Tag Archives: news

Starting Lineup is back

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Hasbro, Inc., in partnership with global digital sports platform Fanatics, has announced the official re-launch of Starting Lineup, an iconic sports collectibles brand. Set to launch this autumn, the new product line will continue its legacy of bringing fans and collectors their favourite athletes in action figure form.

Starting September 22, products from the Starting Lineup brand will be available exclusively on Hasbro Pulse and across the Fanatics network of online sites, including Fanatics.com and official league stores.  

“We’re thrilled to be bringing back one of the most beloved sports collectibles brands of all time, Starting Lineup, and to be teaming up with Fanatics for its highly anticipated return this fall,” says Eric Nyman, President and COO of Hasbro. “The fast-growing sports collectibles category presents great opportunities to connect with fans of all ages, and we’ve got many exciting announcements to come from the brand in the months ahead.” 

Originally launched in 1988, the Starting Lineup brand developed a massive following by bringing enthusiasts figures of their favourite all-star players from a variety of sports for more than a decade. The return of the brand will introduce an all-new era of notable athletes to its classic heritage with figures featuring design like never before.  

“Hasbro’s Starting Lineup is an iconic collectibles brand, and Fanatics is thrilled to be the exclusive partner to help re-launch this historic product line and introduce a new generation of sports stars to fans and collectors everywhere,” says Jack Boyle, Fanatics Commerce Global Co-President of Direct-to-Consumer. 

For more information on the upcoming launch of the Starting Lineup brand, as well as a teaser trailer, visit Hasbro Pulse | Where Fans Come First.

 

Genius Brands expands Kartoon Channel! on Roku

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Following the success of the Kartoon Channel! app and content on the Rokuâ platform, Genius Brands International has announced that it will offer a dedicated Kartoon Channel! on The Roku Channel, further expanding the channel’s presence on Roku.

The Roku Channel reached U.S. households with an estimated 80 million people in Q4 2021. Users now have access to Kartoon Channel!’s full content slate of original programming and children’s brands, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger; the new fast-paced trivia original gameshow series for kids, KC! Pop Quiz, hosted by Nickelodeon star Casey Simpson, and Rainbow Rangers, as well as classics such as Baby Genius, Pac-Man and more.

“As we begin rolling out the new Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse, we’re excited to share that in less than two years we are fully distributed in the U.S., reaching millions of viewers across multiple platforms. We are now further enhancing our offering to consumers by bringing The Roku Channel on board as a media partner, significantly expanding our presence in the digital marketplace,” says Genius Brands’ Jon Ollwerther, President, Kartoon Channel!.

 

Licensing International and Octane5 name participants in global mentoring programme

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The first group of mentors and mentees in the Licensing International Mentoring Program have been paired. Launched by Licensing International and sponsor Octane5 in January, this year-long effort marks the industry’s first ever global mentoring programme and is aimed at bringing the expertise of global licensing veterans to young professionals.

Participants in this year’s programme come from companies spanning multiple categories and territories, including Acamar, Beanstalk Licensing, Bulldog Licensing, Discovery, Holy Joe, Jazwares, NASCAR, Paramount, Penguin Random House, Redbubble, Rocket Licensing and SEGA. The Licensing International Mentoring Program will initially focus on regions including the US, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan.

Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool. In addition to allowing mentees to build skills and knowledge while working to attain their career goals, the programme also provides an opportunity for mentors to further enhance their expertise through exposure to fresh perspectives.

In addition to sponsoring the mentoring programme, Octane5 is expanding its partnership with Licensing International to sponsor the Licensing International Young Professionals Network (YPN). YPN is designed to help brand licensing professionals under the age of 35 to expand their skills, network, and horizons with free educational and social events. The 2022 YPN calendar kicked off on March 31 in London, with more events coming soon to New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

“We are so excited to partner with Octane5 and appreciate their support of both the Mentoring and YPN programmes,” says Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Mentoring is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform the licensing industry, and both of these programmes provide opportunities for growth, development, and the building of meaningful connections.”

“Over 20 years ago, my brother Matt and I learned about licensing the way so many others do, by working and depending on industry veterans for advice,” says Mike Dunn, Co-Founder and Co-President of Octane5.  “We love licensing – it’s an energetic, dynamic industry with so many great people who are willing to help the next generation. We are especially proud to play a part in helping others learn and grow.”

