Caroline Mickler Ltd appointed as global agent for Stanley Kubrick classics

Caroline Mickler Ltd has been appointed by The Stanley Kubrick Film Archive as global licensing agent for a number of Stanley Kubrick’s best-known works.

In this role the award-winning independent company will build on the success of the Warner Bros global licensing programme for six of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic films: The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Barry Lyndon, Eyes Wide Shut and A Clockwork Orange, which continues its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2022.

Stanley Kubrick created genre-defining worlds for his films, using stunning imagery and designs that are uniquely recognisable to this day. It is the visually striking nature of these films, along with their classic status, that Caroline Mickler plans to translate into a truly original licensing campaign focusing on the delivery of unique products across multiple categories.

Brand collaborations, fashion collections and fan-based merchandise are all expected to play a role in a carefully curated licensing programme that will pay homage to Stanley Kubrick’s extraordinary work and its enduring popularity with millions of fans around the world.

MD Caroline Mickler will be at BLE discussing the development of this programme along with plans for the coming year.

In a career that spanned nearly 50 years Stanley Kubrick gained an enduring reputation as one of the most original and influential filmmakers in cinematic history. He proved his genius across multiple genres, including war, science fiction, satire, horror, historical drama and much more, gaining a reputation as a true visionary, whose works have influenced innumerable filmmakers and remain popular to this day.

Jonathan Cameron, President of The Stanley Kubrick Film Archive, says: “Bringing the iconic work of this master filmmaker to a global licensing programme requires a partner with a clear understanding both of brand management and of the unique nature of Stanley Kubrick and his films. In Caroline Mickler we have found that partner. We are looking forward enormously to working with her and her team.”

Caroline Mickler says: “Few films in history can claim the lasting significance and appeal of Stanley Kubrick’s works, which are visually striking and memorable in a way that we believe can inspire products that are both desirable and highly original. We are truly honoured to be representing Stanley Kubrick and his unique and ground-breaking movies.”

 

ViacomCBS teams with Asda Opticians for film and TV-branded eyewear

ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK has announced a new partnership with Asda Opticians and optical wholesaler Alexander Parker Ltd to launch branded optical ranges for spectacle wearers of all ages. The new collections will include branded glasses showcasing some of ViacomCBS’s most iconic properties including PAW Patrol (produced by Spin Master Entertainment), SpongeBob SquarePants and Paramount movie classics such as Grease and Baywatch.

This first-time partnership with Asda Opticians comprises of two ranges of colourful eyewear for kids and adults which are rolling out across more than 130 Asda stores across the UK. The “Kids”collection, featuring Nickelodeon properties such as children’s favourites PAW Patrol, launched this autumn with SpongeBob SquarePants launching on 30 January 2022. The “In the Movies” adult range also launched this autumn and spotlighted some of Paramount Pictures’ classic movies including Grease, Footloose, Top Gun and Baywatch.

The “In the Movies” collection is priced at £80 for one pair, even if lenses need to be varifocal or if consumers need to have thinned lenses. This range also includes sun tints for adults; a second pair includes buy2 save £40 pricing. The “Kids” collection is free with an NHS voucher*, and any of the kids’ frames can be used for prescription sunglasses for just £15.

*NHS vouchers for glasses will only be issued following an eye test if a prescription is required. For more information, visit www.opticians.asda.com.

 

Myprotein and Hotel Chocolat launch luxury collection for Christmas

Sports nutrition brand Myprotein has partnered with luxury chocolatier Hotel Chocolat to launch a range of layered bars and protein chocolate.

Available online, the limited-edition collection has been 18 months in the making and has been created to add a touch of luxury and indulgence to Myprotein’s sports nutrition range in the run-up to Christmas.

The Hotel Chocolat line, made using more cacao and less sugar, includes the following festive products:

Chocolate Orange Layered Bar (RRP £16.99): Two layers of chocolate flavour and orange flavoured protein with a caramel layer, soya protein nuggets and cacao cookie drops, enrobed in a dark couverture chocolate.

Chocolate & Salted Caramel Layered Bar (RRP £16.99): Two layers of chocolate flavour and caramel flavour protein with a caramel layer, soya protein nuggets and cacao cookie drops, enrobed in a dark couverture chocolate.

Luxury Protein Slab (available from 1 November, RRP £5.99): The iconic Hotel Chocolat chocolate with 20g of Myprotein’s best-selling whey protein isolate.

