Legend of the Five Rings fan shop is now open

Asmodee Entertainment has announced that the Legend of the Five Rings fan shop – the first in a multiple-IP partnership with Event Merchandising (EML) Limited – is now open at Shop.LegendOfTheFiveRings.com.

As featured in Fantasy Flight Games In-Flight report at this year’s Gen Con event in September, the fan shop is a dedicated online platform offering specially designed apparel, accessories and homewares such as pillows and mugs to fans and collectors worldwide. Legend of the Five Rings is the tale of the land of Rokugan and the rival samurai clans who fight with swords and magic.

“We’re so pleased to be able to offer so many different ways for Legend of the Five Rings fans to represent and celebrate their favourite Great Clans,” says Katrina Ostrander, Creative Director of Story & Setting at Fantasy Flight Games. “Whether it’s wearing your clan’s colours on tote bags and tees, decorating your space with beautiful prints and accent pillows, or recording your character’s journey in a themed notebook, this shop offers something for everyone, no matter whether you’re a fan of the card game, roleplaying game, or the fiction.”

At launch, fans can expect to see merchandise designed around art they might recognise from the games. EML designers have worked closely with Asmodee Entertainment and Fantasy Flight Games to design beautiful pieces that include art prints, tote bags, hoodies, notebooks, and more. Fans can share their love of the Legend of the Five Rings universe or announce their allegiance to specific clans as this initial launch also includes mini- collections for each of the Great Clans. The initial collections are now available on the site and fans can expect more exciting products to be added to the store regularly after launch.

Nick Hallet, lead designer from Event Merchandising on the project, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Asmodee on designing and creating a fantastic range of products and an online store for Legends of the Five Rings. There is a rich collection of artwork which has been wonderful to work with.”

EML are based in the UK and their fan shops ship worldwide while a dedicated US store is also in development. The Legend of the Five Rings is the first of a number of online fan shops envisaged under their agreement with Asmodee Entertainment. An Arkham Horror store is coming soon with more details to follow.

The Premier League and Panini announce further multi-year extension

The Premier League and Panini have announced a further multi-year extension to the Premier League collectables license granted to Panini in 2019.

Domestically, sales of Premier League Adrenalyn trading cards have doubled this year, confirming Adrenalyn as the market-leading brand for trading cards in the UK. Panini has also established the iconic Panini sticker album brand as the number-one collectable in the UK with Premier League sticker sales last season climbing to the highest level for 15 years, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Internationally, Premier League collectables are at an all-time high as Panini leverage the strength of the Premier League brand worldwide thanks to its global network.

Mike Riddell, Panini UK Managing Director, says: “We are proud to be awarded the most prestigious license in the UK, and we relish the prospect of continuing to grow the market in the coming years.”

“Panini has ignited the Football collectables market in the USA, China and internationally,” says Peter Warsop, Panini Group Licensing Director. “The Premier League will continue to attract new fans and collectors with Panini enjoying continued substantial growth both domestically and through 60-plus other International markets.”

Will Brass, Premier League Chief Commercial Officer, adds: “Stickers and trading cards are a great way for fans around the world to engage with the Premier League and its clubs. Panini has been a great partner since becoming the Premier League’s official sticker and trading card licensee in 2019, and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship over coming seasons.”

The Point.1888 launches dedicated retail services arm

The Point.1888 has launched a new business arm, Spotlight.1888, dedicated to helping brands and licensees with retail services, and retailers with licensing strategy.

Based on an extension of its market leading retail-first model – whereby The Point.1888 creates new products for its brands based on the gaps it sees at retail as well as what it thinks the brand’s target demographic might like – Spotlight will work directly with retailers and brands to help them fill the gaps themselves using the agency’s retail team expertise.

The new business comprises a dedicated account team, with a mix of buyer experience across a number of retailers (Harrods, John Lewis, Sainsburys and Kingfisher, to name a few), along with dedicated licensing retail professionals.

Heading up the new business arm will be The Point.1888’s Head of Retail, Hannah Stevens, who has been working on the idea of Spotlight.1888 for many years alongside leading retail expert and Managing Director Will Stewart.

“We are constantly discussing with retailers, licensees and brand owners the different ways to activate licensed brands at retail and are delighted to finally provide an official channel for this, in the form of Spotlight.1888,” says Hannah. “There couldn’t be a better time to launch, and the full team will be at BLE to discuss our approach with any prospective licensees, retailers or brands.”