Laura Ashley taps IMG for global brand expansion

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Iconic brand Laura Ashley has appointed IMG to expand fashion, home and lifestyle products that reflect the British heritage brand in a fresh, modern way in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East.

The multi-year deal will see IMG work with the brand to create new Laura Ashley apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty and homeware items through carefully selected licensing and retail partnerships and collaborations.

In 2021, Laura Ashley successfully relaunched a home collection with its main retail partner NEXT on a dedicated e-commerce platform and in over 50 NEXT stores across the UK.

Carolyn D’Angelo, Managing Director, Brands at Gordon Brothers and President of Laura Ashley, says: “We are excited to be working with IMG to expand the brand globally. Following the success of our spring home collection relaunch and fall fashion collaboration last year, it is clear there is a strong customer appetite for a new wave of Laura Ashley lifestyle products. We look forward to seeing the first designs of our 2023 fashion relaunch spring to life for the brand’s 70th anniversary and for the next generation of Laura Ashley customers.”

Tim Smith, Vice President, IMG, commented: “For almost 70 years, Laura Ashley’s iconic, quality-led designs, prints and patterns have continued to inspire the most coveted styles and fashion trends around the world. We are eager to leverage this rich heritage and the Laura Ashley archive, comprising more than 98,000 pieces of unique artwork, textiles and footage, to develop relevant new fashion and lifestyle products for existing and new fans of the brand.”

For more information on Laura Ashley, visit www.lauraashley.com.

For more information on licensing opportunities in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East, visit www.imglicensing.com.

Sprayground partners with Hershey’s for sweet fashion collab

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Sprayground, the streetwear brand known for its artistically designed backpacks, accessories and apparel, is teaming up with America’s number one chocolate brand, Hershey’s, to create a mouthwatering crossover set to delight those who have a sweet tooth for chocolate and an eye for fashion.

Known for collaborations with notable celebrities and companies, including Marvel, Nickelodeon, Star Wars, Spike Lee and Shaquille O’Neal, Sprayground will be introducing a hyper-realistic backpack that features an augmented-reality Hershey’s chocolate bar, featuring the iconic Hershey’s chocolate bar “pips”, as well as Sprayground’s iconic shark bite that fans know and love.

Sprayground has integrated functionality into the backpack design with designated partitions for USB sticks, wires, cables and a laptop, a velour pouch  and zippered compartments.

Founder and Creative Director of Sprayground, David BenDavid, says: “The Sprayground and Hershey’s collection is the perfect pairing of style and sweetness. Bringing our iconic brands to life beyond the chocolate shop and into the world of streetwear is an exciting way to connect with our fashion-forward customers who like to think outside of the box!”

“Expanding Hershey’s beyond the candy aisle and into fashion creates a unique opportunity to connect chocolate lovers and fashion seekers nationwide,” adds Ernie Savo, Senior Director, Licensing, The Hershey Company. “Partnering with David and the team at Sprayground to create a mouthwatering, almost edible Hershey’s backpack confirms that this will be a must-have accessory of the summer.”

The collection will be available from April 15 at www.sprayground.com and exclusive U.S. stores nationwide, including Hershey’s Chocolate World.

Sonic the Hedgehog speeds into Roblox

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Leading professional game developer and publisher Gamefam, in collaboration with SEGA of America, Inc., today announced the launch of Sonic Speed Simulator, an all-new game featuring SEGA’s entertainment icon, Sonic the Hedgehog.

The game is now available on the Roblox platform and marks the first time that a world-renowned, AAA gaming character has been officially featured on Roblox.

In the game, players will be able to level up and gain speed by running through multiple unique worlds while racing against friends to earn rewards, including pets that can increase stats and Sonic character skins. Players can also expect regular weekly updates and will earn an exclusive community Sonic the Hedgehog skin once the game has received 10,000 “likes” from players.

This is the latest in a long line of partnerships in which Gamefam has been entrusted to unlock the metaverse for well-known brands. The company previously worked with leading global innovators including Ubisoft, Mattel, Sony, MGA and more to create highly engaging experiences for players, helping brands to connect with Roblox’s rapidly expanding user base.

For more information on Gamefam, including details around the company’s recent $25M Series A funding round led by Konvoy Ventures, visit https://gamefam.com/ or follow the company on Twitter at @gamefamstudios.

Peter Rabbit’s birthday celebrations continue with community gardening campaign

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To mark 120 years since the publication of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved children’s classic The Tale of Peter Rabbit, publisher Penguin Random House Children’s has today announced a three-year partnership with non-profit garden designers Grow2Know CIC, on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (owners of The World of Peter Rabbit).