The Myprotein and Hotel Chocolat range is available online.

Surge Brands named as North American licensing agent for mobile game Epic Seven

Leading global licensing agency Surge Licensing has been appointed as North American licensing agent for the fan favourite and community-driven anime RPG Epic Seven “E7”, developed by Super Creative and published by Smilegate Megaport.

E7 is an 2D anime-inspired epic featuring over 1,000 stories and 234 collectable characters, in which players explore and adventure through the Land of Orbis, attempting to prevent its demise. Surge Licensing has been retained to develop a merchandise programme across multiple categories, including toy, publishing, apparel, table-top games, and digital products including NFTs and more. The launch is anticipated in Q2, 2022 across retailers and direct-to-consumer platforms.

With an 18–34-year-old adult demographic, E7 is played in over 145 countries and has topped growth charts in all of the major territories. The game was recognised as a “Top 10 RPG Game of 2020” by the Apple App Store and is a Top 3 grossing RPG on Android. In 2018, E7 was awarded the “Best Mobile Game” in the Korea Game Awards and “The Game of 2018” in the Google Play Store. E7 boasts a loyal fan base with over a billion minutes played every month.

E7 is an adventure unlike anything seen on mobile, with anime-inspired production values that rival television and film production quality,” says Elan Freedman, Surge Licensing EVP.  “With a loyal and engaged fanbase of hundreds of thousands in the US alone, we’ll be able to leverage the game’s plethora of characters and rich backgrounds to create a robust L&M program to further engage players with the brand as it continues to build its user base on a global scale.”

Founded in 1986, Surge Licensing is an IP incubator, which identifies, nurtures, and grows brands into multi-platformed entertainment and consumer product licensing programs. It has developed a number of pop culture’s best-known properties, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesStreet SharksAxe CopFeisty Pets and more.

Growth for Bing softlines as Acamar Films renews deals with apparel partners

Following the continued success of Bing softlines in the UK, Acamar Films has announced the renewal of existing apparel partnerships with William Lamb, Aykroyds & TDP and Fashion UK.

In the last year, there has been an increase in the overall apparel business with sales doubling in the first six months of 2021 against the same period in 2020 and the daywear business seeing a significant increase. Yearly trend guides are supporting the development of fresh and colourful designs and the latest guide, released in September, is already inspiring new ranges for delivery in 2022.

Aykroyds & TDP has been a successful long-term partner for Bing, with its nightwear range naturally aligning with bedtime routines, one of the show’s key themes.

Dean Greasley, Head of Licensing at TDP Textiles, says: “Bing has been a core offering in our preschool stable since 2016 and each year the Bing business has steadily grown for us. We are delighted to be renewing our partnership once more with the Bing team.”

Bing’s gender-neutral appeal has enabled Fashion UK to capture key online retail space during a challenging time, offering apparel-buying departments flexibility with their merchandising.

Hannah Miles, Joint Managing Director at Fashion UK, says: “Gender neutral brands are becoming more of a consideration when our buyers are looking at properties to support. Bing has a unisex appeal and the yearly trend guides mean that we can offer each of our retailers a different look and feel, with timeless designs to suit any time of the year.”

Online was a key area for softline growth in 2021. The launch of new girlswear lines on the Asda George website for spring/summer, Smiffys’ new Sula costume at Sainsbury’s TU for World Book Day and a Character.com website takeover in July generated a huge audience response, with Bing’s highly engaged social community sharing photos of their Bingsters enjoying their Bing apparel.

Meanwhile, autumn/winter has seen the launch of the new Bing BBC Children in Need range, with exclusive clothing lines available on The Bing Store and a portion of the proceeds going towards helping young people across the UK.

Louise Simmonds, Head of UK Licensing at Acamar Films, comments: “We are delighted to have seen real growth this year across all our apparel categories. The launches of some great new products and an expansion of our retail footprint is a real positive in what has continued to be a tough year. We very much look forward to continuing with all our partners.”

 

UFC names The Memento Group official global memorabilia partner

Mixed martial arts organisation the UFC and The Memento Group (TMG), a global leader in sports memorabilia and licensed products, have announced a multi-year partnership in which TMG will become the global distributor of officially licensed UFC memorabilia. The agreement was brokered by UFC’s licensing agency IMG.

