Tag Archives: marvel

Rubies launches range of adaptive costumes to make dress up and role-play more inclusive

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Rubies has released a new range of adaptive costumes designed for children with limited mobility and boasting a selection of features that makes them optimised for ease of wear, accessibility and fitting.

The new collection has been designed to enable all children – regardless of their level of ability – can engage in role-play and dress up, with specially designed features that allow them to do so.

Features include back opening in the trousers and skirts, which allows wheelchair users to dress in bed or in a laying down position, and the combination of Velcro fastenings with elasticated areas add comfort and allow for easier dressing. A discrete front flap opening allows access to tubes on the abdominal area.

Furthermore, the seated area of the costumes is free from costume fabric, helping to reduce pressure points which can cause sores and ulcers from wrinkles, creases or pronounced seams.

To ensure the collection provided comfort and inclusivity with the key demographic, the costumes have been tried and tested on a select focus group of participants in this year’s Superhero Series Powered by Marvel, with positive feedback across the board on the designs and features. One of the costumes even featured on a Good Morning Britain section with Emerson Grant showcasing his Spider-man outfit to the nation.

Mike O’Connell, managing director, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce the introduction of Adaptive Costumes into our extensive licensed portfolio. As an inclusive and innovative company, we strive to create a world where everyone can express themselves equally. Although our exclusive Adaptive Range costumes are different in their features and design, we wanted to ensure our price point matched any other costume of the same quality within our range.

“Dress-up play is a very important part of childhood, allowing children to explore different characters and role models and shape who they become, and we hope these costumes will allow every child to be able to do this.”

The new range will launch with a choice of characters from Marvel, DC and The Mandalorian that are instantly recognisable and highly inspiring to children. The superhero range in particular focuses on Captain America and Spider-Man’s jumpsuits featuring 3D padded muscles; both consist of tops, trousers and snood.

The range also includes Wonder Woman’s dress which has a shimmering sequin bodice detail, a full layered skirt and comes with a range of accessories to complete the character including cape, boot covers, gauntlets and a foam tiara.

Adaptive Costumes will be available to order in time for Halloween. Contact the Rubies sales team to find out more.

Geek Retreat moves into Dumfries and stays on track to open 60 stores by end of 2021

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The geek culture retailer, Geek Retreat, is continuing on its ambitious plans for the UK with the successful launch of its new store in Dumfries, bringing its total numbers of shops around the country to 28.

Situated on Church Crescent and providing five local jobs, the new Geek Retreat store – a geek culture retailers, gaming cafe, and events space rolled into one – aims to offer a safe and friendly environment ‘where people can gather and enjoy shared interests.’

The retailer aims to provide for all fanbases within the geek culture community, from Marvel and Magic the Gathering to Yu-Gi-Oh, Warhammer, and Pokemon, as well as traditional board games. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a full menu with vegetarian, vegan, and kids’ options all developed in partnership with the food service firm, Booker.

The Geek Retreat has previously outlined the importance it places on providing an inclusive, welcoming, and social environment for its more vulnerable customers such as those with autism or with mental health issues. The retailer has a national partnership with the National Autistic Society, while the Dumfries store locally supports The D&G Queerier, LIFT D&G, and Dumfries Gamers.

Samuel Glendinning, franchise owner at Geek Retreat Dumfries, said: “We are excited to have opened our doors and be bringing something new and different to the Dumfries Town center and to the local community. A safe and inclusive place to play, relax, have fun and make friends, where they can share their love of all things geeky from anime and manga to trading card games such as Pokemon and Magic:The Gathering.”

Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, added: “The opening of the unique Geek Retreat store and café in Dumfries is great news. The store proposes to offer a safe, friendly environment where people can come and enjoy their shared gaming interests as well as traditional board games.

“It is also extremely welcome that Geek Retreat provides an inclusive, welcoming, and social environment for more vulnerable customers, like those with autistic spectrum or with mental health or anxiety issues. Geek Retreat has a national partnership with the National Autistic Society, and locally supports The D&G Queerier, LIFT D&G and Dumfries Gamers.

