Tag Archives: The Point 1888.

The British and Irish Lions fire up new licensing programme with The Point. 1888

Posted on by

The British and Irish Lions have detailed an agreement with the brand licensing specialist, The Point.1888, to help the rugby team create a range of new products for the eagerly anticipated Tour to South Africa in 2021. Since the appointment, two partners have already been secured.

The Point.1888 – which has extensive experience working in sports licensing – will now work to devise a multifaceted programme to help meet the Lions’ commercial objectives in the build up to and during next year’s Tour.

Targeting whole families across the UK, product categories to be considered for the licensing programme include kids’ and adult apparel, fitness accessories, publishing, charity partnership ranges, fashion accessories, experiential, homeware, stationery, gifting and collectible items.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with one of the most iconic brands in sport,” said Will Stewart, managing director of The Point.1888. “The British & Irish Lions is a true grassroots brand, with generation upon generation of brand love and affiliation from 1888 onwards.

“We are looking forward to delivering a tremendous programme of products which appeals to all fans and brings supporters and families together to cheer on the Lions. Next year’s summer of sport is set to be the most meaningful and memorable ever, and we couldn’t be more overjoyed to be partnering with the Lions for this tour.”

As proof of The Point.1888’s determination to help the Lions, it has already secured two partners which align to the brand and the programme’s mission: OddBalls and Games on Glove.

OddBalls is a underwear supplier for men, women and children, which raises funds for Testicular Cancer, while Game on Glove is to produce a range of supporters’ merchandise for fans to get behind The Lions during the tour, with accessories, sports equipment and more.

Tom Halsey, commercial director at the British and Irish Lions, said: “We are looking forward to continued growth of the Lions brand through our new partnership with The Point.1888. We are confident that they will deliver top quality, innovative products ahead of what promises to be a very special tour in 2021.”

The Point. 1888 brings Barratt’s iconic sweet brands to the frozen aisle

Posted on by

The Point. 1888 has struck up a sweet new partnership between Barratt and Icefresh Foods to launch a new range of ice creams exclusively for the supermarket chain, Iceland.

The new range will draw on Barratt’s portfolio of iconic confectionery, including Black Jack, Fruit Salad, and Wham, to bring it all to the frozen aisle for the first time in the company’s history. The range will launch exclusively in Iceland stores across the UK from April 20th.

The line-up will be completed with Flump Ice Cream Lollies, and Dip Dab Ice Lollies with a Sachet of Sherbet.

All items in the range – apart from the Wham share size tub – will be sold as multipacks of four or six and the Dip Dab range will include a sachet of sherbet for dipping.

“We always knew that the Barratt brands would be hugely popular among manufacturers and retailers alike but this partnership between Barratt, Icefresh Foods and Iceland is a match made in heaven,” said Bethan Garton, commercial director, The Point.1888.

“We’ve worked with Icefresh for years and have enjoyed great success on every program but the work its team has put into the product development and flavour profile matching for Barratt has been like nothing else we have seen before. It’s also throwing its full support behind the brand with the product launch and we’re so excited that the range is now ready for the nation to enjoy.”

The Point. 1888 lands I Like Birds as birdwatching hobby enjoys revival across the UK

Posted on by

The Point. 1888 is tapping into the current birdwatching revival – yes, a hobby that has reportedly surpassed football in the number of fans across the UK – through a new brand representation agreement with I Like Birds.

Birding – as it the hobby is now called by its largest audience among the Gen X-ers and Millennials – is enjoyed by some six million people across the country (10 per cent of the population), exceeding the five million football fans across the UK.

The Point. 1888 is now looking to develop a range that speaks to the ‘young, new, image-conscious enthusiasts’ currently enjoying the hobby. In doing so, the firm will develop the range of I Like Birds products for this market.

I like Birds has already amassed huge appeal from birdwatchers and the design conscious alike.

Thanks to initiatives from the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, birding has become more accessible to families and young people, with new sub-divisions of birdwatching hobbyists now identified.

