Lisle Licensing to rep food influencer Lillie Farrow

Lisle Licensing has been appointed as the exclusive licensing agent for professional chef, mum of three and aspirational Instagram influencer Lillie Farrow.

The agency will represent Lillie in developing her brand and bringing to life her connection with young families, parents and foodies who are inspired by healthy eating, family connectivity, and a lifestyle that empowers strong physical and mental health.

Lillie started her career as a chef, and won the acclaimed Young Chef Award in 2011. However, as a mum to three young children, with a career and domestic responsibilities, she found it hard to combine a healthy personal lifestyle alongside feeding three young children. She joined Slimming World to lose weight and, having lost five and a half stone, started a blog to share her renewed love of cooking alongside her personal viewpoint on life as a mum.

Today Lillie has a following of more than 92k Instagram followers (increasing week on week), a website that delivers strong brand engagement, and partnerships that include the likes of Fujifilm, Tesco Food, Pyrex, Green & Black’s, and Osmo modern learning. Most recently she was a key partner in a live ‘Cooking and Lifestyle Show’ by Finish, alongside Bake Off star Manon Lagreve.

The appointment of Lisle Licensing sees Lillie embarking on a new journey, born from the blog which gave her a much-needed lifeline, and a vision to encourage her followers to “eat what you love, and look after your mind and body”.

Lisle’s initial licensing focus will be centred on publishing, which will aspire to Lillie’s loyal fan base, as well as kitchen tools for parents and children to use alongside one another, and healthy meal kits for babies, toddlers and families devised to make mealtimes fun and easy.

Francesca Lisle, MD at Lisle Licensing, says: “As a new mum myself, Lillie was someone that I could follow and take guidance from in areas I knew so little about and honestly found so daunting. Feeding your child with no experience is such a big thing, and you constantly worry if you are feeding them the right types of food, plus ensuring the rest of the family is fed.

“Lillie is so personable and down to earth, providing simple advice which resonated so well with me, I just knew there was a great opportunity for her to help new parents with her approachable style. We are already having so much fun with Lillie and her brand and can’t wait to share it with the wider market.”

Lillie adds: “I am so excited to be working with Lisle Licensing creating my own brand and product line. It has been a dream of mine to get more families and people cooking and I can’t wait to see my ideas and vision come to life.”

Kate Smith Company celebrating bumper first year in business

Kate Smith Company, which launched its greeting cards and calendar UK business in spring 2021, is celebrating a successful first year in business, having achieved in less than 12 months what many small businesses dream of achieving over the course of several years.

Kate Smith Company stands for positivity and creating joyful moments with happy faces, simple phrases and uplifting tones. Having appointed Lisle Licensing as their exclusive UK agent in 2020, owners Kate and Ryan Smith entrusted MD Francesca and her team to find best-in-class partners for their business, leaving them time to work their creative magic generating content for categories including greetings, stationery, gift and dated products. It was important to re-design the existing Kate Smith Company ranges as UK v USA humour, style, sentiment and even wording in the greetings sector is vastly different.

Lisle appointed Hallmark Cards for greetings cards, Moonpig for print-on-demand and greetings, plus Carousel Calendars for wall calendars and the diaries, all of which launched in 2021. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • In three Quarters of 2021 Moonpig sold more than 166,000 in cards alone, with sales surpassing forecasts by more than 250%
  • Hallmark sold more than 99,000 cards between June and December
  • Carousel Calendars sold more than 30,000 pieces of the three SKU’s they listed. The wall calendar sold 18,000 pieces alone.

Looking ahead to 2022, Kate Smith Company and Lisle Licensing will together focus on expanding the distribution of existing licenses and broaden the seasonal collections, including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. Lisle will also turn its attention to expansion of the Kate Smith Company brand into secondary categories and hopes to schedule meetings at upcoming industry trade shows.

Commenting on the success, brand owner Kate Smith says: “We’re so excited about the launch of our brand in the UK with the help of Lisle Licensing. Bringing on three spectacular licensees in the first year has really helped us spread lots of hugs, high fives and LOLs. We look forward to making humans smile every day through our growing UK product offering.”

