Subway taps Broad Street Licensing Group to grow food and lifestyle licensing footprint

Subway restaurants has named Broad Street Licensing Group as its licensing representative as the global sandwich brand looks to expand its Subway licensing footprint. The partnership will focus on the creation of Subway branded licensed products in food and lifestyle categories.

Mike Kappit, chief operating and insights officer at Subway, said: “Our collaboration with Broad Street Licensing Group enables us to connect fans to the Subway brand in new and unexpected ways. “With BSLG, we will grow our presence beyond our natural borders into other retail environments and strengthen our positioning as a food and lifestyle brand.”

Bill Cross, senior vice president of business development at BSLG, added: “Subway is an iconic brand known throughout the world for customized, delicious subs made with quality and fresh ingredients.

“Through our work with Subway, we will highlight the restaurant’s iconic image along with its fresh, high-quality ingredients to bring fans licensed food and lifestyle products.”

BSLG was handed the Licensing International Awards for Best Licensed Products in the food and beverage category in 2019.

Disney and Keith Haring partner to celebrate Mickey Mouse with new product roll-out

Disney has embarked on a collaborative project with the globally revered artist Keith Haring to launch a new range of apparel and accessories featuring the artist’s own take on Disney’s iconic Mickey Mouse. The range will be hitting the global retail scene throughout 2021.

In 1980, Haring created original works of art featuring Mickey Mouse in a new style unique to New York City street culture, taking inspiration from both Pop Art and urban graffiti. His love for Mickey Mouse was rooted in his childhood experiences.

Deeply influenced by Walt Disney and the incredible skill and mastery of American cartoonists of the 50’s and 60’s, Haring even aspired to be a cartoonist himself.

“I always wanted to work for Walt Disney when I was growing up, when I was a kid and in some ways I think he is one of the three most important artists of the 20th century along with Warhol and Picasso,” said Haring.

This collaboration is a continuation of Disney’s celebration of Keith Haring’s inspired artistic interpretations of Mickey Mouse which was commemorated in 2018 as part of the Mickey: The True Original Exhibition celebrating the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse.

Haring’s artwork featuring Mickey Mouse will be featured on an assortment of products across multiple brands, with Coach unveiling a new collection highlighting two artworks that will be exclusively launched with their collection.

“Keith Haring’s respect and admiration for Walt Disney, especially the beloved Mickey Mouse, served as an inspiration for some of his iconic pieces,” added the Haring Studio. “By collaborating with Disney, we are able to bring his artwork to life through a new medium and continue to celebrate his enduring influence on the art community and future generations to come.”

UK video game retailer GAME launches limited edition fragrances Eau De Plumber and FPS

The UK’s largest high street retailer of video games, GAME, has moved in on the fragrances market with the special launch of a limited edition line of luxury perfume: Eau De Plumber and FPS (First Person Scent).

The two unisex fragrances will be available exclusively at GAME.co.uk in time for Christmas and are tipped by the retailer to become collector’s items in the near future. Both fragrances have been expertly curated by some of the UK’s leading perfumers.

The first fragrance, Eau De Plumber has been painstakingly blended with deep, toadstooly undertones, with high tones of peach and daisy, while FPS, the grenade-shaped scent can be described as ‘best appreciated from thirty feet away’ and ‘slightly gunpowdery’ and is a celebration of the nation’s love of popular first person shooter games.

Both scents are extremely limited and priced at £19.99 for a 200ml bottle.

Nick Arran, head of commercial at GAME, said: “Everyone loves to receive perfume at this time of year so we wanted to capture the essence of gaming and Christmas all in one bottle – two presents in one if you like. We would urge people to buy soon though as these are very limited and will soon become collector’s items.”

Culture sculpture: Beer Buddies and the fine art of merchandising

A two-man operation working out of a headquarters in Wheal Vor, in Cornwall, Beer Buddies has started to make its presence known on the pop culture licensing and merchandise scene through its range of best-selling Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and now Original Stormtrooper bottle openers.

