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News
Celebrating 50 Years of Smiley and Beyond
In 2022 SmileyWorld will celebrate 50 years of Smiley. In addition to celebrating the heritage and everything the company and its partners have achieved in that time, they also take the opportunity to focus as a brand on how they can positively impact the world for the next 50 years. There is a strong program of activations and experiences that play on Smiley’s 50-year heritage and provide unique ways for partners to get involved and help make the world a more creative and positive place. This includes: Limited edition brand identity with celebration logo, an exclusive POS tool kit with collectible packaging and an Instagrammable retail concept that will allow all partners to connect with fun and positivity; Exclusive anniversary style guides will evoke nostalgia and give a sense of Smiley’s heritage, with five-decade specific style guides (the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s). These will inspire and showcase the unique trends, graphic directions and artistic interpretations that have shaped Smiley’s adoption as one of the leading cultural icons of the last century; selection of highly prestigious & visible activations, events & experiences, this includes your chance to be part of 50 memorable limited-edition products independently curated by fashion icon Sarah Andelman. The special ‘50 for 50’ range will feature in concept shops in the world’s leading department stores, a prestigious coffee table book published by Maison Assouline and at a selection of international
ARTiSTORY Brings Unique Business Offering
ARTiSTORY is a new venture with a unique business offering with storytelling at its core. Focused on developing content in the art, culture and science sectors by translating objects into usable assets for consumers of today. We’ll do this through our 3 key areas of business: IP asset development, IP licensing and content development. Founded by industry specialists Dave Collins (Co-Founder & Commercial Director), Tamara Dixon (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and Natasha Dyson (Co-Founder & Licensing Director) to provide retailers, licensees and IP Owners an innovative solution to licensing. By tapping into treasured collections at world’s top museums and heritage institutions, ARTiSTORY creates annually refreshed trends, themes and original design assets including illustrations, prints & patterns, which in turn, can be applied onto product and packaging design. ARTiSTORY licenses these design assets to consumer brands and retailers and assist them to introduce compelling products, engage shoppers via digital marketing and offer immersive shopping experiences. Each
launch events; guerilla projection campaign at key landmarks across the world on the 31st December 2021. This high visibility project will see Smiley and our original message of “Take The Time To Smile’ projected onto: the Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern (London). Broadway/ Times Square, Carnegie Hall, Empire State (NYC), Champs Elysees, l’Arc de Triomphe (Paris); and an Inspiring 2-week guerilla poster campaign from 3-17 January 2022 at key consumer lifestyle touchpoints across nine major cities. With more than 75,000 posters and billboards in over 150 leading consumer lifestyle touchpoint destinations. The campaign will raise positivity during the hardest 2-weeks of the year. The entire campaign will be supported for 12 months by Global PR
and Influencer program.
product comes with a unique story that consumer brands and retailers can attract more shoppers by leveraging the power of storytelling. By working with ARTiSTORY, consumer brands, manufacturers and retailers will acquire new customers more effectively, both through their online and offline stores, turning shoppers into your loyal fans while providing them with unique shopping experience. The team at ARTiSTORY are pioneers in art and culture IP licensing with track records working with the Natural History Museum, British Museum, the MET, V&A and many world’s top retailers and consumer brands such as Uniqlo, Amazon, Max Factors and Nestle etc.
Mark-it Smart & Authentic Brands Launch Marilyn Monroe and Thomasville Collections
Mark-it Smart has entered into a new partnership with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), owner of the Thomasville home furnishings brand and the Estate of Marilyn Monroe, to develop branded product lines for the casino gaming industry. The line will feature a range of items including tabletop, cookware, and small appliances. The Marilyn Monroe collection will include one-of-a-kind bedding, handbags, luxury towels, and beauty accessories that honor Marilyn’s iconic and beloved spirit. All merchandise will be gifted to casino patrons when they come into select locations to play.