“I have no doubt that Geek Retreat will be an invaluable asset to Dumfries and I encourage all with gaming interests to pop in and see what it has to offer. I am looking forward to going along for myself in August.”

Geek Retreat is now on track to open 60 of its planned 100 new stores on high streets by the end of 2021, creating 360 jobs around the UK.  The franchise is on track to meet its previously announced target of a total of 100 new stores in 2022.

Its growth is echoed by the increasing popularity of boardgames, card trading and tabletop games which make up an industry worth £8 billion in the UK and is predicted to grow by 3.1 per cent annually over the next three years.

Peter Dobson, chief executive of Geek Retreat, said: “The success of the Dumfries store is another step in the growth of the Geek Retreat franchise. The Geek Retreat proposition and unique culture has proved particularly resilient during the pandemic and has shown us how important it is for people to have a safe please to visit and to share their interests with friends as part of a community.”

All stores commit to a COVID-19 secure environment, with strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place, to give customers extra piece of mind that they can visit in confidence.

British bicycle brand United Wheels lands EMEA-wide partnership with Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm

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The British bicycle brand, United Wheels UK Limited has detailed a new multi-territory licensing partnership with Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm movie properties as the company eyes further growth across the European markets and beyond.

Its latest agreement will see the property rights extended across the UK, Ireland, France, Iberia, Italy, Germany, Benelux, and Africa, building on a partnership that United Wheels’ affiliate, Huffy Corporation, has had with Disney since 1996.

From this month, United Wheels will begin marketing Huffy-designed Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm licensed wheeled products for order. These lines will be ready for shipment from early 2022.

The extension of the partnership to include EMEA distribution follows the firm’s establishment of its new EU office last year. United Wheels believes it is now well placed to help ‘drive continued growth of the Disney licenses’ across the regions.

“Our company has had such a long relationship with Disney,” said Jon Tilley, general manager of United Wheels UK Limited. “It was only natural for us to reach out to Disney when we decided to make a concerted effort in Europe, to find mutually beneficial ways to work together.

“It’s been great working with the Disney EMEA teams to bring this project to life, and we are excited to be presenting this to retailers through our Huffy brand of products in the coming months. Our position as a leading global player in the bicycle and wheeled goods categories gives us confidence that with an excellent supply chain and great innovation, we can bring strong growth over the next three years. We couldn’t be more excited about this new endeavour with Disney.”

The United Wheels team will start product presentations in July with a two-week virtual trade open event in which potential retailer partners can meet the team and preview some of the new Disney products that will be available for sale in January 2022.

The collection will cover all properties and wheel sizes, ranging from balance bikes to 16” wheel sizes.

Stateside | Pokemon, Marvel, and Barbie help fuel US toy sales surge as market grows 27 per cent

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Major properties including Pokemon, Barbie, Star Wars, and LEGO have contributed to a booming first quarter toy sales in the US that witnessed an increase of 27 per cent between January and April 2021, according to The NPD Group.

Ten of the 11 super categories tracked by the NPD posted double digit growth versus the year prior, contributing to a sales increase totalling $1.5 billion in the first four months of the year.

All super categories posted a positive two year compound annual growth rate, with seven super categories showing double digit growth rates compared to 2019. The market is led by the Outdoor and Sports Toys category, which – having experienced gains of $324 million – continues to be the largest super category, with $1.6 billion in sales.

The Plush market witnessed the fastest dollar growth in the first quarter, surging 44 per cent on 2020 numbers.

“As we lap the lockdowns of 2020, the super categories that had surging growth last year, like Games and Puzzles, appear to be slowing down,” said Juli Lennett, vice president and industry advisor, US Toys, The NPD Group.

“However, it’s important to realize that sales are still strong for Games and Puzzles in 2021 which is reflected in the two-year CAGR growth of 34 per cent, the fastest growth compared to 2019 of all super categories.”

