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Shop Direct enjoying success with all licensees doing well

With licensees like PJ Masks, Pokémon and WWE performing well, Shop Direct is now enjoying success with a number of licensed properties across key categories.

Andrea Gornall, senior buyer toys and nursery, and Neil Mitchell, buyer for toys observed, “In pre-school, we can’t keep PJ Masks in stock at the moment! PAW Patrol is also strong, while Little Tikes is flying this season.

“In boys’ toys, Pokémon, Power Rangers and WWE are doing well, however it’s a mixed bag for girls; Moana and Beauty and the Beast did really well while Shopkins is still up there, L.O.L Surprise is one to watch and Trolls is still going well for us.”

As for new properties coming through, Andrea added that they have their eyes on Ben 10 and JoJo Siwa and there is a lot of products coming out this autumn. We think Justice League will do well, while in terms of trends STEM is up there.”

 

Freaky Friday: Manchh, the most enriched online entertainment merchandise platform

Old is gold, it is believed. Since we claim to be a nation with a passion for films, if we go back to 1960 then most of our memory lanes find its solace in the golden era which was created by retro films. Then, what we could collect as a remembrance of films were film posters, photographs, songbooks, dialogue books, small cutouts of movies. That is the time, we used to call such collections as memorabilia that we know as merchandise today.

In our eagerness to explore the kind of collections from films, we tap the online entertainment merchandise platform Manchh, co-founded by Kunal Kedia.

He brings us the kind of merchandise for us  to revere the memorabilia of all kinds. Out of all this, we selected the following three on which we will talk about. They are unseen photographs (exclusive), photo frames and film song-related booklets. Every product which is available under Manchh are original and protected by certificates of authenticity by the film authority.

Photo frames:

Frames depict sultry Chemistry:

Do you remember Shammi Kapoor trying to cajole Shakila in the song “Bar bar dekho”? If no, then you must see the photo frame booklet curated by Manchh. The outlet has preserved the history of the evergreen song as well as the film. The booklet consisting of an original script, images of the said evergreen song which made history in Indian cinema. The booklet also includes synopsis, lyrics and much more including black & white photos of Shammi Kapoor, Shakila, Shammi, and Helen.

Frames which captures Romance:

Then we had Shammi ji and Bengali Bala Sharmila Tagore drive masses crazy in the hit romantic Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Kashmir Ki Kali ’in 1964. An exclusive photo frame curated by this merchandise platform makes us recollect a scene from the film when Shammi Kapoor in a checkered coat with Sharmila who looked stunning in a traditional Kashmiri outfit making an eye contact on the picturesque background of Kashmir. Also, a solo digital print of matte finish picture of Sharmila from the song “Tarif Karun kya uski” and a solo picture of Shammi Kapoor is preserved by Manchh.

 

Photo Frames of Sharmila Tagore:

If you are a fan of Sharmila Tagore than you must look at photo frames from ‘An Evening In Paris’ movie which depicts Sharmila’s different moods. One photo was taken from the famous song “Asman Se Aya Farishta’ in which Sharmila being on roller skates in ocean blue swimsuit, another two pictures are from song “Zuby Zuby Jalembu’ and Sharmila looked stunning in cabaret costumes and one in which side profile of Sharmila wearing white skirt and top.

 

Photo frame of most memorable dialogue of Rajesh Khanna:

 

The photo frame captured 3 different stages of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila from the film and all images are in Eastman color. The photo frame consists of “PUSHPA, I HATE TEARS” Dialogue script which is said 3 times in the film. The photo frame is available in 15*15 inches. This said limited edition frame has only 10 pieces and is with a certificate signed by the producers “Shakti Films”.

Another photo frame from the same movie shows the chemistry between the duo. One picture is from the backdrop of Eiffel Tower, in which Shammi cuddles Sharmila, who was wearing a blue saree. The said photo frame is a digital print and available in multicolor.

This Limited Edition frame has only 10 pieces left as of now and is with a certificate signed by the producers “Shakti Films”.