Using traditional sculpting methods put to use from its Cornish workshop, this is a company that has not only struck upon a unique angle within the traditional licensing space, but continues to champion an artisan approach within the sector, finding and bridging that gap between today’s demand for pop culture merchandise and the consumer’s desire for artistry.

Here, Licensing.biz grabs a quick five minutes with Beer Buddies co-founder Richard House to talk about the firm’s foray into licensing, its successes, and what’s on the horizon for the UK business.

Hi Richard, good to catch up with you. To start, can you give us a bit of history on the Beer Buddies company? How did this all come about for you guys, and what was the moment that got you into the licensing space?

Beer Buddies is just two people: myself and Seamus Moran. We both did design based degrees and formed Beer Buddies 10 years ago, we’ve worked together ever since moving to Cornwall from the Midlands in 1988.

Buddies started almost by accident when we were asked to design and produce a Green Man wall plaque. Seamus realised that a bottled opener could be incorporated into the mouth and I came up with the name Beer Buddies. We came up with a few more designs, made them in our workshop and began selling, as demand grew and the range increased and we moved the manufacturing to China.

We had never considered doing licensed products until Jens Drinkwater of Global Merch introduced himself to us at a trade show about three years ago. Motorhead bottled beer Road Crew was selling strongly and Jens suggested a bottle opener would be a great addition to Motorhead merchandise line.

The trail went quiet for about 12 months and then out the blue we got the green light from Global and six months later the first Beer Buddies licensed product was on sale. It immediately opened our eyes to the potential of the licensing world. Motorhead sold more than the rest of our range put together.

You pay homage to a real artisan aspect of creating Beer Buddies. How do you guys strike that balance of bringing the artisan to the licensing space? What do you think this brings to the licensing space itself and is it proof that artistry and merchandise can work together?

The artisan element of our working methods probably has much to do with our age. Seamus is a sculptor in his own right and totally at home working with traditional modelling materials such as clay and plaster. Neither of us are of the Cad era. Seamus has a meticulous modelling style and an eye for detail that is unique to him and that translates into the designs and brings a very human element to the work that a computer generated design can’t.

We look for brand icons that will translate into what we do without making too many compromises to the original concept. Also, because this is so new to us having good support from the licensee is very important. Global has been fantastic in this regard and Jens has introduced us to new customers and spread the cost of royalty fees when our cash flow has been tight.

What has reception been like to the Beer Buddies’ licensed roll out to date? 

The response to our licensed roll outs to date has been very positive. Motorhead and Iron Maiden are our biggest sellers. Original Stormtrooper arrived late due to the chaotic situation at UK ports but the initial signs are that it’s going to be very strong .

How has business been for you guys over the course of 2020? With lockdown keeping people in their homes for longer, has Beer Buddies spotted an opportunity here?

Like virtually all businesses this year, Covid-19 has caused us problems. Most of our trade accounts have been closed for 25 per cent of the year and some may have closed for good. We probably won’t know the full extent of the damage until next year. On the plus side our own website sales have more than doubled as lockdown has sent online shopping go off the chart .

What’s the next big move for Beer Buddies, what can we expect from you guys in 2021?

Next year we hope to get some more Heavy Metal under our belts with Metallica, they have the right look and like Motorhead and Iron Maiden already have a licensed beer and a huge loyal fan base.

The RHS and Dexam ready to launch Home Grown Children’s Collection

The Royal Horticultural Society has given the specialist supplier of kitchen cookware, bakeware, and accessories, Dexam, license to produce a range of children’s backpacks and meal accessories using environmentally friendly or recycled material.

Called the Home Grown Children’s Collection, the range includes backpacks, lunch bags with matching drinks bottles, lunchboxes, children’s aprons, toddler messy play aprons and children’s eating gift sets.

The items in the range are all illustrated with engaging illustrations featuring bright and very colourful images of carrots and apples with captions like “I am growing every day”, “Home harvest” and “Locally grown”. 

The range has also been designed with the environment in mind. The lunch bags, backpacks and aprons are made from recycled plastic bottles via a process which turns the plastic into a durable and practical fabric. The bags are wipe clean and the aprons are 40°C machine washable.