Twitchers – the traditional stereotyped birdwatchers, predominantly male who invest in specialist viewing equipment to enjoy the hobby, make up 10 per cent of the group; Enthusiasts are men or women and enjoy birdwatching as part of other cultural or travel activities equate to 50 per cent; and Casuals – the remaining 30 per cent of the group and the fastest-growing – are those who enjoy travelling and are interested in other outdoor and nature-based activities, such as hiking or wildlife watching.

Casual birders can also be segmented into “urban birders”, “hipster birders” and more which, according to The Point. 1888 “presents huge retail opportunities.”

Having seen the resurgence of the birdwatching trend, I like Birds wanted to build on the momentum by expanding its product range to appeal to Enthusiast and Casual birder groups emerging.

Bethan Garton, commercial director at The Point.1888, said: “Our retail-first model ensures that we’re bringing to market products that retailers and their customers want but this only works as long as we identify the right opportunities. 

“With I like Birds, the birding market is ours, and myself and the team cannot wait to get started. Our founder, Will Stewart, is particularly keen as he and Stuart, founder of I like Birds, have wanted to work together for a long time.”

 Stuart Cox, founder of I like Birds, added: “Will Stewart has assembled a team of legends (who are also fortunately amazingly talented and amazingly friendly and positive) and I’ve wanted to work with him since the first time I met him at BLE.

“In terms of business, any company that can amass the stellar lineup of clients that The Point.1888 has, has to be doing something right and, having spoken at length with Will – another of his positive attributes is the willingness to chat through the finer details of licensing – his approach is both a game changer and highly effective.

“There’s a buzz of excitement around The Point. 1888 that stems from Will and is totally infectious. Add in the fact that they have a track record of handling clients that range from Mega-brands to niche indies and…well, it’s a no-brainer. I’m chuffed to working with them and look forward to a long and extremely pointy future in their capable hands.”

New licensing partners are expected to be announced in the coming months with products release in SS 2021.

The Point.1888 lands exclusive deal with British interiors designer MissPrint

Posted on by

The Point.1888 has signed a new exclusive deal with the leading British designer and proven licensed brand, MissPrint to expand its licensing remit into new categories and partnerships.

MissPrint is already renowned for its uniquely bold collection of eco wallpaper, hand illustrated and printed in the UK. The brand has enjoyed a great success through brand licensing collaborations for a number of years with the likes of John Lewis, Dunelm, Quaker Oats and more.

Through its new partnership with The Point. 1888, MissPrint is looking to further grow and expand on these relationships, as it eyes a move into new products and categories.

Janine Richmond, senior commercial manager for Home at The Point.1888, said: “With a loyal following and a clear brand direction, MissPrint is now primed to grow its business and we’re delighted to have been chosen as the partner to help it do just that. We’ll work with the MissPrint team to expand the brand’s reach, create new products in different categories and let them continue to do what they love best which is creating new designs.”

With its wallpaper and fabric ranges already hugely popular among homeowners and interior design enthusiasts, MissPrint is keen to extend its audience base by creating products which have wider appeal and are suitable for those renting property, as well as homeowners.

To do this, The Point.1888 has already began its brand immersion phase, which will then be followed by further research and competitor analysis, before the team can engage with its network of retail contacts.

Yvonne Drury at MissPrint, said: “We have enjoyed incredible success in more than 35 countries across the world despite being a very small team. We’re a family-run business with strong beliefs about production, sustainability and supporting British businesses and The Point.1888 understands that. They’re equally passionate about their company values and I know we’ll make a great team.”

The Point. 1888 delivers sumptuous line up for food and events brand River Cottage

Posted on by

In a somewhat sumptuous start to the year, the brand licensing agency, The Point. 1888 has secured four new licensees for its client, River Cottage.

The successful food and events business brought on The Point.1888 last year to help it generate further brand awareness, and encourage the nation to eat seasonal, local, organic and wild food through the introduction of a broader range of consumer products.