A pioneering non-profit dedicated to reconnecting people with nature and each other through the creation of community gardens, Grow2Know reclaims blank spaces and transforms them into gardens designed to contribute to local residents’ health, happiness and wellbeing.

The seed for Grow2Know was sown by North Kensington resident Tayshan Hayden-Smith (pictured) in response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017, when residents came together to green up spaces in the area to uplift and unify the community through nature – inspiring the creation of the Grenfell Garden of Peace.

The new Grow With Peter Rabbit initiative has been developed by Penguin Random House Children’s in partnership with Grow2Know to bring the benefits of gardening and spending time in nature to as many families as possible. Drawing on Peter Rabbit’s playful nature, as well as his insatiable appetite for vegetables, Grow2Know’s founders – semi-professional footballer, community activist and TV presenter Tayshan Hayden-Smith, garden designer and TV presenter Danny Clarke (aka ‘The Black Gardener’), and Ali Yellop, agriculturist, chef and herbalist – will design and deliver three Peter Rabbit community garden makeovers between now and 2024.

The first Peter Rabbit-inspired garden is currently in development in a disused plot attached to St Clement & St James CE Primary School, Kensington: a school in the heart of the community where Grow2Know was founded, and the borough in which Peter Rabbit’s creator, Beatrix Potter, was born on 28 July 1866. The garden will be unveiled just before the school breaks up for the summer holidays. An illustration showing the design inspiration for the garden, by visual artist Kai McKim, is revealed today.

Interactive areas for children to read, play, grow and learn, inspired by the adventures of Peter Rabbit and friends, have been incorporated into the garden, which can be used by the local community to host workshops and events from this summer onwards.

Members of the public from across the UK will also be encouraged to Grow With Peter Rabbit from home during National Children’s Gardening Week 2022 (28 May to 5 June) when a series of filmed How-To videos, led by Tayshan Hayden-Smith, will be released.

TV presenter and farmer JB Gill will take part in the challenge on his social media, as will married couple Jake and Hannah Graf MBE, named by the Guardian as one of the UK’s most influential LBGTQ couples, who – alongside their current careers and parenting responsibilities – are vocal advocates for the trans community. Along with their families, they will be joining in with the Grow With Peter Rabbit challenge to demonstrate how easy and fun it is to grow your own vegetables at home using simple, upcycled objects and a packet of seeds.

In addition, primary school teachers across the UK will have access to specially created Grow With Peter Rabbit learning resources, meaning multiple opportunities for parents and children to engage with the 120th-anniversary campaign.

Supporters of Grow With Peter Rabbit include garden centre retailer Dobbies and London-based non-profit organisation Octavia.

Dobbies, the official garden centre partner for The World of Peter Rabbit this year, will be donating plants and materials for the school garden in support of the initiative, as well as hosting free Peter Rabbit workshops in stores nationwide.

Octavia, founded by the Victorian philanthropist Octavia Hill to support Londoners of all ages, is providing a contribution towards the build through its Better Lives Community Fund, which supports projects which reduce loneliness and isolation amongst young people in London.

The London Sock Exchange puts best foot forward with TfL Collection

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The London Sock Exchange has launched its TfL Collection – a range of socks developed in collaboration with Transport for London, celebrating the city’s most iconic transport through the medium of yarn. The deal was secured by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agency.

The London Sock Exchange team has worked closely with the TfL brand and design team to create six distinct pairs of socks. The socks have been knitted using The London Sock Exchange’s signature 200-needle knitting process – giving each pair a finer, stronger, more comfortable finish, and next-level detail in design. The socks are available in single pairs (£12) or special edition giftboxes (£30 or £60) from thelondonsockexchange.net.

  • The Tube Inspired by the London Underground trains – this pair features a Tube train spiralling around the wearer’s ankle.
  • The Routemaster Inspired by the world’s most famous bus: the double-decker red Routemaster – this pair features an all-over pattern made of buses rendered in isometric, 3D form.
  • The Platform Inspired by the platform safety graphics including yellow and white lines, and the ‘Mind The Gap’ mantra – this pair features a simple monochrome graphic with yellow and white lines.
  • Tickets, Please Inspired by London’s Oyster cards, travelcards and railway tickets – this pair features an all-over pattern built up of colourful tickets familiar to any Londoner.
  • The Gingerline & The H&C Inspired by Harry Beck’s iconic map of the London Underground. These socks feature repeat patterns made up of interchange stations as represented on TfL’s line diagrams – creating a polka-dot style sock with a London twist.

