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STATE OF THE NATION: CORPORATE
Aykroyd & Sons marks 100 years
Busy time for Striker
Busy Striker Entertainment is readying the first licensed product for WowWee’s Fingerlings brand. This autumn will see lines launch from Cardinal, Centum, Commonwealth, DK, Penguin Random House, Sambro, Super Impulse and Winning Moves, while an exclusive arts and crafts range from Addo will launch at The Entertainer. Further product from Alligator, Character World and NECA will follow in 2019. On top of this, a feature plush called Fingerlings Hugs will also be introduced. Meanwhile, Striker is also growing the Exploding Kittens card game brand, which is the most backed Kickstarter campaign of all time. Sales of the card game grew 225% in 2017, with a raft of licensed product from Basic Fun and Just Toys among others due to now launch. Above: Sales of the Exploding Kittens card game grew 225% in 2017.
New Turtles skate in
Nickelodeon has unveiled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with a special UK launch event helping to raise awareness ahead of the show’s debut and toy roll out. The show arrived on Nicktoons and Channel 5 in September with the Flair distributed toy line – which consists of 25 new products including and Epic Sewer play-set - following on October 5. An immersive Turtles lair was recreated at a London skate park for the new show launch, with celebrity guests including Danny Dyer being wowed by a new flip move – called The Mikey – endorsed by Skateboard England.
Popular apparel licensee Aykroyd & Sons is celebrating 100 years in business this year – with the company marking the milestone with a special black tie event Above: Aykroyd & Sons is marking 100 in the summer. years in business. Over 200 guests including staff, buyers, licensors, family and friends attended the event at the Carden Park Hotel, with the celebrations continuing well into the early hours of the morning. The team at Aykroyds thanked all who came and enjoyed the evening. Celebrations will continue this year with further activities to mark the 100-year milestone.
The Licensing Awards honours Keith Chapman
Keith Chapman has said being presented with this year’s Honorary Achievement accolade at The Licensing Awards was a “never to be forgotten experience” and “truly special”. Keith – who was presented with the award at the glittering ceremony in September – said: “I always regarded the people who’d won this award in the past as icons within the licensing community, who’d given so much over the years. As a creator, the thought that I would one day join their ranks seemed unthinkable. “As Jakki began her introduction I wondered who this year’s recipient might be. Whoever it was, we seemed to have a lot in common! And when she had finished her kind words and people started to stand up and clap, I must confess I had a lump in my throat.” Keith said that he feels very fortunate to work in the licensing business, “dreaming up IPs and seeing all manner of products from those shows on the shelves”. However, he was quick to point out that while as the creator he can take credit for the idea, he is just one part of a “large and talented group” behind the success of a brand. “PAW Patrol’s success is down to the IP owners and toy makers at Spin Master who co-finance and produce it, the animators and directors at Guru Studios who make it, the writer’s and musicians who script and score it, the actors who voice it, the teams at Nickelodeon and Viacom who broadcast and licence it, and the retailers who promote it,” he said. “Every part of the process is as important as the other.” Left: Keith Chapman says he feels very fortunate to work in the licensing business. LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018
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