Kate Smith Company celebrating bumper first year in business

Kate Smith Company, which launched its greeting cards and calendar UK business in spring 2021, is celebrating a successful first year in business, having achieved in less than 12 months what many small businesses dream of achieving over the course of several years.

Kate Smith Company stands for positivity and creating joyful moments with happy faces, simple phrases and uplifting tones. Having appointed Lisle Licensing as their exclusive UK agent in 2020, owners Kate and Ryan Smith entrusted MD Francesca and her team to find best-in-class partners for their business, leaving them time to work their creative magic generating content for categories including greetings, stationery, gift and dated products. It was important to re-design the existing Kate Smith Company ranges as UK v USA humour, style, sentiment and even wording in the greetings sector is vastly different.

Lisle appointed Hallmark Cards for greetings cards, Moonpig for print-on-demand and greetings, plus Carousel Calendars for wall calendars and the diaries, all of which launched in 2021. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • In three Quarters of 2021 Moonpig sold more than 166,000 in cards alone, with sales surpassing forecasts by more than 250%
  • Hallmark sold more than 99,000 cards between June and December
  • Carousel Calendars sold more than 30,000 pieces of the three SKU’s they listed. The wall calendar sold 18,000 pieces alone.

Looking ahead to 2022, Kate Smith Company and Lisle Licensing will together focus on expanding the distribution of existing licenses and broaden the seasonal collections, including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. Lisle will also turn its attention to expansion of the Kate Smith Company brand into secondary categories and hopes to schedule meetings at upcoming industry trade shows.

Commenting on the success, brand owner Kate Smith says: “We’re so excited about the launch of our brand in the UK with the help of Lisle Licensing. Bringing on three spectacular licensees in the first year has really helped us spread lots of hugs, high fives and LOLs. We look forward to making humans smile every day through our growing UK product offering.”

Style Sisters head to Ideal Home Show

Aspirational lifestyle duo Style Sisters, Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington, are heading to London’s Olympia exhibition hall this week as VIP guest speakers at the 2022 Ideal Home Show.

The Style Sisters have become well known for their expertise in home styling, interior décor and curating celebrity home transformations. Their practical hints and tips, mixed with their timeless style, have seen their brand continue to grow in popularity over the past 18 months. In September 2022, they are set to launch their own eagerly awaited Style Sisters collection, including home storage, accessories and home fragrance.

Today (Thursday 24 March) the Style Sisters will participate in three separate sessions at the Ideal Home Show on the Interiors Stage (11am and 4pm) and in the Super Theatre (12.30pm). Titled “Embrace Your Space”, the sessions will focus on giving the audience practical solutions on de-cluttering and tips on how to organise both wardrobe and home. Their sessions will also include visual demonstrations and step-by-step “How To’s” in styling and organising space around the home.

Deborah Haigh, Commercial and Retail Manager at Lisle Licensing, which represents the girls’ for their licensing strategy, says: “Gemma and Charlotte’s appearance at the Ideal Home Show is so fitting.  They’re at the UK’s most loved homes and interiors show and attendees will be able to see just how beneficial a stylish and organised living space can be to their lives.

“2022 is already shaping up to be a great year for the Style Sisters, and their own range, carefully created by the girls and our fantastic licensee partners, gives consumers everything they need to embrace their space.”

Milo named Best Children’s Series at the British Animation Awards

Milo, the preschool TV series produced by Fourth Wall in association with DeAPlaneta Entertainment, has won the 2022 Best Children’s Series at the British Animation Awards. 

Since launching in the UK on Channel 5’s Milkshake!, Milo has enjoyed high ratings and is also available on the broadcaster’s on-demand platform My5.

The series has reached 1m kids aged between 4 and 15 and 3.3 million individuals aged 4+ in the UK. Overall, Milo achieved an average audience of 53k and a 17% share. Milo already has more than 4 million views on its official YouTube channel.

The series is also broadcast in Poland (MiniMini+), Italy (DeAJunior), Australia (ABC Kids) and Hungary (MTVA). The show continues to expand across the globe and will launch in China (Senyu) shortly.

Next spring, Milo will land in Latin America (Cartoonito & HBO Max), Finland (YLE), Spain (Clan), Poland (Pulse TV) and the Czech Republic (Česká televise). The series will also receive its free TV launch in Italy (Rai Yoyo) and Sweden (SVT) this summer.