A promotional campaign featuring striking photography shot on the TfL network is set to run across national and social media.

“TfL owns a unique, vibrant and rich history, represented by iconic design such as the roundel and tube map,” says Jo Edwards, Head of Global Licensing, TSBA Group. “At their British studio, The London Sock Exchange took these assets to create exclusive designs which feel playful, contemporary and full of charm.”

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London, adds: “This creative collaboration celebrates the instantly recognisable and historic design of London’s transport network, showcasing classic British heritage with a twist. By using eye-catching designs such as the iconic Routemaster bus, as well as modern designs like the Oyster card in the range, these new products are a great way for people to take a little bit of London with them wherever they go.”

To view the socks, visit  https://thelondonsockexchange.net/pages/tfl-lookbook , and http://thelondonsockexchange.net/

For more information on the collaboration, or to find out how you can partner with the TfL brand, contact TSBA at enquiries@tsbagroup.com.

Lalique Group to create fragrances for Superdry

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Lalique Group has announced a worldwide perfume licensing agreement with global fashion brand Superdry, in a deal brokered by IMG.

Under the terms of the agreement, which will initially run through 2032, Lalique Group will exclusively create and distribute a collection of women’s and men’s perfumes for Superdry, with the first fragrance being launched in spring 2024. Building on Superdry’s reputation within key markets including the UK, US, Europe, and Asia, the fragrance will be distributed and marketed through Lalique Group’s global distribution network.

Founded in the UK in 2003, Superdry has a significant global presence. It operates in over 50 countries with 228 physical stores, around 480 franchisees and licensees, and Superdry’s digital experience superdry.com retailing to over 100 countries worldwide.

Roger von der Weid, CEO of Lalique Group, says: “We are delighted to be Superdry’s exclusive perfume partner. Working with this young, dynamic brand with its distinctive style offers us a great opportunity to further expand our brand portfolio and to increasingly target the young generation as part of our client base.”

Julian Dunkerton, CEO of Superdry, adds: “We’ve got great momentum in our brand and its distinct style choices. These will be complemented by our new Superdry fragrances and I am excited to be partnering with Lalique Group, a premium partner very consistent with our brand. Importantly, our agreement also includes strong commitments on the sustainability of how the fragrances are produced and packaged.”

With the new licence for Superdry fragrances, Lalique Group is expanding its existing perfume portfolio, which includes the brands Lalique Parfums, Brioni, Jaguar Fragrances, Bentley Fragrances, Parfums Grès, and Parfums Samouraï.

FIBA appoints IMG as FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023’s global master licensee

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FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, has appointed IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, as global master licensee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, taking place 25 August – 10 September 2023 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. This is the first time in the history of the competition that multiple countries will host the global tournament, which will feature 32 national teams.

The quadrennial tournament, which is the International Basketball Federation’s flagship men’s event, has grown exponentially since the first event in 1950, with a record 32 national teams (increased from 24) competing in 2019 in host country China, across eight cities, where Spain were crowned champions for the second time.

The multi-year deal will see IMG work with FIBA to develop an extensive range of merchandising products celebrating the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. A broad line of products featuring the event logo, its brand identity and marks, the Naismith Trophy, the mascot and the host countries collection will be available for fans in a variety of items, sizes and colours. The programme will include products in key licensing categories such as apparel, toys and games, souvenirs, accessories, stationery, homeware, bags and luggage, and more.

These items will be available on-site at official promotional events in the lead-up to the World Cup and at all five venues hosting the 2023 competition, as well through other promotional and FIBA partner activities during the event. They will also be available at official fan shops and retailers in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia and via the official online store.

David Crocker, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director, says: “The Global Master Licensee is an important component in the build-up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and the road to the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Basketball fans are very passionate, and we want their World Cup experience to be engaging, memorable and exciting, and one they will never forget.”

Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG, adds: “The FIBA Basketball World Cup is the pinnacle global event of one of the world’s most popular sports. Basketball at the national team level has grown increasingly competitive with an ever-widening number of countries having a realistic chance to win the top prize – generating more passion, excitement and fan engagement. We will capitalise on that, working with FIBA to create an all-encompassing merchandise and retail programme for fans in all three host countries, as well as those tuning in from around the world.”

For more information on licensing opportunities, visit www.imglicensing.com.