Strategic Trading Cards has been marked among the top growth sectors, driven in large by Pokemon but holding strong across all 96 classes tracked by the NPD.

Pokemon has been highlighted as the top growth property year-to-date, followed by the likes of Barbie, Star Wars, LOL Surprise, Marvel Universe, Hot Wheels, Little Tikes, NERF, LEGO, Star Wars, and Funko Pop.

Collectively, these ten properties grew 48 per cent while the rest of the market grew 22 per cent from January to April 2021.

“We can’t understate the impact that federal stimulus payments had on toy industry performance this year,” said Lennett. “The follow up to that will be the child tax credit which will provide cash in the hands of parents each month starting in July and through the end of the year.”

The Spider-Man inspired LEGO Daily Bugle is the toymaker’s tallest LEGO Marvel set to date

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The LEGO Group has welcomed the tallest LEGO Marvel set to date to its collection with the launch of the LEGO Daily Bugle set, an intricate brick-version of the newspaper building made famous through Marvel’s Spider-Man.

The new build – one that weighs in at 3,772 pieces to stand at 82cm tall – comes complete with the demanding editor J. Jonah Jameson and the office of Peter Parker. The set is a replica of the Daily Bugle offices which first featured in The Amazing Spider-Man comic series 50 years ago.

The office block remains a much-loved setting throughout the web-slinger’s various adventures today as the recognised workplace of not only Parker and Jameson, but also Ben Ulrich, Robbie Robertson, and Betty Brant. The walls of the office block echo the some 50 year history of Spider-Man, while long-time franchise fans will recognise it as the birth place of the now iconic phrase, ‘Get me pictures of Spider-Man.’

The LEGO Daily Bugle is incredibly detailed both inside and out, with three floors, the front street and the back alley. The whole set is also modular, meaning fans can remove walls and floors to get to the action within.

Within the building there are several famous settings from the various universes, including the ground floor entrance that can be destroyed to look like an explosion has taken place and the newsroom on the first floor complete with the usual office furniture of desks and computers.

Moving up to the second floor, the villainous Green Goblin can be seen smashing a window to get to Peter Parker’s office where his camera lies waiting for the next story. The top floor also features both Betty Brant and J. Jonah Jameson’s offices.

The detail doesn’t stop with the building, as the set includes a cast of 25 minifigures, featuring Spidey himself alongside his most famous friends and foes, such as Gwen Stacy, Venom, Mysterio, and Doctor Octopus.

The set also features new exclusive minifigures including Daredevil and Blade.

Mark John Stafford, LEGO set designer, commented: “I was seven years old when I was given my first Spider-Man comic and I have always had an image of creating a LEGO model of the Daily Bugle and having Spidey and his Amazing Friends in conflict with his various enemies.

“One of my favourite elements is the Green Goblin flying inside the building through the window. Being able to design a moment of frozen action like this in a LEGO set has always been a dream and I finally got to make it happen.”

The impressive building is a true challenge for LEGO builders and Spider-Man fans alike thanks to its large scale and intricacies. Whether it’s part of a wider collection or a standalone piece it’s a set worthy of display.

 LEGO Daily Bugle set is available for €299,99 / £274,99 / $299,99 from LEGO Stores and LEGO.com from 26th May for LEGO VIP members and 1st June, 2021 for all.

DKB takes on UK distribution of premium homewares specialist, Uncanny Brands

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Uncanny Brands, the premium homewares brand with established presence in the US and Canada, has appointed DKB as its exclusive UK distributor across all of its key lines, spanning kitchen accessories based on hit IP such as Star Wars, Marvel, Pokemon, and others.

The partnership marks the latest signing for DKB Toys and Distribution who has already been working with the likes of Hasbro, Alex Global Brands, and Crazy Forts, while the business recently acquired MightyMast.

Best known for pop culture small appliances, Uncanny Brands is dedicated to creating licensed products that include kitchen accessories ranging from popcorn makers to toasters and hand blenders, all designed around iconic characters from some of the biggest entertainment franchises.

