat map and graffiti prints, complete with co-branded darts to influencers and competition winners. These will not be available at retail.

The collaboration collection launches exclusively via HYPE.’s Shopping App, available on Android and Apple on May 27th 2021 and online at www.justhype.com and retailers around the world on May 28th 2021.

Barbie on a mission to grow licensing portfolio in Japan with fashion name ITOCHU

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Mattel is looking to expand the global licensing programme for its iconic fashion doll brand, Barbie, having entered into a multi-year agreement with ITOCHU for the Japanese market.

ITOCHU is a recognised leader in the region’s fashion sector with a portfolio that currently boasts over 100 well-known fashion brands, including the likes of Paul Smith, FILA, and LeSportsac. Under the partnership, Barbie will look to expand into fashion related product launches and brand collaborations across Japan.

“For more than 60 years, Barbie has proven herself as a timely and timeless fixture in pop culture globally,” said Roz Nowicki, head of global consumer products and franchise marketing, Mattel. 

“ITOCHU’s leadership in the fashion industry in Japan makes them the perfect partner for Barbie. We look forward to working with the ITOCHU team to further drive Barbie’s fashion and purposeful narratives in this important market.”

In a statement issued this week, ITOCHU said: “Barbie’s brand philosophy – about empowering the limitless potential in every girl – is highly relevant in Japan. We look forward to partnering with Mattel to promote this brand purpose and develop a range of products and programs for Japanese consumers with high fashion sensibilities, further increasing the reach of the Barbie brand in Japan.”

Barbie has always been at the intersection of fashion and pop culture, and continues to represent global diversity in the fashion doll aisle by showcasing a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion. Named the 2020 Top Global Toy Property of the Year, according to the NPD group, the brand engages consumers through new product innovation, cultural relevance, digital dialog, and the celebration of female role models.

Van Gogh Museum secured fragrance partner in Floral Street through Licensing Link Europe deal

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Licensing Link Europe has secured a new partnership between the independent, clean and sustainable fragrance brand, Floral Street, and the internationally revered Van Gogh Museum. The four year deal will see a line of fragrances and scented home products celebrate the works of Vincent Van Gogh.

A first of its kind collaboration, the partnership will explore how the artist’s passion for the natural world has inspired sustainable scent creations.

“I’m honoured that Floral Street has been chosen as the first fragrance brand to partner with the Van Gogh Museum. Drawing inspiration from Vincent van Gogh’s timeless masterpieces, we discovered a shared love of nature and finding beauty in the everyday. Through this collaboration, we are able to tell our story in a new way, in which the beauty of art and fragrance meet,”  said Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street

The partnership will see the first global launch in August 2021, and it will bring to life the beauty and optimism of one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous masterworks. 

“Floral Street and the Van Gogh Museum share a mission to inspire a diverse audience for future generations. Our collaboration offers a fresh and different way to experience the art of Van Gogh,”  said Emilie Gordenker, General Director, Van Gogh Museum.

Finnish brand CupofTherapy secures Hot Topic retail partnership for Mental Health Awareness Month

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The Finnish lifestyle brand CupofTherapy is drawing attention to the importance of wellbeing and mental health this Mental Health Awareness Month thanks to a new retail partnership with Hot Topic.

Under the new partnership, more than ten t-shirt designs taking inspiration from the artwork of CupofTherapy will launch to the Hot Topic website as part of a deal brokered by CupofTherapy’s North American agent, FanGirl Consulting and Brand Management.

The Finnish brand aims to introduce important themes of wellbeing and mental health through its distinctive and approachable animal figures. Its drawings and thoughtful messaging are developed as a combined effort by psyhotherapy professionals Antti Ervasti and Elina Rehmonen, alongside the internationally recognised artists and illustrator, Matti Pikkujämsä.

CupofTherapy carries the mantra ‘mental health made visible’ as it looks to encourage people to reflect on their life and find comfort, encouragement, and joy in simple things, as well as acknowledge the importance of dialogue around important mental health issues.

“We’re excited to work with Hot Topic on a retail program to further mental health awareness,” said Anita Castellar, CEO of FanGirl Consulting and Brand Management. “After the year that we have all been through, a cup of therapy is in order for all of us.”