Spotlight.1888 is the second new business The Point.1888 has launched this year. Story.1888, which launched in August, provides clients with creative services such as product branding and style guides, product marketing, strategy, content creation and campaign management.

To hear more about Spotlight.1888, visit stand C183 at BLE or contact the team at spotlight@thepoint1888.com.

Barbie and Rue des Mille launch “Just As You Are” campaign and jewellery line

Ahead of BLE, Barbie has debuted a new parter in Italian jewellery brand Rue des Mille.

Barbie’s can-do spirit, which exhorts girls to believe “You Can Be Anything”, is at the heart of the new jewellery line’s “Just As You Are” campaign, which stars real women living authentic lives.

Rue Des Mille’s aim is to tell stories through its collections, “transforming dreams into elegant, fun and versatile accessories”. Designed for adults, the special-edition Rue des Mille for Barbie collection will be distributed online and in concessions across Italy, from this week.

The collection is comprised of 10 fashion-forward pieces inspired by Barbie, including hoops, a chunky link bracelet, a velvet choker, rings, and more.

The campaign is fronted by Italian dancer Giulia Stabile, whose unique personality and dance moves have dazzled on TV shows and marked her out as a rising star.

“Barbie is more than an icon; it is also a brand with which we share visions and values,” says Federica Pieroni, Marketing Director of Rue des Mille. “Our jewels have always tried to illuminate the modern women who make their dreams reality, without ever forgetting their style and identity.”

“I am thrilled to announce the partnership with Rue des Mille,” says Andrea Ziella, Head of Marketing & Digital at Mattel Italia. “Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has become an international icon and muse.  Today, Barbie is the world’s number-one fashion doll and continues to spark imaginations and influence conversations. From female firsts to famous collaborations, Barbie is a reflection of the times – a snapshot of pop culture. Our new partnership encourages imagination and creativity and we are proud of this collection which allows fans to express themselves also through fashion.”

 

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy unveil first storybook for children

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy have inked an agreement to launch their first range of children’s illustrated storybooks, with the debut title going on sale in time for World Book Day 2022.

Brokered by London Entertainment in partnership with the UK’s leading publisher in children’s annuals, Little Brother Books (LBB), the deal sees the family-focused couple embarking on a project close to their hearts. The Vardys have six children between them, ranging in age between two and 16, and both Jamie and Rebekah believe passionately in encouraging their children to be themselves and believe in their abilities.

Filled with colourful illustrations, the Vardy’s range of storybooks will be aimed at children aged three and up. Their first release, which will retail for £6.99, is titled ‘Cedric, the Little Sloth with a Big Dream’. The Be Yourself Guardians (B.U.G.) are the central characters in each book, with every title having a different storyline and never-ending B.U.G. support.

In this first book we meet Cedric, a loveable sloth with a passion for football and bags of enthusiasm. Cedric dreams of joining his favourite football team, the ‘Rainforest Rovers’, but has been told that sloths are too slow and too sleepy to be good footballers. The Be Yourself Guardians step in to boost Cedric’s confidence and remind him that he can follow his dream and join the team.

Jamie and Rebekah were delighted to have to the chance to collaborate on the project. They commented: “Working on this book together has been a dream for us.  We aren’t writers but we are experienced parents, and we know which messages we care most about instilling into our children; it isn’t about having to be the best or winning at everything, but is about trying your hardest, being happy and going after your dreams. We kept going over the list of topics that we felt passionate about, and we just kept coming back to the same one: just be yourself. We want children and their parents or guardians to realise that with the right words of encouragement and positive thoughts, they can achieve anything that they want to. It also means being whoever and whatever you want to be.

“Our dream is for the Be Yourself Guardians (B.U.G.s) to become identifiable characters that boost children’s confidence, ease their anxieties and help them to believe in themselves through these storybooks. LBB put us together with an amazing writer and illustrator to guide us through this process. We’ve shown the drafts and sketches to our children throughout, so it’s been a real family affair and we hope that readers love the first book as much as our family does.”

Matthew Reynolds, MD of Little Brother Books, adds: “It’s been a pleasure working on this new title and format with Jamie and Rebekah Vardy, and our editorial team. With our experience of current kids’ trends and the important message the B.U.G. team are sharing with kids and parents, we are certain this first book will be loved by children but trusted and respected by parents. We can’t wait to see it hitting bookshelves from February 2022.”