With initial product lines selling out instantly, DKB is committed to bringing in new shipments to supply its core and new retailer base. With limited distribution for 2021, the company is planning 2022 volumes now ahead of time so as to be able to respond quickly to growing consumer demand for these fantastic homeware’s products. 

“I am very proud to be working with a company like Uncanny Brands. Together we will offer fans of some of the worlds’ biggest licenses the opportunity to own a gadget or appliance featuring their favourite characters,” said Chris Lohmeyer, MD of DKB Distribution & Toys.

“The enduring appeal of these licensed ranges has had a huge impact on demand across UK retail and we are preparing well in advance for 2022 in order to facilitate as many orders as possible. We are starting small in 2021 but I cannot wait to see the success of Uncanny Brands in the UK in 2022 and beyond.”

Aconyte Books now teams with Atomic Mass Games to launch first Marvel novel series based on tabletop title Crisis Protocol

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This week marks another licensing partnership for Asmodee Entertainment’s fiction publishing arm, Aconyte Books, which has now partnered with Atomic Mass Games to launch a new trilogy of Marvel novels inspired by the popular tabletop miniatures game, Crisis Protocol.

The first of the series – Target: Kree – is scheduled to land this summer and tells the action adventure of Iron Man and Ms. Marvel clash with a cast of familiar faces from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Written by multiple award-winning author and comics editor, Stuart Moore, Target: Kree will be published in the US and Canada on July 6th 2021 and on September 16th in the UK. This first book in the trilogy will be available in trade paperback and ebook formats, with an audiobook version expected to follow shortly after.

A variety of translated editions are being planned with Aconyte’s European publishing partners.

Marvel: Crisis Protocol is a tabletop hobby miniatures game set in the Marvel Universe. Players assemble, paint, and collect highly detailed miniatures representing iconic Marvel characters. Players choose characters from their collections to form their own Marvel inspired dream team, and then pit their chosen forces against each other on an interactive tabletop space.

Will Schick of Atomic Mass, said: “One of the cornerstones of Marvel: Crisis Protocol is how it allows players the opportunity to create their own stories on the tabletop together within the Marvel Universe. While super powered, cinematic battles are part of fun, it’s the narrative that emerges as players control their squads of iconic Marvel characters to complete their games objectives that truly sets the game apart from any other tabletop game of its kind.

“With this in mind, we are extremely excited to be partnering with Aconyte to bring players and fans of the Marvel Universe all-new stories set amid the climatic confrontations of Crisis Protocol.”

At the end of 2019, Aconyte was announced as Marvel’s newest fiction partner for original prose novels, creating new adventures based around an exciting roster of Marvel’s comic book characters including Legends of Asgard, Heroines, Untold, and Xavier’s Institute.

More announcements are expected as Aconyte’s range of world-expanding fiction expands further.

Jazwares moves into North American costumes sector with major Marvel partnership

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Jazwares has entered into a multi-year partnership with Marvel to produce a new line of costumes and costume accessories, marking the company’s expansion into the costumes sector.

The range is scheduled to hit retailers across North America in 2022 and will include an assortment of officially licensed costumes, costume accessories, and pet costumes from across the Marvel Universe films, TV series, and comic books.

Jazwares will be adding additional licenses to its new costumes segment in the coming months.

With Jazwares’ Marvel costume line, fans of all ages can transform into their favorite Super Heroes including characters from classic Marvel properties, Marvel’s TV and film roster, Deadpool, Spider-Man, X-Men and more.

“Marvel has been a defining force in the entertainment and comic landscape for decades, and we are ready to take play to a whole new level by helping fans transform into their favorite signature Super Hero looks that are perfect for Halloween, Cosplay, or everyday fun,” said Judd Zebersky, CEO, Jazwares.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our business, and ready to bring Jazwares’ iconic innovation, value and quality to the costume category.”

