TheSoul Publishing names Retail Monster as U.S. licensing agent for 5-Minute Crafts

Award-winning global digital studio TheSoul Publishing has announced a partnership with brand extension specialist Retail Monster, to develop licensing and retail programmes around its flagship franchise, 5-Minute Crafts.

Known around the globe for its positive, fun and quirky crafts, 5-Minute Crafts is the world’s top DIY brand and the only channel to consistently rank among the top 10 on both YouTube and Facebook. Igniting a creative spark on a daily basis by offering viewers clever solutions to everyday problems, 5-Minute Crafts boasts an audience of 350M+ YouTube combined subscribers, 300M+ Facebook combined followers, 55M+ Instagram subscribers and 25M+ TikTok combined followers.

“As TheSoul Publishing premieres at Licensing Expo for the first time ever, we are incredibly excited to announce our collaboration with Retail Monster, a leader in the consumer product space. They continuously elevate brands with compelling retail and licensing opportunities, and we know they will bring an innovative and fun approach to our flagship brand, 5-Minute Crafts,” says Ines Pacheco, Director of Licensing at TheSoul Publishing. “With successful touch points to our audience already established through digital and streaming video, podcasting, music and more, licensing programmes will now further connect TheSoul to our fans and develop our suite of brands into household names.”

“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with TheSoul Publishing on their immensely popular brand 5-Minute Crafts,” says Michael Connolly, Founder of Retail Monster LLC. “There is an incredible opportunity to connect with U.S. consumers at retail by creating compelling and tangible products which replicate the fun DIY experience of this brand.”

Known as the “powerhouse of positivity”, TheSoul Publishing is diving into the merchandising world as it opens its doors to opportunity at the 2022 Las Vegas Licensing Expo. With over one billion followers and subscribers across social media, the digital studio will be exploring potential licensing partnerships around the studio’s brand portfolio including 5-Minute Crafts, 123 GO!, Baby Zoo, Avocado Couple, La La Life, Polar and more.

TheSoul Publishing has garnered numerous accolades including the ‘Digital Studio of the Year’ at the 2021 Digiday Video & TV Awards, a 2021 Drum Award win, a 2021 Webby Award nomination for 5-Minute Crafts, seven Shorty Award nominations, a pair of 2022 Digiday Video & TV Award nominations including ‘Best Use of YouTube’, and a 2022 Webby Honoree for ‘Best Overall Social Presence in Media/Entertainment’.

For further information about TheSoul Publishing visit the website.

IMC Toys signs Retail Monster for Cry Babies Magic Tears UK licensing programme

Leading toy company IMC Toys has signed Retail Monster as its licensing agent and launched a licensing programme for Cry Babies Magic Tears in the UK.
The new partnership is testament to the performance of the Cry Babies Magic Tears brand in the UK, which has seen phenomenal growth and success over the last 18 months.
Licensing is a major part of IMC’s business in Spain, and other territories worldwide. In less than two years the company has entered into agreements with more than 65 licensees in 40 regions, launching more than 500 licensed products across publishing, apparel, educational games, personal care and confectionery categories.
IMC Toys hopes its licensing agreement with Retail Monster will translate into a similar success story for Cry Babies Magic Tears in the UK market, where the licensing roll-out will launch with apparel and publishing.
Gemma Witts, Managing Director EU at Retail Monster, says: “We’re excited about the opportunity to develop the Cry Babies Magic Tears licensing strategy at retail and with consumer fans, and to bring added breadth and growth to a top selling brand”.
“We’re experiencing rapid growth of our licensing programme worldwide, it’s a significant addition to our retail strategy,” adds Cristina Camprubi, Licensing Director at IMC Toys.  “We’re thrilled about our new partnership with Retail Monster and the potential their expertise can bring to the UK market for Cry Babies Magic Tears”.
For more information on ranges by IMC Toys, contact info.uk@imctoys.com

Cyber Group Studios names Retail Monster US licensing agent for The McFire Family and Press Start!

Cyber Group Studios, the international producer/distributor of animated series best known for its award-winning preschool show, Gigantosaurus, has appointed licensing agency Retail Monster to develop strategic licensing programsme in the U.S. for two of its new CG animated kids’ adventure series: The McFire Family, an original production, and Press Start!, based on the best-selling book series from Scholastic.

“Retail Monster has a proven track record of success in developing meter-moving consumer products programmes, and we look forward to partnering with them to help establish and broaden the opportunities for these two new standout brands,” says Karen K. Miller, President & CEO, Cyber Group Studios USA.

The McFire Family and Press Start! are very engaging new series and we’re excited to be working with Cyber Group Studios to build best-in-class licensing programmes that will resonate with kids and their families across the U.S.,” says Michael Connolly, Founder and CEO, Retail Monster. “We expect to make partnership announcements very soon.”

The McFire Family (52 x 11) centres on a family of firefighters whose ancestors were the very first firefighters in history. The legacy continues with three siblings, 12-year-old Tom, 10-year-old Sparkle, and 6-year-old Jax, the next generation of “super-firefighters”, who join their parents and grandpa on exciting rescue adventures. Together, they use cool vehicles and high-tech gear to save the day. The series, for viewers ages 6-9, is created by Sissmann.