Under the terms of the agreement, TMG will offer fans access to exclusive, limited edition and rare pieces of UFC event memorabilia, from fight-worn gloves and fight kits, to fight-night posters and photographs signed by their favorite UFC athletes. Items will be hologrammed, registered digitally, and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity as confirmation of their source. All products will be contained within premium packaging for the ultimate customer experience.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Memento Group as our new global memorabilia partner,” says Tracey Bleczinski, Senior Vice President, UFC Global Consumer Products. “The memorabilia business is a priority because these products are such authentic touchpoints for fans to stay connected to UFC and truly own the moment. With TMG’s expertise in this space, we are confident fans will appreciate the quality, authenticity and value of each piece of UFC memorabilia that TMG offers.”

Philip Danglidis, Commercial Director of The Memento Group, commented: “UFC is a truly global sporting phenomenon and we are delighted to be embarking with them on this new exciting journey – one that will bring fans even closer to the sport they love via the opportunity to own certified and authenticated memorabilia. Our proven track record not only assures customers that they are getting the genuine article, but with our guaranteed methods of authentication, we also help to protect their investment.

“UFC has a worldwide fanbase estimated at more than 625 million people, and it’s now clearly one of the Big Four in terms of popularity in the U.S. The appeal of UFC is growing year on year. As such, the potential for this partnership is colossal. This announcement is only the beginning of what’s to come, and we look forward to revealing more in 2022 and beyond.”

On January 1, 2022, UFC and TMG will launch an online store that will serve as a dedicated marketplace for UFC fans to shop hundreds of ready-to-buy items or trade unique UFC-licensed products, providing a secure, trustworthy platform for buyers. The website will also allow fans to bid for UFC memorabilia by auction. The website, which will be built and managed by TMG, will provide a single point solution for all UFC official memorabilia.

 

 

Starter marks its 50th anniversary with Pull&Bear collab

To mark sports brand Starter’s 50th anniversary, Iconix Europe LLC, the European arm of global brand management company Iconix Brand Group, has teamed up with Inditex’s youth fashion brand Pull&Bear to present the Starter x Pull&Bear Autumn/Winter 2021 capsule collection.

The range combines streetwear with athleisure sportswear and is aimed at a younger fashion-forward demographic. A prominent two-tone theme runs throughout the collection, showcased in a two-tone denim jacket, a patchwork shirt and an oversized cardigan finished with a logo patch.

The centrepiece of the offering is the Starter classic varsity jacket, which has been updated with multiple embroidered Starter 50th anniversary logo patches.

Other standout pieces include a tone-on-tone raincoat with an oversize fit, and faux shearling in the form of a pull-over with a pouch pocket and a second version with a zip fastening, which give a nod to the latest trends. The collection also offers sweatshirt and jogging trouser co-ords, all of which feature pile embroidered logos.

To complete the look, Pull&Bear has developed a comprehensive selection of accessories, including baseball caps, beanies and socks.

The collection will be available in Europe/UK markets, both online at pullandbear.com and in a selected group of stores.

 

 

ZAG appoints former Zinkia exec Marie Doolan as Vice President of TV content

Award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG continues to build its executive leadership team, appointing former Zinkia executive Maria Doolan, who drove the global growth for the hit Pocoyo brand, to the newly created position of VP, TV Content. She reports to Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, and Julian Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Global Consumer Products.

In this new role, Doolan will be responsible for ZAG’s global strategy of content distribution across all platforms including television, home entertainment and digital media, for select properties in the ZAG Heroez portfolio — an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties. Her first priority will be focused on the company’s newest IP, Ghostforce, which was recently acquired by Disney Channels U.S. and debuted in October 2021 on Disney XD. Doolan will also work in partnership with ON kids & family (Mediawan) for the aspirational brand phenom Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, as well as all future ZAG properties.

“Maria has an extensive brand-management background, spearheading efforts across programme distribution and consumer products, and is an expert at driving strategy, building brands and adding value,” says Jeremy Zag. “In her new TV Content role, she will work closely with our consumer products executives to craft strategies for TV placement with best-in-class partners around the globe to build strong platforms from where we can launch new TV shows under  the ZAG Heroez universe.”

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to work with Jeremy, Julian and the global team at ZAG to further drive brand growth worldwide,” adds Doolan. “This new role will allow me to utilise one of my key strengths, which is to transfer big ideas into viable business plans on a global scale, and I am excited to begin diving in on building a global strategy for the content rollout of Ghostforce.

