Danilo has acquired the rights to publish a range of dated products including calendars, diaries and planners. Otter House will publish a collection stationery. Both companies will use the new brand style guide.
She Who Dares have created a Downton Abbey board game based upon their successful format, Destination. The game was launched in the UK at Toy Fair in London and will be launched into the USA at the New York Toy Fair in February by Everest Toys. SWD are also developing a parlour game compendium for the UK and USA.
John Lewis, Fenwick’s, House of Fraser and online fashion and home store, Achica are stocking the new collection of Downton Abbey costume jewellery. UK company Finesse are distributing the range which has been developed in the USA by licensee, 1928. The collection comprises over 100 lines inspired by the TV series.
The Great British Bake Off giftware range created by PBFA for Marks & Spencer won Best Licensed Giftware range at The Licensing Awards. The brand received nominations in three categories including Best Licensed Written & Learning Range for its cookery books by Linda Collister and BBC Books and Best Licensed Homewares for its kitchenware range by Ethos for Sainsbury’s.
Danilo and Gibson Games have both renewed their licences for Downton Abbey and will be launching new products this year. Danilo are publishing a calendar whilst Gibson have extended their licence to produce both puzzles and card games. Both licensees are the first in the UK to use the new Downton Abbey style guide, created by SJI in New York.
SOGEX and Propertiz have appointed Metrostar as the new licensing agent for The Little Prince in the UK and Eire. This children’s classic is the most translated children’s book of all time and has already established very successful licensing programmes in Europe, the Far East, the USA and Australia. Metrostar is seeking partners in apparel, nursery, toiletries, ceramics, gifting and stationery.
Marks & Spencer is to launch its first range of Downton Abbey toiletries and cosmetics in Winter 2013. The range which comprises bath products, body products, cosmetics and accessories has been created by SLG. This is the first collection in a two year licensing agreement.
Cardmix launched a collection of greetings cards based upon the popular Viz characters at Progressive Greetings this week. In the same week, Mask-A-Rade signed up to become Viz’s latest licensee. The magazine, published by Dennis Publishing, is performing extremely well in a competitive market, increasing its distribution in many leading store groups.
Cardmix, Carousel Calendars and Morph Suits are to create new product ranges for Viz in 2013. Cardmix will design a range of greetings cards using Viz’s popular characters and Morph Suits are creating a range of Viz morph suit costumes. Carousel Calendars is to develop a selection of ‘dated’ products, including a ‘page-a-day’ Profanisaurus calendar.
Metrostar, has been appointed by NBCUniversal International to represent its multi award-winning drama series, DOWNTON ABBEY, in the UK. Metrostar will seek partners – both retailers and licensees – for Downton Abbey in home ware, kitchenware, giftware, greetings, accessories, toiletries and stationery.