In late March and early April, Milo will be featured alongside other properties at the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair (21-24 March 2022, Bologna), Miptv (4-6 April 2022, Cannes) and Cobrandz (7-8 April 2022, Paris).

Milo (52 x 11′ episodes) is bright, colourful and brings a contemporary graphic style to the small screen. Together with his best friends Lofty and Lark, Milo uses role-play to explore the wonderful world of vocations, from doctors and mechanics to hairdressers, chefs and postal workers, introducing preschoolers to a variety of professions in a positive and entertaining way.

DeAPlaneta Entertainment holds and manages worldwide consumer product rights to the series and is working with Lisle Licensing in the UK to build a strong brand presence and licensing programme.

Tetris readies for 40th anniversary with merchandising agent network update

The Tetris Company has announced changes to its global network of merchandise licensing agents for the world-famous Tetris brand, including new agent signings and renewals. These changes come as the company heads towards the iconic video game brand’s 40th anniversary in 2024.

“We’re always looking to bring new partners on board who will help grow the Tetris brand with fresh products and experiences that are innovative, fun and meaningful for our global fan base,” says Megan Buettner, head of consumer products at Tetris. “With the 40th anniversary of Tetris on the horizon, we look forward to working with all our new and existing network of licensing agents to make it the most memorable celebration yet.”

Updates to the Tetris brand’s merchandise licensing agent network include:

  • The Tetris Company has extended its agency agreement with Lisle Licensing for UK, Ireland and Channel Islands, managed by Francesca Lisle.
  • Brand Fresh Management, led by Janice Ross, will continue to manage licensing agreements for the United States and Canada.
  • IMG will continue to manage APAC (Asia-Pacific region), under the guidance of Miki Yamamoto, in addition to Brazil with support from Glenn Migliaccio.
  • CPLG, led by John Taylor, will now represent the Tetris brand in France, Italy and India. In addition, CPLG’s representation will continue in Iberia, CEE (Central Eastern Europe), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, including Russia), Benelux, Greece, Turkey, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and the Nordics (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway).
  • The Tetris Company has signed Studio 100 to the agency roster for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, under the guidance of Joachim Knödler.
  • KOPA Licensing, with the support of Carlos Carvajal, will expand coverage for the brand in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Current representation for the Tetris brand also includes WP Brands in New Zealand and Australia, managed by Lim Mi-Kyoung, and Born Licensing for global promotions and advertising under David Born.

Billions of Tetris games are played online every year, and over 590 million Tetris mobile games have been downloaded to date. The Tetris brand’s global licensee network includes major video game publishers, including Nintendo and Sega, as well as many partners in electronics, toys, apparel, lifestyle goods, entertainment and more. For the latest information about the Tetris brand and Tetris products, visit www.tetris.com.

Lisle Licensing inks Sebnini deal for Style Sisters

Lisle Licensing has announced that Sebnini Trading, one of the UK’s leading experts in candles and home fragrance, will be the home-fragrance partner for aspirational lifestyle duo Style Sisters.

The luxury candle and diffuser specialists, who have more than 30 years of experience in developing bespoke candles and diffusers for the private label industry, are a perfect partner for the Style Sisters, who have created a brand followed by thousands, all keen to aspire to their expertise in home styling and eye for beautiful, yet functional, lifestyle products.

Sebnini will work with the Style Sisters – Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington – to curate a range of candles, reed diffusers and room sprays that are synonymous with the design duo’s brand and vision. As discussed frequently by Gemma and Charlotte in their social media postings, Style Sisters believe that “Scents change everything in a room, whether it be a candle for the living room or bathroom or an everyday diffuser that draws attention to the room when you walk in.”

The range will focus on creating beautifully crafted sustainable vessels that are a joy to open, use and also gift.

Commenting on the appointment of Sebnini as Style Sisters’ candles and home fragrance partner, Deborah Haigh, Commercial and Retail Manager at Lisle Licensing says: “Both experts in their field, we are delighted by the Style Sisters and Sebnini partnership. Sebnini’s wealth of knowledge and experience shines through, and this makes them perfectly placed to create a range that’s so close to the girls’ hearts.”

