The Point. 1888 has expanded its commercial team with the appointment of Becky Langer to the role of senior commercial manager. Langer joins from Hasbro where she held the position of retail development manager.
With 14 years of licensing experience at high profile companies, such as Warner Bros, HIT Entertainment, and Character World, Langer’s appointment has been described as a significant one for The Point. 1888.
Under her new role, Langer will report into the head of retail and softlines, Hannah Stevens, who was last week awarded Licensing International’s prestigious Rising Star Award. She was the only representative for the UK and European licensing community.
It’s notable that The Point.1888 has found itself to be resilient to the effects of the pandemic, something the company has attributed to its retail-first approach and brand-manufacturer pairing process. In some cases it has delivered increases in sales for clients’ products over the last few months.
Hannah Stevens said: “More so than ever, in the current climate, our team is working with amazing speed and enthusiasm on identifying strategic partnerships with retailers and licensees to drive the company’s growth plans, and fill gaps for our brands. We have to continue to innovate and deliver brands that are reflective of trend, but also have the longevity to inspire the customer to repeat buy year on year. It’s a tall order and the reason why we’re growing our team at this time.
“Becky brings a huge wealth of knowledge and expertise from her licensing career to this Innovative and forward thinking team. Her tenacity, positivity and creativity make her a fantastic fit not just for my team, but for the agency as a whole and I’m so excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
Langer added: “Having been in the industry for 14 years, I’ve watched The Point.1888 emerge and establish itself as an industry leader in record time. It’s clear why when you see the capability of the team and the business model they’ve adopted. It’s also incredibly refreshing to be part of an organisation that operates with such integrity and kindness, not only in business but also in how they treat their team.
“The portfolio is full of exciting, beautiful and diverse brands so there really is something for everyone without being limited to certain genres or demographics. I cannot wait.”
Established in 2014, The Point.1888 delivers retail focused brand extension programmes by creating new products based on the gaps it sees at retail, rather than what it thinks the brand’s target demographic might like. This supports a higher chance of retailer buy-in and a better sales performance.