Happy days: Smiley® teams with H&M for ’90s-inspired streetwear

Smiley® is launching a new streetwear collaboration with fashion giant H&M.

Designed for both men and women, the collection is infused with full-on retro vibes, and is supported by a 90s-influenced, upbeat and vibrant campaign that is “a youthful symbol of defiant optimism”.

The collection includes tie-dye hoodies, loose-fit denim and relaxed joggers, tees, rugby shirts and sport socks, as well as fun, flippant accessories and key pieces like the pile vest and the puffer jacket. The colour palette is light purple, off-white, soft beige and solid black. The vast majority of the collection is made using more sustainable materials.

The Smiley® is a symbol of positivity that has influenced people around the world for almost 50 years, and a cult-status symbol within music, dance and art. The new Smiley® x H&M collection offers “an exciting and playful mix of 1990s style and hyper-modern touches” and launches on November 30 in selected stores and at hm.com.

Wimpy Kid appoints Brands with Influence to spearhead UK consumer products programme

On the back of another consecutive international number-one bestselling children’s book and ahead of a new animated movie streaming on Disney+, Wimpy Kid, Inc. has appointed Brands with Influence (BWI) to manage and market its consumer products programme in the UK.

A cartoon fiction series by Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time, having sold over 250 million copies in 79 editions and 65 languages since it was first published in 2007. The series is published in the UK by Puffin, and the UK is a major and long-established market for the IP.

With 16 books in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid continues to outsell its competitors. The most recent title, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot (released 26.10.21), was an instant No #1 in the UK children’s book chart.

The story that started it all, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, will be brought to life as an original movie on Disney+ this festive season. The 3D colour animated feature will release worldwide on the platform on December 3, 2021.

Speaking of the new partnership with Brands with Influence, Vanessa Jedrej, Global Brand Manager at Wimpy Kid, Inc, says: “We’re confident that BWI will apply their wisdom, passion and thoughtfulness to deliver a range of attractive and authentic products that Wimpy Kid enthusiasts will truly treasure. Wimpy Kid has a long-standing, loyal fanbase in the UK and we look forward to partnering with BWI to build an enduring programme that will satisfy both younger children and send our nostalgically devoted ‘Gen Z’ following into meltdown.”

“We are delighted to be entrusted with such a valuable and powerful children’s brand,” says Martin Lowde, CEO at Brands with Influence. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid has an ageless quality and deals with universally relatable themes like family dynamics, surviving middle school, and friendships. Kids across the globe love the style and humour of the books. We are looking forward to creating a strong consumer products programme on this massive brand.”

Brands with Influence will be meeting with key partners and potential licensees at the upcoming BLE in London.

 

 

Rolling Stones launch limited-edition collection with Tommy Jeans

Tommy Hilfiger’s denim offering TOMMY JEANS has partnered with the Rolling Stones for the “Tommy Revisited: Music Edition’‘ collection. Combining the TOMMY JEANS streetwear aesthetic with tour merchandise-inspired apparel, the new range honours musical legends including TLC, Britney Spears and legendary rock band The Rolling Stones.

The Stones apparel drops at the Rolling Stones’ global flagship store, RS No.9 Carnaby, at 9 Carnaby Street, and online at carnaby.therollingstonesshop.co.uk on Friday 12 November. Consisting of six styles of tees and sweatshirts in strong, bold colourways, the range celebrates the iconic 1999 Rolling Stones X Tommy Hilfiger No Security tour merchandise with a TOMMY JEANS twist. Made from organic cotton, all the products feature the iconic Rolling Stones tongue and lips logo, and are available in both unisex and female sizing.

Three limited-edition, stand-out pieces from the collaboration have been produced exclusively for sale only at the global flagship store RS No.9 Carnaby: a printed black tee, denim jacket and long-sleeve sweat, both embroidered all over with the iconic tongue and lips Rolling Stones logo. These three exclusive pieces will sit alongside the wider collection in-store.

RS No. 9 Carnaby is the Rolling Stones’ world-first flagship store, which opened in September 2020. It was created in partnership with Bravado, Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company.

 

New US licensing partnerships for Moomins

King Features Syndicate has announced a robust new licensing programme for the children’s property Moomin as the brand continues to gain momentum in North America. This growth is supported by new consumer product launches, the recent theatrical release of TOVE – a new biopic about Moomins’ creator Tove Jansson – and a Moomin exhibit now open at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C.

