8-9 LSB 2020 SOTN CORP.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 07/07/2020 11:10 Page 8
STATE OF THE NATION: CORPORATE
The past few months have almost certainly been the strangest and most challenging of many professional lives. Despite this, the licensing industry has shown resolve, ingenuity and adaptability when it comes to keeping business going. LSB highlights just some of what’s been happening.
Business
concerns
Costume change at Rainbow Productions
Costume character company, Rainbow Productions has seen a change in managing director and owner, with Simon Foulkes, previously sales and marketing director, taking up the reins following the retirement of David Scott. “I am enormously proud of Rainbow’s achievements in my time at the company and am grateful to all our staff for their loyalty, support and willingness to do whatever is necessary to deliver top quality results for all our licensors and clients,” commented David. “Simon unquestionably has the energy and vision to drive the business forward and take advantage of the opportunities that will arise as the global economy opens up.” Simon – who has been with Rainbow Productions for over 25 years – continued: “David is an
Game for a Laugh
Inset: MDR says it is a “real honour” to be partnering with Amy Winehouse’s family and inner circle. Below left: Simon (left) has taken up the reins at Rainbow Productions after David’s retirement.
MDR tunes up with Amy
Ambitious MDR Brand Management has secured a brace of key deals, including partnering with Amy Winehouse’s family to celebrate and protect her legacy. MDR will be looking to work with partners that share Amy’s style cues and aesthetics across categories such as hair, beauty, fashion, tech and publishing. In addition, the partnership will also support the work of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which was set up in Amy’s memory in 2011. "Amy touched so many people with her music, her sense of style and her authenticity,” said Daniel Avener, ceo of MDR Brand Management. “It is a real honour for us to be partnering with Amy's family and inner circle to build on her legacy and showcase her incredible talent and fun-loving personality to her existing fans and new audiences, while giving back to the Amy Winehouse Foundation." Elsewhere, MDR will also be helping to expand baby and toddler brand, Sophie la girafe across the UK, Germany and Austria. The agency will be looking at categories including nursery, FMCG, apparel and textiles, dental, bath and body.
exceptional business leader and under his watch Rainbow has developed an established global reputation becoming one of the most admired costume character companies in the world. “David has always put our clients at the heart of our strategy and I, and the exceptional team at Rainbow, look forward to building upon this philosophy. It has been a great pleasure to work with David for over a quarter of a century and it is an honour to succeed him.” David will continue to serve as a trustee and treasurer of industry charity, The Light Fund. Left: 2021 will see The Laughing Cow turn 100.
The Laughing Cow licensing programme - La Vache Qui Rit to the native speakers – has a number of partners put in place ready for when we can all smile a bit more. Among these will be a partnership with a leading toy company – due to be announced shortly – which will include The Laughing Cow and other brands from the broader Bel Group range. This comes on the heels of apparel deals signed with Bioworld – which already has a Babybel t-shirt on Boohoo – in the UK and Erve in Europe where, once things have opened up, new concepts and distribution into major European fashion retailers is expected. Other proposals are also in the works including a charity partnership, a direct to retail deal with a major global retailer (where concepts are currently being agreed) and a housewares licensee which is planning to launch storage, ceramics and glassware into key European retailers. 2021 will also see The Laughing Cow turn 100. The Laughing Cow brand is owned by the Bel Group and is licensed in the UK, Europe and Middle East by Pink Key Licensing.
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020