Doolan has over 20 years’ experience managing, marketing and selling TV and retail products and properties, spending 17 years with Zinkia Entertainment. During her tenure with the company, she served in several roles, most recently as Global Head of International TV Distribution & Co-Productions, developing partnerships with multinational players. Prior, she served as Executive Producer of the Early Learning Collaborative, securing a US Ready to Learn (RTL) grant with a local non-profit partner, becoming the first non-US brand to get an RTL grant. Twenty-three educational apps covering English-language learning and math for 3–5 year olds were developed. The grant managed a US$34 million development and marketing budget and supervised the project launch with complementary school marketing materials produced for nationwide US distribution.

In her earliest and most long-lasting role as Managing Director of Brand & Business Development, Doolan was responsible for financing, marketing and managing Pocoyo worldwide, defining the brand and product strategy and market positioning, and  developing key L&M partnerships.

Snowman Enterprises relaunches Winter Windows initiative in support of The British Red Cross

Snowman Enterprises, a Penguin Random House company, has announced that it will be launching The Snowman Winter Windows initiative this November.

Inspired by the rainbows that were displayed during the Covid pandemic last year in support of key workers, last year’s The Snowman Winter Windows campaign encouraged families to create a scene from Raymond Briggs’ timeless picture book, The Snowman, to share a little magic with their community and help to raise vital funds for UK children’s hospices.

This year, Snowman Enterprises is working with longstanding charity partner the British Red Cross to reach an even wider audience. The British Red Cross will be the charity partner for the 2021 Winter Windows campaign and will be encouraging children to create Snowman window scenes by including the activity as part of their schools outreach programme. Official Snowman social media channels will include a dedicated donation link on all Winter Windows content this year to support the British Red Cross.

Georgie Hart, Head of Community Education at the British Red Cross says: “As a long-time partner of Snowman Enterprises we’re delighted to be their chosen charity for this year’s Snowman Winter Windows Campaign. Our Kindness Calendars – which are used by thousands of teachers in schools across the country to help children learn about kindness – will include a Snowman Winter Windows stencil to help children create wonderful winter scenes. We can’t wait to see The Snowman and The Snowdog popping up in windows around the UK this Christmas.”

Snowman Enterprises has engaged multidisciplinary artist and social media influencer James Lewis as The Snowman Winter Windows ambassador this year. James will create a series of digital tutorials and content to inspire families to take part in this new festive tradition and create a Snowman Winter Window at home.

Izzy Richardson, Global Brand Director at Penguin Random House, says: “We are keen to build on the success of last year’s campaign, and inspire as many people as possible to take part in this new festive tradition for The Snowman, and sprinkle some magic at home and in local communities.  We’re delighted to be working with the super talented James Lewis this year and we know his that incredible content is going to bring The World of The Snowman to an even wider audience.”

The World of The Snowman website has recently been relaunched and will host the digital content and tutorials, whilst James Lewis will share content with his global audience of over 5million followers on Instagram and TikTok.

“Having been a life-long fan of the work of Raymond Briggs, it was an honour to be asked to be ambassador for The Snowman Winter Windows Campaign this year,” says James. “The festive season for me is all about getting together with family and creating new memories, so I’m excited to invite people from all over the world to join me in bringing the magic home by creating a Snowman window display.”

In addition, James will be hosting a live draw-a-long segment at a World of The Snowman influencer event this November which will offer guests and their families a fully immersive, festive family workshop.

Hunter collaborates with Disney to create Mickey Mouse inspired capsule collection

Hunter has collaborated with Disney to create a capsule collection inspired by the playfulness of Disney’s best known character.

Designed for the great outdoors, the collection includes reimagined best-selling rain boot styles, bags and accessories for women, men and kids featuring Mickey Mouse illustrations and an eye- catching take on Hunter’s red box logo.

Iconic styles from Hunter such as the Original Tall, Short and Chelsea boots feature a Mickey Mouse 3-D stamp. The Play boot for both men and women features an all-over print inspired by Hunter’s red box logo. For kids, boots are available in vibrant colourways including pink shiver, borealis blue and aurora orange and feature the takeover logo design.

Accessories including umbrellas and backpacks for both adults and kids feature the logo print in a range of colourways. The collection also includes versatile phone pouches, available in three colourways and incorporating the unmistakeable ear silhouette synonymous with Mickey Mouse.

Launching globally on November 15, the collection will be available to buy from Hunterboots.com and selected stores including Harrods, Nordstrom, ISETAN and Zalando.