On November 5, Just Peachy, a California clothing and accessories brand, released its line of Moomin-inspired apparel, accessories and novelty items including hoodies, sweatshirts, bags and woven throw blankets. Additionally, the fan-favourite Ripple Junction apparel line has been renewed with Moomin-themed tops, loungewear, joggers, swimsuits, mobile phone accessory, pins and more. Moomin characters will appear on assorted apparel, accessories, footwear and skateboard decks from Rowing Blazers in 2022.

The expanded Moomin licensing programme comes on the heels of the biopic TOVE, which was theatrically released in the U.S. earlier this year. The movie follows the artistic struggles and unconventional personal life of Tove Jansson, who found worldwide success from an unexpected side project: the creation of the beloved world of the Moomins.

Now through January 9, 2022, fans in the United States can experience the magic of Moominvalley in person at the National Children’s Museum in D.C. by visiting the “Moomin Animations – Thrills and Cuddles” exhibit. The exhibit is produced by the world’s only Moomin Museum and brought to the U.S. by the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C. Combining texts and colourful illustrations, the exhibit retells the story of how the Finnish author Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin books and comics have been brought to life using animation. Families can enjoy Moomin animation from different eras and parts of the world, from the very first Moomin film to premiere on TV to the most recent, award-winning 3D animation series, Moominvalley. The exhibition is co-produced by the Moomin Museum, the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C., National Children’s Museum, Gutsy Animations Ltd. and Moomin Characters Ltd., and is supported by Finarte and Lovi Ltd.

As part of the annual Kids Euro Festival in D.C., organised by the EU Delegation to the United States, the Embassy of Finland and National Children’s Museum distributed 400 free tickets to the exhibition this autumn. In addition, the festival offers a variety of free online programming for everyone to enjoy at home. Upcoming events include The Music of Moominvalley (Saturday, November 20, 10:30 am ET), in which composers Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saari share how they made the music for the hit TV series Moominvalley (Gutsy Animations, 2019), and Christmas in Moominvalley (Saturday, December 11, 10:30 am ET). Log on to hear a Moomin story written by Tove Jansson and learn about the holiday traditions of Finland.

“Moomin and its charming characters are known around the world for friendship, love and adventure and have become a true cultural phenomenon,” says King Features Vice President and General Manager, Global Head of Licensing, Carla Silva. “We are thrilled to be sharing the Moomin values with consumers in North America through local products and experiences that the whole family can enjoy.”

First debuted more than 75 years ago, Moomin has an extensive fan base across European territories and is now gaining popularity in North America. The 3D CGI series Moominvalley currently airing in multiple territories around the world.

 

Banijay Brands launches licensing programmes for homes and interiors titles

Banijay Brands has announced the launch of new consumer products programmes for hit property and garden makeover shows including Interior Design Masters, Your Home Made Perfect and Your Garden Made Perfect. Accompanied by modern creative assets and fresh style guides, the extensive licensing programmes will cover multiple categories spanning consumer products, gaming, experiential and publishing.

Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing at Banijay Brands, says: “Demand for off-air extensions from our home improvement and renovation formats is at an all-time high, and this slate of shows is a fantastic addition to our portfolio. These are brands that are synonymous with innovative and stylish transformations, and they offer exciting opportunities for our licensing partners.”

Hosted by Alan Carr, Interior Design Masters, from Banijay label DSP, takes ten fledgling stylists and launches them into the competitive world of interior design to fight it out for the chance to win a life-changing design contract with a prestigious commercial client. The first series of Interior Design Masters premiered in August 2019 as BBC Two’s No.1 show of the day and series two, which launched in February 2021, built on the share of 16-34s by 191% compared to the previous series.

Created by Banijay’s Remarkable Television, Your Home Made Perfect and Your Garden Made Perfect encapsulate the desire from modern homeowners to transform their indoor and outdoor living areas. The series use cutting-edge technology and VR to show homeowners the potential of their spaces, resulting in extraordinary and breath-taking transformations. In the UK, Your Home Made Perfect was awarded Best Original Programme in the 2021 Broadcast Awards and the third series, which launched on BBC Two this year, had its highest ever audience, making it the channel’s number one show of the day. The format has also travelled to the Netherlands and France. The first series of Your Garden Made Perfect delivered an average audience of over 2m viewers, +58% above BBC Two’s primetime average market share and a second series has been confirmed.

Banijay Brands will showcase their portfolio at this year’s BLE (stand C122)