124-125 LSB Character World Brands 2023 (SL).qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 21/09/2023 21:49 Page 1
THE BIG INTERVIEW
On top of the world
Inset: Danny Schweiger, joint md, Character World Brands. Below: Kids’ favourite PAW Patrol is an evergreen in Character World Brands’ portfolio.
A market leader in licensed and branded home textiles, Character World Brands is celebrating 25 successful years in business. LSB chats to joint md Danny Schweiger about pioneering imaginative home products for more than two decades, the challenges and triumphs of the past quarter century and how the company’s passion for brands is at the heart of everything it does.
E
stablished in 1998 by Danny Schweiger and his dad Tommy (with Danny’s brother Mark joining the business shortly after), Character World Brands has grown over the years to become one of the leading licensed textile manufacturers in the UK and Europe. With a distribution network across EMEA that services retailers with a range of home categories and products, from
Inset: Barbie is “crushing it” following the success of the movie this summer, Danny reports.
124
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK 2023
bed to bath and beach, all utilising popular TV, movie, gaming, streaming and music brands, the company today is operated by ceo James Walker and the directors. Danny and Mark - who were jointly awarded Honorary Achievement at The Licensing Awards 2023 - are still involved, supporting key initiatives, and the company retains a “family feel” that dictates how it does business with its clients and brand partners. “Business is business, but at the end of the day, it’s people dealing with people,” Danny says. “We genuinely care about the success of our partners. Their wins are our wins. Something we’ve learnt over the years is the power of listening. We don’t just hear what brands and retailers are saying; we actively listen, understand their concerns and adapt. We pride ourselves on being agile and responsive, ensuring our partners always have fresh, relevant products to offer that meet the customer’s expectations, whether they’re looking for a specific design handwriting or a particular price point.”