 A task The Point. 1888 was keen to sink its teeth into, the UK licensing agency has since secured a raft of deals with Percol/Lofbergs – a company that specialises in organic, sustainably made and packaged ground coffee, Stroud Brewery – a sustainable and ethical brewery in the Cotswolds, The Beeswax Wrap Company – a company that provides planet-friendly alternatives to cling film and tin foil, and Newton Court Cider who ferments award-winning cider from English fruit.

As part of the deal with River Cottage, Stroud Brewery is collaborating on unique organic beer recipes, Newton Court Cider will be hand picking the apples from the River Cottage Estate for fermentation at their cidery, while The Beeswax Wrap Company will be making its shelf debut in the partnership.

 Louise Williamson, head of FMCG, The Point.1888, said: “Our brand licensing programme has been developed in close collaboration with River Cottage to make us think about the way we buy and consume products, and to inspire change at every stage.

“Thanks to this new wave of ethical licensees, coffee lovers, craft beer and cider drinkers and households across the country will be able to enjoy these products guilt-free, guided by principles that are ethical, sustainable and respectful.”

Stewart Dodd, chief executive from River Cottage, said: “We are thrilled with the licensees secured so far and cannot wait to see the products develop. The Point.1888 team is so thorough in their processes and has successfully identified new River Cottage products that are in line with our values and ethos.”

 Established in 2014, The Point.1888 delivers retail focused brand extension programmes through partnership licensing agreements.

The company has seen exponential growth in the last 24 months, building strategic licensing programmes for Yvonne Ellen, Team GB, Battersea, and more recently the Metropolitan Police Service.

 The first products are expected to be in stores by SS2020.

The Point. 1888 expands leadership team as it readies for 2020 growth

Posted on by

The Point.1888 is roaring in 2020 with an expanded senior leadership team to meet its five-year expansion plan.

 Following a successful 2019, in which four new clients were signed, the brand licensing agency has created two new roles within its leadership team – Head of Retail and Head of Business Development.

 Hannah Stevens, previously The Point.1888’s senior commercial manager, has taken the role of Head of Retail, following another outstanding year in the business. The newly created role has been pegged as ‘vital for The Point. 1888’s continued growth,’ who now has 68 active accounts on the books.

Having spent two years at the agency, and recently winning the company’s coveted Joseph Miller Human of Year award, Hannah was the first choice for this new role and will continue to work closely with Commercial Director Bethan Garton to push the business into the “roaring 20’s” with a bang.

 Speaking about Hannah’s promotion, Garton said: “Hannah has had the most amazing year and without a doubt has made the biggest impact to The Point.1888 throughout 2019. Her tireless energy, incredible capacity and impact on our culture and purpose have made this promotion to Head of Retail a must as our business steps into its next phase.

“With our team growing and restructuring once again, we are all ready for what the future holds and with Hannah and I leading this department, we know that the possibilities are endless and we are so excited to share it all with her.”

 Meanwhile, taking the agency’s role of Head of Business Development is Martin McLaughlin, who joined The Point.1888 last June.

 Having previously delivered communications, advertising and brand partnership planning for superbrands such as T-Mobile, Cadbury, Amazon, Warner Music and Ford among others, he spent the last seven months growing The Point.1888’s book of FMCG and Publishing clients as well as using his expertise supporting its Marketing & Creative division.

 In his new role, he’ll be focusing on brand recruitment, international expansion and special projects as well as managing the publishing category. He will also head up the rapidly growing consultancy division which has big plans for the year ahead.

 Garton added: “Martin joined our team last summer and in such a short space of time has had a huge impact on the business. His creativity and ability to deliver a compelling brand narrative is phenomenal and I am very proud to have Martin in my team and heading up all that comes under the Business Development umbrella.”

 The Point.1888 Director and Founder, Will Stewart, said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege for me to be leading such a talented team of professionals. 2020 is going to be even more exciting for us with these additions to my senior team and just what they are bringing to the business on a daily basis, and the changes they are making to both our existing clients and the many new brands we are working with as we enter what will be the biggest year yet for The Point.1888.”