National Hot Rod Association propels into new categories through latest licensing partnerships

The National Hot Rod Association’s official licensing agency, JRL Group, has secured three new NHRA licensing partnerships that look to propel the growing consumer products and licensing programme into new categories and distribution channels.

The three new NHRA licensees crossing the line this season are JH Design with a new range of apparel and outerwear, Holland Bar Stool for home decor bar stools, tables, and neon wall clocks, and Authentic Street Signs with its stainless steel signs.

“We are very excited about these new licensing partnerships as we continue to leverage the NHRA’s rich heritage as well as its best-in-class reputation to deliver high quality products for loyal NHRA fans,” said Andy Lieb, president of JRL Group.

The NHRA is one of the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning bodies. Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has been the preeminent force in the world of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding. The NHRA fields race teams with over 11,000 horsepower that reach extreme speeds of over 300mph in just under four seconds.

The 24 national NHRA race event schedule is from February to November and airs on Fox Sports and FS1.

The NHRA Licensing Program will continue to focus on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, home decor as well as items for the garage for the auto enthusiast such as automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.

Panini UK: “We had large numbers of requests from UK Tour de France fans, so we listened”

Panini UK will be working with Tour de France organisers this year with campaigns running across its social media platforms to engage the cycling community in its 2020 Tour de France stickers and cards collection. Its UK launch arrives in direct response to a ‘large number of requests’ from UK fans.

The new launch – scheduled for this August 6th – will mark the first time that Panini UK and Eire has overseen its own Tour de France collection. The new stickers and cards collection arrives on UK shores following a surge in the number of requests from UK Tour fans when the collection launched to the international market for last year’s event.

The 2020 Tour de France – while moved back to a start date of August 29th this year – is one of the few sporting events not to be cancelled this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Clover, head of marketing, sport, at Panini UK, told Licensing.biz: “Panini UK and Eire are really excited to be launching our first Tour de France collection this year. We have received a large number of requests from UK Tour fans, asking us to bring the collection to our shores, and we have listened.

“As a global leader in sports collectables, Panini understands the huge passion and following that the Tour has this side of the channel, and we can’t wait to let collectors get their hands on the new album.”

Panini launched its first international partnership with the Tour de France last year. The 2020 event will be the first time Panini UK brings the collectables collection to the UK.

“Last year was the first that Panini launched an official Grand Tour collection and we are incredibly proud to have been entrusted with creating a collection for such a historical event, which means so much to cycling fans all over the World,” said Clover.

“We will be ensuring the collection has a promotional platform designed to get albums to all the fans that we know are keen to start collecting and we will be working closely with the Tour organisers across our social media to engage the cycling community.”

Riverside Brands scores Rugby League World Cup ahead of 2021 tournament

The Rugby League World Cup has tapped Riverside Brands to lead its third party collaborations and licensing agreements in time for its much anticipated 2021 World Cup event. Under the deal, Riverside Brands’ remit will be secure partnerships across consumer products, drive brand exposure, and deepen engagement with the tournament.

Founded last year by Ashley Holman – formerly a senior director at Nickelodeon with 15 years sector experience – Riverside Brands will engage the global marketplace for RLWC2021 via the company’s industry network covering leading licensees and retailers.

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle major event of Rugby League, globally contested every four years. England 2021 will be a breakthrough moment in the tournament’s history with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions being staged together for the first-time during October and November next year.

RLWC2021 has also confirmed the appointment of Skew Studio to develop an insight led style guide for consumer products which will support the tournament’s values and brand story, and be used across retail and licensees. This follows the announcement last month of Kappa as the Official Apparel Partner of RLWC2021.

Jonathan Neill, commercial director at RLWC2021, said: “Our licensing strategy and delivery is a crucial part of our commercial programme. We need to transcend the sport of Rugby League and positively engage a new audience, and we feel that Riverside Brands and licensing will play a hugely important role in helping to achieve that.

“With 13 million people in the UK following Rugby League, 750,000 fans expected at the 61 matches at the tournament, coverage of all matches across the BBC, and international TV reach in over 100 territories, we have a significant platform and are excited about collaborating with brands on consumer products.”

Ashley Holman, managing director at Riverside Brands, added: “We’re really delighted to be working with the RLWC2021 team. After a tough year for sport, the prospect of extending the life of a much revered and eagerly anticipated tournament is really exciting to us. We’re looking forward to solidifying partnerships that champions the brand’s effervescent spirit, delights its loyal fans, as well as introducing it to new audiences.”

Postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games to keep Tokyo 2020 trademark for merchandise and licensing partners

The postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 are to maintain their trademarked names in a bid to alleviate concerns around merchandise and licensing partnerships, despite the event being moved to 2021 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee and the 2020 Games’ host nation, Tokyo, reached the decision last week to postpone the global events scheduled to take place this summer as the world continued to deal with the ongoing issue of the coronavirus.

The weighty decision was the subject of much speculation in the weeks leading up to the announcement, as it faced major reluctance to not hold the Olympics and Paralympic Games in Tokyo this year. The move has marked an unprecedented course of action as this is the first time in its 124 year modern history that the Olympic Games has been delayed.

The games have before been cancelled altogether in 1916, 1940 and 1944 during World War One and World War Two.

Among the many elements surrounding the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be affected by the decision, of course, are its many merchandise and licensing partners now in various stages of development, production, and distribution of the official Tokyo 2020 consumer products.