Press Start! (52 x 11), picks up where the popular Scholastic book series of the same name leaves off. The show follows the adventures of Sunny and Rue Zaki, a dynamic brother and sister duo who discover a mysterious game controller that gives them the ability to enter the world of their favourite videogame. Inside the game world, they team up with their videogame idol, Super Rabbit Boy, and help him save the world one eight-bit villain at a time. The show, for kids ages 4-7, is developed and executive produced by Emmy-winning writer and showrunner Scott Kraft (PAW Patrol).

Emoji renews slate of US licensing partners as Retail Monster continues to grow the brand

The Emoji Company has renewed a slate of US licensees across apparel, accessories, health and beauty, and fabrics in a sweep of deals brokered by the brand’s North American licensing agent, Retail Monster LLC.

Under the renewed partnerships, Emoji licensed product will continue to be developed and rolled-out by ASO, American Marketing Enterprises and Briefly Stated, David’s Textiles, Decopac, and Isaac Morris Limited, ensuring the brand’s continued presence in sleepwear, fabric, cake decorations, apparel, and more.

Michael Connolly, founder and CEO of Retail Monster, said: “The Emoji brand has proven universal, with Emoji licensed products having become staples at across retail and e-commerce 365 days a year. Even in a year full of uncertainty, Emoji- the Iconic Brand and our partners continue to deliver.”

Marco Huesges, founder and CEO of the Emoji Company, added: “We have the strongest and most collaborative partners in the business. Each of these partners has been committed to ongoing innovation and new product development, and has had best selling SKUs for years across retail. Coupled with our extensive portfolio of Emoji – the Iconic Brand licensees, we remain confident the best is yet to come.”

These renewal partners are part of a stable of licensees, which includes: Alcove (Vitamins); Aristocrat (Gaming); Bentex Group, inc. (Kids apparel); EVZ Inc. (E-commerce); Fast Forward (bags), Handcraft (underwear), and more. In addition to these US licensees, Peter Noonan of NPZ Consulting Inc. works in tandem with Retail Monster to oversee the brand’s Canadian licensees.

Partners in the Canadian market include Brand Partners Group, Centura, Isaac Morris, Regal Confections, and more.

Retail Monster secures first partners for Borderlands spin-off video game Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Video game publishers Gearbox Entertainment and 2K have detailed the debut consumer products programme to support the upcoming release of the new fantasy-based shooter game, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Based on the character Tiny Tina from the popular Borderlands video game franchise, the new titles is set to launch on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in early 2022.

The licensing programme around the hotly anticipated game is being led by Retail Monster who has already secured a host of strategically-chosen debut partners across toys, collectables, apparel, accessories, home goods, publushing, and subscription boxes. The group is also exploring complementary categories, with new partners to be announced soon.

“We are thrilled to announce our strongest roster of partners for a new IP in Gearbox history,” said Sean Haran, chief business officer at Gearbox Entertainment. “Expanding Gearbox’s IP outside of videogames has been an exciting and rewarding frontier. With this fresh take on fantasy, we are pursuing ancillary partnerships that reflect our confidence in the broad appeal of this new title.”

Debut partners for the new video game Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, include Mighty Jaxx for the global distribution of stylised collectables, Bioworld Merchandise for apparel and home accessories, Dark Horse Comics, Funko for a series of Pop! vinyls, and LootCrate for a dedicated Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Crate.

“Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is an exciting new world to play within, mixing high fantasy adventure with co-op, looting, and a sense of humor that will be familiar to fans of Borderlands. Most importantly, it has a big sense of fun. We hope to bring that fun and adventure to life through the products our partners create,” said Erica Hollinshead Stead, director of licensing, Gearbox Entertainment.

Developed by Gearbox Entertainment, the anticipated ESRB rating for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is T for Teen.

Emoji partners with eco-focused Greenre Brand to launch new sustainable range

Emoji – The Iconic Brand is making new waves across the Canadian market thanks to a new partnership with INProduction Licensing’s Greenre Brand that will see the launch of new stationery, activity, crafts, novelty, and back to school lines.

The new deal marks a firm foothold for the Emoji company in the sustainable products market, teaming with a specialist in the field who boasts a portfolio of products developed from recycled, natural materials, recyclables, non-toxic, bio-fibres, as well as new age biopolymers.

“We are excited to start our partnership with Greenre Brand,” said Marco Huesges, CEO and founder of the Emoji Company. “Its product portfolio is truly innovative and eco-friendly with recyclable materials to support our environment.”

As the energy and climate crisis continues to become an increasingly serious environmental problem, Emoji’s latest partnership is one of many sweeping across the licensing industry with a greater environmental consciousness, reflective of the growing desire among consumers and brands alike to help tip the scales of the issue through considered purchases.

Globally recognised brands making the leap into eco-friendly product development is a considerable move forwards for the ongoing and ever-pressing campaign.

Keith Loiselle, president, and CEO of Greenre Brand, said: “Partnering with the Emoji brand is important for Greenre. The Emoji brand is a global phenomenon, a globally recognized brand with products in over 130 countries. We could not be more excited, and we look forward to years of mutual beneficial product development.”  

The new partnership will be managed by Peter Noonan of NPZ Consulting Inc, working with Retail Monster, the Emoji Company’s North American licensing agency.