Meanwhile, the lunch boxes and kids’ eating sets are made from bamboo fibre. Bamboo is renewable, biodegradable and grows quickly without fertilisers. It is also naturally antibacterial.

The range is expected to launch in spring 2021. It will be available at high street stores, garden centres, RHS shops and online, including the official RHS online store, shop.rhs.org.uk.

These are the first non-publishing-related products to use the children’s style guide, which will see its licensing debut in a range of books from Scholastic. The first Scholastic titles will launch in February 2021.

Dexam was founded in 1957 selling kitchen gadgets and cookware. Its range today has everything you need from peeling to chopping and mixing to baking. Ethical production is fundamental to the integrity of its products.

Cathy Snow, licensing manager, RHS, said: “Bringing our children’s style guide artwork to homeware for the first time requires a partner that understands our aims and that has a reputation for quality – and that is a perfect description of Dexam.

“These children’s backpacks and meal accessories are practical and stylish, as well as environmentally friendly. They’re also a lot of fun.”

Helen Boardman, product manager, Dexam, added: “The RHS children’s style guide and our own 60 years of experience in kitchenware and lunch accessories have combined to produce this very child and environmentally friendly range.

“We’ve greatly enjoyed partnering with the RHS on the Home Grown Children’s Collection, which we are sure will delight both children and parents.”

The Breakfast Club: Richard Pink on five successful years with Kellogg’s and Kimm & Miller

It’s a partnership that has spanned the last half a decade and one that continues to move from strength to strength with each year that passes and each new range that finds more and more shelf space within some of the UK’s most popular retail destinations. Kellogg’s and Kimm & Miller have become almost as synonymous as eggs and soldiers, or Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

And there in the middle, the broker of this breakfast behemoth’s gifting gallery, is Pink Key Licensing’s Richard Pink. Together, this formidable trio has managed to push the envelope for food brands in the gifting and the classic brand with vintage appeal sector, building up a portfolio that from small beginnings now sits on shelves at some of the country’s biggest grocers.

And still, there is more to come. 2021 has been earmarked as the year that Kimm and Miller takes the Kellogg’s brand into the housewares sector, a ‘key push for the brand’ that has successfully navigated the waters of 2020 so far to have maintained its strength of position in the market, even throughout its most tumultuous moments.

Here, Licensing.biz catches up with Pink Key Licensing’s Richard Pink, and Kimm and Miller’s Dave Kimm to talk about those future plans, the demand for the Kellogg’s brand, and the secrets to a successful licensing partnership.

 

Richard Pink of Pink Key Licensing

Richard, it’s been a while. Thanks for chatting with us and to kick us off can you talk us through the strength of the Kellogg’s brand? 

Kellogg’s is a hugely important brand in our portfolio. Firstly, it has terrific awareness across  every territory that we manage in Europe which allows not only local activity but also  activity that goes cross-border and even global. Secondly, it’s a very adaptable brand and  works on many levels because it has a contemporary aspect as well as a rich heritage. It appeals right across a very large consumer demographic. 

What does the brand bring to the gifting and vintage/classic brand sector? 

Obviously, there is the food element which works so well for the Kimm and Miller gifting  sets, but there is also the amazing artwork which allows it to work almost like an art license as well. 

Your partnership with Kimm and Miller has been one stretching over the last five years. What success have you had with the Kellogg’s range over that time? 

The range started quite small but has expanded each year based on the success that we  have had. Initially, it was only available in Debenhams and it grew there to become the  largest Christmas gifting range. Since then, Kimm and Miller have developed additional products which have been listed by other retailers such as Tesco and Morrisons that still use the same characters but are distinct from the large range that remains in Debenhams.

Every  year the range has grown and become more successful for us. 

How have you seen the collection develop over that time? 

At this point I think I’ll turn this question over to Dave Kimm who has developed and managed the range…

Dave Kimm, commercial director, Kimm & Miller: Working with the UK’s favourite cereal brand has been and continues to be a great experience. In conjunction with Pink Key we launched our first Vintage Kellogg’s gift range in 2015 with seven SKUs and, in a clear sign of the affection the consumer holds for the  brand, that SKU count has grown fourfold since then, helped on with a move into the  housewares category.