Sebastian Schyberg, Sales Manager at Sebnini Trading, adds: “Sebnini is incredibly excited to work with the Style Sisters to create an innovative range of home scents that embodies the carefully curated brand that Gemma and Charlotte have worked hard to create. Gemma and Charlotte are great collaborators and their vision for the range is something Sebnini feels privileged to be able to bring to the market. We hope those who follow the Style Sisters fall in love with this range as much as we have.”

In the past 12 months since appointing Lisle Licensing, the duo have continued to grow their brand with high-profile celebrity home transformations, appointed Hunter Price for storage and organisation solutions, and attended Brand Licensing Europe in November for a Q&A session followed by a book signing of their coffee table title Helping You Live an Organised and Stylish Life.

Lisle Licensing powers into 2022 with new website

Leeds-based agents Lisle Licensing have kicked off 2022 with a “bright and bold” new website that has been designed to align with the company’s brand ethos.

Led by Managing Director Francesca Lisle, the business had a successful 2021 despite the ongoing global turbulence and has seen year-on-year growth in new categories, such as Home & Lifestyle, as well as within Character Entertainment, for which it is well known.

The new website, which stylistically draws upon the company’s widely recognised blue and green colour palette, details the five brand areas where Lisle currently operates: Character Entertainment, Gaming, Lifestyle, Publishing and Sports. The team, agency focus and current client portfolio are all profiled within the new website which has been designed to be easy to navigate, particularly for potential clients not familiar with Lisle and its work. The site is complemented with strong endorsements from existing clients Tetris, Animaccord and Kate Smith Company as well as licensees, and accompanied with video and stills from a number of its other clients.

Francesca Lisle says: “In the last six months we have invested in our team and work culture, as well as having on-boarded a number of new clients.  The time felt right to put further investment into a new website that demonstrated our creative strengths alongside our understanding and insight into licensing.

“It’s important for your ‘shopfront’ to align with the people inside the business and this wonderful new website does just that. Now we’re ready to conquer all that 2022 has to throw at us and we’ve got some exciting times ahead.”

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.”

 

The Style Sisters continue mission to organise the nation in Hunter Price International partnership

Hunter Price International has teamed up with Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington, aka The Style Sisters, to develop and launch the pair’s debut collection of storage and organisation solutions. The deal has been marked as the latest step in the duo’s mission to help the nation ‘live an organised and stylish life.’

With a passion for fashion and interiors and over 15 years’ working in the industry, the Style Sisters have been revamping high profile celebrity homes for the past few years. While documenting their successful projects, Lilly and Reddington have garnered a growing fanbase of style hungry followers.

Hunter Price will be working closely with the Style Sisters to create a range of adaptable and affordable storage products which represents the pair’s signature style. The collection aims to help people create unique interiors catered to their needs, from wardrobe organisation to kitchen, bedroom and playroom solutions.

Jeremy Winburn, commercial director at Hunter Price, said: “Storage and organisation has been a hero category for Hunter Price for some time – we’re now taking this to the next level by partnering with a duo with real authority in this space.

“Gemma and Charlotte are the best in the business, so it’s a dream collaboration for us to work together and create an offering we can all be proud of.”

After signing with Hunter Price, Lilly said: “It was a natural step for us to develop our own unique collection of products which we feel can fill a gap in the market for functional, yet beautifully designed storage & organisation solutions.

“Working on so many amazing projects over the years, we have a really good understanding of how to maximise and manage spaces all around the home – but what’s sometimes been missing is that style element – so we’re looking forward to adding our own unique style on all of our products.

Reddington continued: “We’re really looking forward to collaborating with Hunter Price to bring our Style Sisters brand to market – it’s such an exciting time and we can’t wait to share more about this journey as the project progresses.”

Francesca Lisle, MD at Lisle Licensing, licensing representative for The Style Sisters, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hunter Price on this project. Organisation and storage will be the key foundation to the licensing programme for the Style Sisters and we are so excited to see this category come to life.

“The team at Hunter Price has been working hard to develop an innovative and unique range that will really cement the launch of this brand. Gemma & Charlotte are truly leading the way in home styling and this is a natural next step in their journey.”

The first Style Sisters storage and organisation collection will hit retailers for Spring/Summer 2022.