Van Gogh Museum and Daily Paper Launch Collection
Amsterdam-based clothing label Daily Paper and the Van Gogh Museum are launching a new collection together in October 2020, with a second clothing line featuring a selection of Vincent van Gogh’s masterpieces. Daily Paper and the Van Gogh Museum see this partnership as a chance to explore how fashion and art can bring people from different backgrounds together and learn from each other in the process
BrandComply College Announces Latest Signing
Octane5, the company behind the BrandComply College licensing enterprise platform, recently announced the signing of The University of Iowa as the latest BrandComply College client. This continues the overwhelmingly positive market response and affirms the need for a robust licensing enterprise platform tailored to the needs of the collegiate marketplace. Dale Arens, Assistant Athletic Director, Trademarks and Licensing at The University of Iowa stated: “Our goal for the University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program is to be a leader and trendsetter in the collegiate industry. BrandComply College will help us accomplish that through innovation and streamlined processes that will ensure our team is working smarter with best in class technology behind us. I am excited for what the future holds”. “Our partnership with The University of Iowa continues to validate what we’ve known all along,” said John Mybeck, President of BrandComply College. “Institutions are hungry for a solution that lets them manage their entire program in one powerful portal. Especially considering the rapidly changing landscape for colleges, they need smarter ways to manage their Product Approvals, Royalties, Contracts, Assets and Brand Protection in one place. As I’ve said before, BrandComply College is a real game changer and we’re gratified that storied institutions like The University of Iowa clearly see the value and support we bring their programs.”
NHRA Speeds Into Home Décor with Precision Metal Art
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has partnered with Precision Metal Art, a home décor brand specializing in high quality metal art designs, for a full line of NHRA themed metal art. The licensing partnership was secured by JRL Group, NHRA’s licensing agency. The exciting new metal art collection taps into the rich history, heritage and brand of NHRA speed and motor culture. Each metal art piece is crafted from eighteen-gauge American steel and cut on precise laser technology, printed with high-quality, UV and water-resistant ink and uses only the highest-quality powder coat finishes to lend to the piece’s longevity and durability.
Laura Ashley, one of the world’s best-loved fashion, lifestyle, and home furnishings brands, is proud to announce a new licensing partnership with Britannica Home Fashions Inc., a leading force in the home textile industry for over 40 years. The deal will allow Laura Ashley to grow its basic bedding collection with retailers nationwide and on lauraashleyusa.com. Designed with iconic prints from the Laura Ashley archives, the line of pillows, duvet inserts, mattress pads, and blankets offer options for all sleep styles due to Britannica Home Fashion’s innovative technology. “Britannica Home Fashions is proud to add the Laura Ashley design and lifestyle esthetic to our family of brands and lifestyle collections. Laura Ashley is unique in its simple beauty and classic patterns, the perfect lifestyle for basic bedding and fashion throws. Our new introductions include bed pillows, comforters, protectors, and blankets, in addition to reversible throws in signature Laura Ashley patterns and colors. We are also planning a home fragrance collection including candles, melting cubes, and gifts. Our down and feather products are RDS certified; and our core Laura Ashley products are Oeko-tex standard 100 certified, bringing this modern lifestyle collection in line with the needs of millennial consumers,” says Laura Ashley USA President Penne Cairoli. The collection just launched on Dillards.com as well as on Laura Ashley’s website. Other national retailers will launch soon.
Valero Enterprises Secures Representation for Paul Frank North America
Licensing industry expert and veteran, Susan Valero owner of Valero Enterprises has been named the agency of record for Paul Frank, North America. Valero was instrumental in the initial licensing efforts in 2010 and growing the brand into a 100 million entity with its iconic character Julius the Monkey. Graphic designer, Paul Frank rose to branding fame with eye catching imagery and whimsical positive messaging. This re-launch could prove to be even more successful than its original iteration. “This time around we are excited about collaborations with premier brands. Also we are taking into account the change in the retail landscape with on-line so prevalent and off price now being considered mainstream.
Just selling products at a discount doesn’t cut it anymore. We need to be innovative in how we reach our audience while creating more compelling products.” says Valero. This relaunch will take the beloved imagery of the Paul Frank brand and introduce it in an exciting way to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. At the same time, it will reimagine warm memories for the millennials who grew up with the brand. While many deals are pending at this time, there are still categories open. Valero and team are looking to create a fully immersive lifestyle brand across both category and retail tier. “With e-commerce being such a strong retail force, we see consumers shopping across traditional pricing. They seem to want everything from fast fashion to high end limited editions and designer co-brands. We see Paul Frank as one of those rare brands that can live in all of those areas,” according to Valero.
Williams Sonoma Launches Holiday Collaboration with Dolly Parton
Williams Sonoma has announced the launch of a new collaboration in partnership with Dolly Parton. The new collection is inspired by Dolly’s holiday traditions and includes Dolly’s signature sugar cookie mix and a replica gingerbread log cabin reminiscent of her childhood home. Customers and fans of Dolly will also be able to celebrate the holidays with festive aprons and linens decorated in a patchwork design inspired by Dolly’s ‘coat of many colours’. “Sharing my families’ Christmas traditions is a dream come true, and who better to partner with than Williams Sonoma. We joined together to create a whole bunch of goodies that will fit in perfectly with your family celebration or get you started on creating new traditions that will last a lifetime. My mama always made us feel loved by making us treats in our little mountain cabin around the holidays. Now I get to invite all my nieces and nephews and their kids for what we like to call ‘cookie night’. It’s the perfect way to spend time with the special people on your Christmas list.”