It’s absolutely essential to continually update and refresh the winning  core lines with the wonderful assets available to us whilst also introducing new product  uniqueness into the range on an annual basis.  

What makes Kimm and Miller the ideal partner for this sector and for this brand? 

Richard Pink, Pink Key: Kimm and Miller have enormous experience in understanding brands and which kind of  products will work. They understand the core elements of what appeals to consumers and are able to translate that into products the consumers want to buy, either for themselves or as gifts for others.

They also have first class processes to ensure that the quality of the  product is maintained which is always so important for food and to the brand.

What’s the secret to a successful and long-standing relationship like yours with Kimm &  Miller? And how has that helped in the success of the range and brand at retail? 

The key word here is partnership: We always work together to understand each other’s  needs and we instinctively know when we need to push things a little with the brand to create innovative product.

Kimm and Miller has fantastic retail relationships; they include us in their discussions when necessary so that we can have a direct understanding of what their customers want. And, because of the huge amount of art we have available, we are then able to give retailers things that they want to build on; past successes or respond to emerging trends. 

Can you talk us through any new developments, launches or plans for the Kimm and Miller  partnership? 

My view is that every year we develop the core range, keeping the bits that work and adding  to it so that it always has a certain amount of innovation as well as the core products that we know work so well.

It’s probably a bit early to say how we are going to develop things for next Christmas, however, now that we are working with Kimm and Miller on a broader housewares range, we are able to access new retailers with an all year round  offering.

Dave might also have a view on this…

Dave Kimm: I couldn’t agree more with Richard – the expansion of the housewares range is key to us for 2021 and we are at the beginning of that process as we speak. Even in these extremely testing times for us all, this year our retail channels for Kellogg’s have grown both online and  with the bricks and mortar retailers. I believe that in itself is proof of the affection and  fondness Tony, Cornelius, Coco et al are held in and we need to ensure both our housewares  range and Vintage gift sets continue to reflect that popularity.

How strong will the range be this Q4 and as we move into the new year? 

Richard Pink: I’m glad you asked me that! Every year the range just seems to get stronger. Even in a  difficult year like this we have been able to maintain the sales of our range. It makes me  believe that, as (hopefully) retail begins to open up next year our range will be stronger than  ever.

Thank you both, is there anything you’d like to add? 

I’d like to leave the final words to Alex the designer at Kimm and Miller for the Kellogg range whose input is absolutely invaluable: 

‘Working with a brand like Kellogg’s is a total privilege – the archive is really well-managed  and it’s always enjoyable to come up with new ideas that work with the classic characters. 

‘Kellogg’s and the Pink Key team give us a lot of trust and flexibility, which we have built on  over the years. I always get a real buzz when I see the finished range come together – it’s so vibrant and bright and I hope it makes people happy when they receive one of our gifts for  Christmas.’

Condé Nast opens it first branded property in China with the launch of Vogue Cafe Beijing

Condé Nast has opened its first branded property venture in China with the launch of the Vogue Cafe Beijing. Opened under a licensing agreement between Beijing Sycamore Seed Advertising and Media, the new cafe marks the first of a sweep of planned branded cafes for China.

The second Vogue Cafe will open in Shanghai in 2021.

Located at the iconic China World Mall in the Chaoyang District in central Beijing, the Café sits among the city’s leading luxury flagship stores. The area brings together local and international visitors, with a mixture of retail, office spaces, hotels and residential.

The Café is positioned as the ‘ultimate destination for shoppers seeking a unique dining experience’, as well as office workers looking to grab a takeaway lunch.

“Beijing’s rich culture and long history paired with the constantly evolving restaurant scene makes it one of the most enticing cities in China, which is why Condé Nast is thrilled to open the country’s first Vogue Café in the capital,” said Markus Grindel, managing director, global brand licensing, Condé Nast.

“Vogue Café Beijing will bring luxury fashion and high-end cuisine together – an experience sure to enchant both local and visiting epicures.”