The Marvel costumes collection joins Jazwares’ impressive portfolio of iconic pop culture brands including Pokémon, Fortnite, Halo, All Elite Wrestling, Roblox, and collectibles brands Domez and Zōteki.

Jazwares moves into North American costumes sector with major Marvel partnership

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Jazwares has entered into a multi-year partnership with Marvel to produce a new line of costumes and costume accessories, marking the company’s expansion into the costumes sector.

The range is scheduled to hit retailers across North America in 2022 and will include an assortment of officially licensed costumes, costume accessories, and pet costumes from across the Marvel Universe films, TV series, and comic books.

Jazwares will be adding additional licenses to its new costumes segment in the coming months.

With Jazwares’ Marvel costume line, fans of all ages can transform into their favorite Super Heroes including characters from classic Marvel properties, Marvel’s TV and film roster, Deadpool, Spider-Man, X-Men and more.

“Marvel has been a defining force in the entertainment and comic landscape for decades, and we are ready to take play to a whole new level by helping fans transform into their favorite signature Super Hero looks that are perfect for Halloween, Cosplay, or everyday fun,” said Judd Zebersky, CEO, Jazwares.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our business, and ready to bring Jazwares’ iconic innovation, value and quality to the costume category.”

The Marvel costumes collection joins Jazwares’ impressive portfolio of iconic pop culture brands including Pokémon, Fortnite, Halo, All Elite Wrestling, Roblox, and collectibles brands Domez and Zōteki.

Disney content and licensing hit hard by Covid-19 but consumer products offer glimmer of hope

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Content sales and licensing revenues at the Walt Disney Company have suffered big losses at the hands of the pandemic with dramatic decreases of 56 per cent and an operating income decrease of 78 per cent driven primarily by the closure of theatres, parks and experiences over the course of last year.

Lockdown restrictions and social distancing measures played a major role in significantly reduced theatrical distribution from the studio with many theatres across the globe either closed or operating at reduced capacity in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus.

As a result, Disney content sales, licensing and other revenues dropped by over half to $1.7 billion, while segment operating income decreased 76 per cent to $188 million.

Meanwhile, lower TV and SVOD distribution results were driven by the shift from Disney’s licensing of content to third parties to distribution via its own direct-to-consumer services like Disney+.

The studio has attributed the decrease in home entertainment results to lower unit sales, partially offset by lower marketing costs. The prior-year quarter reflected the performance of Toy Story 4, The Lion King and Aladdin compared to no significant titles in the current quarter.

The negative impact of Covid-19 continued to be felt across Disney’s Parks, Experience, and Products segment which saw Q1 2021 revenues plunge 53 per cent to £3.6 billion, with segment operating results dropping $2.6 billion to a loss of $119 million.

As a result of the pandemic, Disneyland Resort was closed and the company’s cruise business was suspended in the current quarter. Disneyland Paris closed on October 30, 2020 and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort closed on December 2, 2020. Walt Disney World Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort were open in the current quarter, but were operating at significantly reduced capacities.

Disney’s consumer products business has however offered the firm a glimmer of light, with operating income growth driven by an increase in games licensing revenue, reflected in the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

‘The most significant impact on operating income in the current quarter from COVID-19 was an estimated detriment of approximately $2.6 billion at the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment due to revenue lost as a result of the closures and reduced operating capacities,’ explained Disney in its Q1 2021 financial  statement.

‘The impacts of Covid-19 on our Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution segment were less significant. Lower revenues due to the deferral or cancellation of significant film releases as a result of theater closures were largely offset by the related reduction in film cost amortization, marketing and distribution costs.’

Bob Chapek, chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company, said: “We believe the strategic actions we’re taking to transform our Company will fuel our growth and enhance shareholder value, as demonstrated by the incredible strides we’ve made in our DTC business, reaching more than 146 million total paid subscriptions across our streaming services at the end of the quarter.

“We’re confident that, with our robust pipeline of exceptional, high-quality content and the upcoming launch of our new Star-branded international general entertainment offering, we are well-positioned to achieve even greater success going forward.”