 

Unseen pictures:

Pictures Refreshing memories:

 

Unseen pictures from a huge box office success ‘Kati Patang’ are also available at the Manchh outlet. In the super hit club song “Mera Naam Hai Shambnam” where Bindu makes sensuous dance moves and threatens Asha Parekh, who is accompanied by Rajesh Khanna, to reveal her identity.

Exclusive pictures of Asha Parekh, who played the role of the woman who pretends to be a widow sitting perplexed along with Rajesh Khanna and Bindu standing behind Asha ji, famous Holi song “Aaj Na Chodenge” and “Yeh Sham Masatani” and behind the scenes pictures from the films have been specially curated by Manchh.

A frame of unseen photos from the movie ‘China Town’ film consists of 4 different photos. One is from the song “Bar Bar Dekho” in which Shammi is making a dance moment surrounded with a girl, in another picture Shammi and Helen are making an eye contact and rest 2 are with Shakila. These pictures are available in black and white & matte finish.

Not only this, the outlet has such pictures of various other movies.

 

Movie Booklets:

Limited Editions Booklets:

 

Manchh has a unique collection of movie booklets like- Kati Patang, China Town, Aradhana. Booklet of film’ Kati Patang’ contains Eastman color images of Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh, Prem Chopra and synopsis, lyrics, end credits of the movie Kati Patang. The said booklet is certified by ‘Shakti Films’.

The booklet that Manchh has in hand contains the song of ‘ Bar Bar Dekho’ from the movie China Town. Those who are a fan of old songs can remember and hum the songs with accurate words.

Exclusive collectible photo frame booklet consists of synopsis, lyrics and end credits of cult classic ‘Aradhana’. The photo frame is available in size of 36*24 inches. This Limited Edition frame has only 10 pieces left as of now and is with a certificate signed by the producers “Shakti Films”

To sum up, we can easily say that Manchh is the most enriching  online entertainment merchandise platform that one must definitively visit.

 

Kodak signs Smart International to develop 3D printing ecosystem

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Kodak has signed on Smart International to develop a Kodak 3D Printing Ecosystem that will set a new standard for professional 3D printing.The Kodak 3D Printing Ecosystem includes the Kodak Portrait 3D Printer as well as the Kodak 3D Printing Filament which features low moisture content, high melt flow index and precise diameter and roundness for top-notch prints.

“Professional 3D printing is a fast-evolving growth category Kodak has had its eye on for a while,” observed Joel Satin, vice president and director, brand licensing, Kodak. “We are happy to add a strong and innovative licensee like Smart International to our portfolio of brand licensees.”

The Kodak 3D Printing Filaments will be available this December, while the Kodak Portrait 3D Printer will be available in Q1 2018.

“We are excited to take the Kodak brand into 3D printing and pioneer a best-in-class series of desktop printers and materials designed specifically for creative professionals,” says Roberto Gawianski, chief executive officer, Smart International.

King Features appoints Megalicense International as licensing agent in the Russian market

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Worldwide licensor of Betty Boop and Popeye, King Features has appointed Megalicense International to serve as its licensing agent in the Russian market. For Betty Boop,

Megalicense will focus on further expanding the character in the fashion world while the athleisure sector will be a key focus for the Popeye brand.

“King Features represents the continuous development of Megalicense in the fashion and lifestyle segments with brands having high potential that can find a strong customer recognition and identification with Russian customers,” said Friderico Gatti, general manager, Megalicense.

In recent years, King Features secured a number of collaborations and promotional partnerships for Betty Boop with fashion and beauty icons such as Zac Posen, MAC Cosmetics, Moschino, A Bathing Ape and Jean Paul Gaultier, among others. The company has also secured a variety of products and collaborations for Popeye including with Iceberg, Moods of Norway, Invicta, Cotton On, Havaianas, Joyrich and more.

“We are delighted to welcome our new agent to the King Features family,” averred Carla Silva, vice president/general manager and global head of licensing, King Features. “We are confident that we will be well positioned for success as we continue to expand our licensing programs into new merchandising categories and new territories around the world,” she ended.