A spokesperson from the IOC told Licensing.biz that while conversations with licensees have only just started, what is known is that the Games “will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, so that the trademarks are not changed.”

“We are, of course, working in close collaboration with all of our licensees to ensure the success of their respective collections launch,” they said.

“As you certainly know this is an unprecedented situation and the first time in Olympic history that the Games will be postponed.”

The IOC intends to keep the industry updated on developments.

NASCAR teams with iRacing to launch new simulation racing exhibition amid strong growth for NASCAR licensing

NASCAR and iRacing have come together to form a new eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, a simulation racing exhibition that will feature some of the biggest names in the sport.

The new series will provide racing entertainment for sports fans across the leading motorsports racing simulation platform. A long-term licensee, iRacing is often used by NASCAR drivers to simulate track events as they prepare for their next race.

The move has been launched following the postponement of the planned NASCAR Cup Series as the world battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Interest in NASCAR has been growing not only in the US but globally, according to the organisation, who cites an ‘exceptionally strong 2019 holiday season for NASCAR-licensed products,’ with double digit growth in the fourth quarter.

According to NASCAR, year to date sales continue to register double digit growth both trackside and on NASCAR Shop.

Coinciding with the launch of the new iRacing Pro Invitational Series, NASCAR has worked with its portfolio of licensing partners to develop and deliver a range of eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational products.

Mattel celebrates Tokyo 2020 with the launch of the first Olympic Games toy line

Mattel is celebrating Tokyo 2020 with the launch of the first Olympic Games toy collection, featuring a variety of products from across its Barbie, Hot Wheels, and UNO brands.

In an exclusive licensing agreement with the International Olympic Committee, Mattel will launch a range of products and toys each reflecting the inclusivity and innovation, as well as a host of new sports, that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will represent.

New sports to be represented at this year’s Olympics include baseball/softball, sport climbing, karate, skateboarding and surfing – all to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans around the world.

The Mattel toy and product launch is part of the International Olympic Committee’s ongoing global licensing strategy.

“In line with our Global Licensing Strategy, this new international licensing collaboration with Mattel is a great way to engage with an important audience, our younger fans and their families, and through these high-quality products to connect them with the Olympic brand and values,” said Timo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services.

“Tokyo 2020 is a monumental event that brings the world together through sport and inspires fans of all ages,” said Janet Hsu, chief franchise officer of Mattel. “The Mattel Tokyo 2020 Collection honours these sports and inspires a new generation through the Olympic spirit and outstanding athletic tradition.”

Products will include Barbie Dolls Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as the doll embraces five new sports added to the Olympic programme, and the Hot Wheels Mini Collection for The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 representing iconic sports of Tokyo 2020, from historic sports dating back to the first Games in Athens, to new sports that make their debut this year in Tokyo.

Sports celebrated in Hot Wheels die-cast form include track and field, gymnastics, swimming, basketball and beach volleyball, and the newly added sports: baseball/softball, sport climbing, karate, skateboarding and surfing.

Two cars within the collection are Hot Wheels versions of Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota’s vehicles ’10 Toyota Tundra and Toyota 2000 GT.

UNO will also be part of the celebrations, with the UNO Celebrating Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 line, featuring the mascot of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Miraitowa.

The Tokyo 2020 Collection by Mattel will be available in retailers around the globe, as well as on the Mattel Shop.

Building on the Olympic Agenda 2020, the International Olympic Committee Global Licensing Strategy aims to create a tangible connection to the Olympic Games and Olympism through merchandising programmes that are aligned with the Olympic image and enhance brand value and goodwill.

The objective is to strengthen and promote the Olympic brand, not only during the Olympic Games, but between Games as well.

The IOC Global Licensing Strategy is divided into three core licensing programmes aimed at specific target groups: The Olympic Heritage Collection, The Olympic Collection and The Olympic Games Programme.

WildBrain CPLG scores freestyle footballer Touzani representation

WildBrain CPLG is to represent the sports, fashion, and lifestyle brand Touzani in the Benelux region, targeting toys and games, stationery and back to school, homewares, accessories, publishing, and promotions.

The Touzani brand is inspired by Soufiane Touzani, the successful street footballer and media personality across the region.

Soufiane Touzani is hailed as the pioneer of modern freestyle football and has played with some of the world’s most celebrated players. He has an impressive online presence for his football focused content with over 837k YouTube subscribers, 1.2m followers on Instagram and 400k Facebook fans, in addition to a television show which aired in the Netherlands during 2018 titled Tiki Taka Touzani

In 2018, Touzani also launched a successful apparel collection for adults and kids featuring innovative patterns, branding and materials.

Brenda Draaisma, general manager at WildBrain CPLG Benelux, said: “Soufiane Touzani is the pioneer of freestyle football and one the sport’s most successful players, as well a hugely popular influencer and inspiration to the next generation.

“With the licensing programme for Touzani in its early stages, our expertise will enable us build upon the brand’s success so far and assemble a robust merchandise and retail programme for Touzani’s impressive fan base in the Benelux market.”

Touzani added: “Our brand is about inspiring individuals, creating role models and celebrating equality around the world with intent, gratitude and purpose. Together with WildBrain CPLG, I’m confident we can create synergy and harness these values to build a line of creative and fresh products for fans across Benelux.”