Vogue Café Beijing, spread over 400 sq. metres, features two elegant dining rooms and a feature cocktail bar. In keeping with Vogue Cafés globally, striking images and covers from the archives of Vogue adorn the walls, including iconic shots featuring some of the world’s most renowned models and photographers.

Joining Vogue Café Beijing as head chef is Jack Yao, whose career spans over 14 years. Having formally trained in Italy and Singapore, Yao’s exclusive menu blends influences from Italian and Asian cuisine for an alluring mix of flavors. Vogue Café Beijing will be open seven days a week, between 10am and 10pm. The Café also operates a full home delivery service.

Vogue Café Beijing joins Condé Nast’s portfolio of branded property under its global licensing division. Other Condé Nast restaurants around the world include Vogue Cafés in Kiev, Moscow, Porto and Riyadh, Vogue Lounge Kuala Lumpur, Vogue Restaurant Istanbul and GQ Bar Berlin.

Condé Nast has published its media titles in China for nearly 15 years, having launched Vogue China in 2005, which today ranks as the country’s most influential fashion authority.

Today, Condé Nast China publishes titles including Vogue, Vogue Film, Vogue Me, GQ, GQ Lab, GQ Style, Condé Nast Traveler and Architectural Digest, under copyright cooperation with partners.

Cornwall’s Beer Buddies details launch of Original Stormtrooper bottle opener range

Cornwall’s own Beer Buddies – the designer and distributor of character wall-mounted bottle openers – is preparing to launch its fourth licensed product taking the form of the Original Stormtrooper from the first ever Star Wars film.

The launch arrives as the latest addition to Beer Buddies’ ICON range, a collection that to date features the likes of Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Judge Dredd Beer Buddies bottle openers.

The range was set to launch earlier this year, but suffered delays owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company has now confirmed that its Original Stormtrooper line will launch on December 4th.

Based in Helston in Cornwall, Beer Buddies has become synonymous with the men’s gifting sector, and has been met with a surge in demand for product over the course of the year.

“We’ve been inundated with Star Wars fans wanting to know the release date,” said Richard House of Beer Buddies. “They don’t have long to wait now, December 4th is the day.”

 Like all Beer Buddies ranges,  the artwork for the packaging has been executed by the Falmouth designer and illustrator Elly Jahnz of Foxcub Studios.

“The packaging itself is very important to us for ecological reasons, we use virtually all cardboard and keep polystyrene and plastic to a minimum so its easily recyclable,” said House. “Once again, Elly from Foxclub Studios has done a brilliant job.”

The Stormtrooper project has taken a year to get this point as the company has had to work with extended production deadlines and transport delays due to the Covid restrictions.

“We think the wait has been worth it,” House concluded.

Sleep specialist Mammoth launches Men’s Health and Women’s Health mattresses

The sleep, health, and wellbeing specialist, Mammoth, has partnered with Hearst UK to launch a new mattress collection with Women’s Health and Men’s Health UK magazines. The range is now available exclusively at Argos.

The new launch, an exciting partnership brokered by Golden Goose, arrives as an extension of Hearst’s successful Women’s Health and Men’s Health licensing programmes. The line of mattresses have been developed for the fitness enthusiast market, tapping into Mammoth’s own reputation as a go-to provider for the sporting elite.

The range features two mattresses – the Fit and the Lift – both with pocket springs, memory foam and soft CoolPlus heat and moisture wicking fabric. At the core of every mattress, Mammoth’s naturally cooling Medical Grade foam, provides postural support and aids circulation so sleepers can wake feeling refreshed and pain free.

Mammoth is backed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and its unique comfort technologies are scientifically tested and shown to improve sleep – making the brand the perfect fit for top-selling Men’s Health and Women’s Health, trusted sources for those passionate about health, fitness and mental wellbeing.

John Tuton, founder and CEO of Mammoth, said: “With health and wellbeing at the forefront of everyone’s minds during the Covid-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to focus on our sleep to support both our bodies and minds.

“Mammoth is the healthy choice – and our reputation as innovators in the sector makes us the ideal choice for these industry giants. It truly reinforces our commitment to the retail sector, as we continue to invest in our brand and seize the opportunities to promote Mammoth and our partners. I have great confidence for the future and our continued success through the pandemic and beyond.”  