 

Disney all set to celebrate 89th anniversary of Mickey Mouse

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Disney has come out with its latest campaign to celebrate the 89th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, its flagship character.

The campaign will kick off with Mickey embarking on a trip around the world, where he’ll make surprise appearances at real-world locations in countries such as Japan, Chile, Canada, China, England and the U.S. Mickey’s surprise appearances will also be captured and shared on Disney’s Mickey Mouse Facebook and Instagram pages. The character will also visit the Good Morning America studios in New York City on November 15.

Following Mickey’s Good Morning America appearance, Disney’s e-commerce site shop Disney.com will feature Mickey birthday merchandise from November 16 to 23. And from then on, all Disney Stores in the U.S. will host a variety of activities to celebrate the flagship character’s birthday.

Additionally, on November 18, the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as Disney Stores in the U.S., will distribute commemorative Happy Birthday, Mickey! buttons. Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California will also host a cavalcade featuring some of Mickey’s friends along with the Disneyland Band. At the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida, fans will be treated to characters and performers dancing to a special birthday-themed song during the “Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” street party.

Furthermore, Disney Channel and Disney Junior will air special marathons of “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” throughout the weekend of November 17. The Disney Channel will also air Mickey Mouse shorts every half hour on November 18, starting with the premiere of “The Birthday Song,” a new short in which Minnie Mouse loses the notes to Mickey’s birthday song and needs to recover them to save the festivities. A new Mickey Mouse-themed Disney Junior Music Nursery Rhymes short, entitled “Happy Birthday,” will also debut on Nov. 17 on Disney Junior YouTube.

Mickey’s anniversary is celebrated in honour of the release of his first theatrical film Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Since then, Mickey has starred in more than 100 cartoons.

 

Centum Books comes out with imprint of new Treasure Cove stories

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Centum Books has thrown open its new Treasure Cove Stories imprint, a collectable storybook range featuring children’s favourite characters from today and years gone by.

The publisher is working with licensors including Disney, Marvel, Universal, DreamWorks and Nickelodeon to deliver the fresh look to the kids’ storybook market in the UK.

The range will launch to coincide with World Book Day in March 2018, with Centum currently working closely with retail partners to provide unique display solutions across different channels.

Fiona Macmillan, managing director of Centum Books, said, “We believe the timing is perfect to partner with the biggest licensors and retailers to launch this incredible range.

“Centum are uniquely placed, thanks to our forward-thinking approach, to establish Treasure Cove Stories as a child’s favourite for years to come. The storybook range features titles never published before in the UK, which will be a major factor in ensuring our fresh new approach – which coupled with our unique distribution model and true value for money should ensure a major success.”

 

West Ham FC confirms a raft of licensees

West Ham FC has confirmed a number of new licensees coming on board across a number of diverse areas including Craft Vodka from Bohemian Brands, luggage from KitKase, custom art from The Art of Football and Fan Frames Eyewear.

Bohemian Brands’ successful sell out trial of West Ham-branded Craft Vodka in Costco was one of the surprise packages of the summer and, as a result, has ensured it a Christmas spot in stores and further interest from wider retail.

The new licensing is also complementing some of the more traditional product areas. Source Lab is now on board and its autumn/winter 2017 designs have seen orders far exceeding expectations.

 

Calm Island taking Badanamu to greater heights

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Of late, the industry is witnessing kids properties evolve in non-traditional way perfect example is Calm Island’s educational brand Badanamu.

The Korean company’s CEO, David Roberts, developed the IP in 2011; but instead of creating a TV series or a toy first, he introduced it at pre-school education centers as enrichment instruction programs in English and Chinese language, science and math for five- to eight-year-olds.

Considering the pre-school education market in Asia is worth roughly US$150 billion (according to Roberts) while the total licensing and toy market sits at US$5 billion, it’s not surprising Calm Island zeroed in on the educational market first. “Ninety-eight per cent of our competitors are basically trying to get revenue through the licensing markets in Asia, which are quite small,” notes Roberts. “But if you venture into the wider education market and its more formalized approach, there are greater opportunities.”

For its early learning center business, Calm Island currently operates and franchises 60-plus locations in eight countries. I also has plans to open 200 more by the end of 2018. Moreover, since its supporting Badanamu videos first debuted online, the company has gone on to produce 200 of them, and they’ve generated in excess of three billion views on digital platforms like YouTube. (Calm Island has so far invested more than US$10 million in developing Badanamu’s short-form VOD content.)

Aging up from pre-school to a five-plus target, the series follows the heroic tales of protagonist Bada. It also features underlying STEAM and social lessons, and has already been pre-sold to France’s Lagardère Active.. A global CP program for Badanamu Cadets is in the works, too, targeting educational products, interactive, publishing, apparel, toys and gifts.

Calm Island is also lining up Bada’s Learning Adventure–a full pre-K online learning hub and app featuring Badanamu characters, an adaptive learning system, voice recognition and AR. It’s set to launch October 10.

The kid-safe platform will be subscription-based and offered in English, Korean, Chinese, French, Spanish and Italian. “It will be a direct competitor to ABC Mouse, and we’re investing more in this than the TV series at the moment,” says Roberts.”

 

JCPenney to now sell LEGO building bricks and playsets

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In continuing to ramp up its carriage of kid-friendly products, US retailer JCPenney has now decided to sell LEGO building bricks and playsets in 875 of its in-store toy shops. A wider selection of LEGO products will also be available through JCPenney.com starting in December.

Beginning this month, in-store toy shops will sell nearly 30 different LEGO sets including LEGO Classic creative building boxes, LEGO City sets and LEGO Friends sets. The expanded online collection will include 100 LEGO products ranging in price from US$4.00 to US$69.99.

Additionally, JCPenney will continue to increase its selection of toys designed to help kids combine science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles with interactive play, both online and in its toy shops.

Earlier this year, JCPenney introduced toy shops  to its brick-and-mortar stores, and simultaneously expanded its online toy assortment. As a matter of fact, the retailer has quadrupled its online toy offerings since last year’s holiday season by adding new product categories including motorized ride-on vehicles, bicycles, video games, costumes and science kits.

Playthings featured in the toy shops include dolls, action figures, racing cars, arts and crafts, board games, plush and learning sets from top brands like Hasbro, Mattel, Playmobil and Fisher-Price. Since launching the toy shops, the retailer has increased its in-store selection by 40%.

 

Ameba TV in a short-form content deal with Studio 71

Canadian on-demand kids service Ameba TV has entered into a short-form content deal with L.A.-based global media company Studio 71 for nearly 350 YouTube videos.

Also in the deal are videos from pre-school CGI-animated music series The Gigglebellies, LEGO-inspired Michael Hickox Films and novelty song-based Parry Gripp.

Currently reaching nearly half a million subscribers, learning channel, The Gigglebellies features nursery rhyme and educational monster truck videos plus other songs for children.

Michael Hickox Films includes homemade stop-motion videos that Hickox creates from LEGO and similar brand toys. To date, the channel is closing in on one million subs.

Rounding out the deal are novelty- and meme-themed songs from award-winning singer/songwriter and internet phenom Parry Gripp.

Hit songs from the self-titled series, such as “Spaghetti Cat (I Weep for You)” and “This Is the Best Burrito I’ve Ever Eaten,” have helped the channel attract more than 450,000 subscribers.

Ameba TV is currently available on more than 300 platforms including smart TVs, game consoles, connected TV devices, tablets and phones. XBOX 360, Roku, LG Smart TV, Sony, Amazon Fire, TiVO and Opera are among its growing partner base. It most recently made its entire catalogue available to Amazon Prime users through the SVOD’s Streaming Partners Program.

On the other hand, Studio71 is a joint-venture between German media group ProSiebenSat.1, TF1 and Mediaset. It has Lilly Singh, Logan Paul, Flula Borg, Epic Meal Time and global superstar Dwayne The Rock Johnson among its top creator partners.

To date, the company’s 1,300-plus channels drive seven billion monthly views, representing 19 per cent of Google Preferred inventory.