The announcement marks a new chapter in the relationship between the brands and reinforces the importance of good sleep to support better health and wellness, increase productivity and improve performance.

Angela Kim, international licensing director of Hearst, said: “We are excited to be launching our first dual licensed product that has been strategically developed with Argos and will no doubt deepen our highly successful and already well-established brand partnership.” 

Sanrio partners with Izzy Wheels to launch collection of Hello Kitty wheelchair wheel covers

The wheelchair fashion brand, Izzy Wheels, has partnered with Sanrio to launch a new, limited-edition Hello Kitty collection of wheelchair wheel covers for both adults and children.

The collaboration with the iconic character – a staple of not only Japanese popular culture, but global culture today – marks an all-important part in the Izzy Wheels brand mission to ‘make the fashion and design world more inclusive.’

The collection launches with six unique and stylish wheel covers available in a range of sizes for all manual wheelchairs. They are available to purchase now from izzywheels.com.

Hello Kitty x Izzy Wheels will debut in two capsule collections: The Sweetheart Collection and  The Retro Food Collection. The brand collaboration has been developed to highlight the concept that wheelchairs can be more than a medical device, they can be a piece of artistic self-expression.  

The Sweetheart collection showcases the classic Hello Kitty theme with her cute red bow. The  Retro Food Collection has reimagined everyday treats into a world of Hello Kitty rainbow themed  foods in a comic book style. All of the prints were created with care and love by Ailbhe, the brand’s creative director, using the Hello Kitty style archives. 

Izzy Wheels is Dublin-based brand founded by two Irish sisters Ailbhe and Izzy Keane. Initially a college project, the idea was inspired by Izzy who was born with Spina Bifida and is paralysed  from her waist down. Ailbhe saw that her sister’s chair was the first thing people noticed about  her, but it wasn’t a reflection of her bright and bubbly personality.

Ailbhe began designing a range of stylish wheel covers that expressed wheelchair users individuality and personality, transforming a medical device into a piece of fashion and self-expression. Their tagline is ‘If you  can’t stand up, stand out!’  

Izzy Wheels has been featured in some of the world’s top publications including Vogue, Good  Morning America, Forbes, Oprah Magazine, CBS News, and TechCrunch. Izzy and Ailbhe were the  first Irish people to be asked to take over Instagram’s official account, have had over 20 million views on their videos online, have been the recipients of numerous awards including Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Award, were named one of Forbes 30 under 30, and were finalists in this  year’s EU Women Innovators Award 2020. 

Ailbhe Keane, said: “As a girl I was completely and utterly OBSESSED with Hello Kitty. I was that little  kid with a Hello Kitty schoolbag, lunchbox, pencil case, pencils, clothes, teddies etc. If anyone  was going abroad I would literally beg them to bring me back some Hello Kitty merch because it was so hard to get in Ireland.

“I used to spend my days at school drawing Hello Kitty all over my  notebooks instead of working. I always found her bold black lines, bright playful colours and  distinctive shapes so satisfying to draw. My love of Hello Kitty graphics and branding is what  inspired me to become a graphic designer. I never could have dreamed that I’d have the  opportunity to work with my favourite brand of all time. Fashion and playfulness have always  been at the heart of we do and we’re thrilled to work with such a fun brand that played such a  massive role in my childhood.” 

Izzy Keane, added: “It is so incredibly exciting that we are collaborating with a brand as famous as Hello Kitty. Growing up I got to see first-hand Ailbhe’s total obsession with the adorable character and anything associated with the brand.

“From a personal perspective, as a wheelchair user, it’s so wonderful that Izzy Wheels is collaborating with such a globally loved brand like Hello Kitty because when kids see a character which they are so familiar with associated with a  medical device like a wheelchair it automatically makes the chair less scary and more cool to them.

“For older fans of Hello Kitty who use wheelchairs this collaboration will be very special  for them too because they will be able to re-emphasise the playful and super stylish side of  wheelchairs.”