G-SHOCK in Second Partnership with Ministry of Defence
Casio Computer has announced the Royal Air Force x G-SHOCK GRAVITYMASTER will be the second timepiece to be released as part of G-SHOCK’s partnership with the Ministry of Defence, in a deal brokered by IMG. G-SHOCK is an unbreakable timepiece built from a ‘Never Give Up’ philosophy that makes it perfectly equipped to support UK Servicemen - both on and off-duty – all over the world. G-SHOCK is already the watch of choice for many in the Armed Forces, and this limited-edition release further cements the partnership as an official licensee of the Ministry of Defence. Designed in conjunction with the Royal Air Force, the watch has been built to accommodate the severe environments faced by pilots using a carbon core guard structure.
Synthia SAINT JAMES Signs Worldwide Agreement with East Coast Graphics
World renowned multicultural artist Synthia SAINT JAMES has just licensed East Coast Graphics as a major publisher and global distributor of fine art reproductions of her paintings. Synthia SAINT JAMES, whose artistic career spans over 50 years, is most noted for designing the first Kwanzaa Stamp for the U.S. Postal Service in 1997 and the national and international cover art for Terry McMillan’s book Waiting To Exhale. SAINT JAMES’ art has been featured in U.S. Embassies since the 1990’s through the Art in Embassies Program, and a mere sampling of her clients include The House of Seagram, Coca Cola USA, Maybelline, Essence Communications, Glendale Memorial Hospital, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Barnes and Noble and AARP. Her most celebrated collectors include Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Alice Walker, Glynn Turman, Brenda Russell, Regina Taylor, Charles Fuller, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Jenifer Lewis. Awards created by Synthia SAINT JAMES include the “We See You Award”, the “Mosaic Woman Award” and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to His Excellency Nelson Mandela from Africare in 2010. East Coast Graphics, a newly formed division of Crystal Art Gallery, specializes in supplying prominent middle market retailers with highend fine art reproductions on canvas. On their recently launched website - FineArtCanvas.com - they now offer a collection of Synthia SAINT JAMES’ artworks to the public as well.
Brand Central Goes Full Send
Full Send/Nelk Boys announced that they have selected global consumer products agency Brand Central to extend their brand into retail and develop strategic collaborations. Full Send is the popular global lifestyle brand created by a portfolio of massive content creators. “Our team is thrilled to go all in with Brand Central as they are the go-to licensing experts in digital, lifestyle, and pop culture representing brands such as Jake Paul and Ninja,” said Full Send’s business manager, Drew Hill.
Interlimsa Announces Expansion
Interlimsa has made available to the male clothing sector, the philosophy, technique and style concentrated in the James & James brand to achieve worldwide dissemination of it that will honor the exceptional work of this great multidisciplinary tailor. The return of the classic style; the rise of sartorial craft brands and bespoke; the resurrection of dormant fashion brands; Paul Poiret (2018), Elsa Schiaparelli (2013) or Charles James in “Phantom Thread” (2017), and the audience increasingly fascinated by the British Royal Family (“The Crown” 2016 & Prince Harry’s wedding) are the true evidence that it is the right time to relaunch the Frederick Scholte fashion brand. This work has been commissioned by Scholte’s descendants to Interlimsa in order to protect and relaunch the legacy of Frederick Scholte.
LMI Embracing ‘New Normal’ in 2020 with Several Deals
British Motor Heritage in particular; Austin, Austin-Healey Morris and MG will feature in Microsoft’s new Woodstock video game and Lusso for a range of metal signs. BSA is to continue its partnership with Poetic Brands and its significant sales through George. Catsline has recently signed TNT SPORT Korea for Golf products and VIVAT in Ukraine for Backpacks. The 50th Anniversary of the famous ‘That’s the Way It Is’ has sparked new interest in Elvisly Yours. International Space Archives continues to thrive, new licensees include Marcom Force for marketing merchandise for Dell computers and the newly released DM-2 SpaceX-NASA Mission patch has surged a spate of renewals and with-it submissions. Sahinler and MLP have reported spectacular sales. Highclere Castle and SD Biotechnolgies’ relationship continues to expand, and new product launches include Dress Perfumes, Diffusers & Towels. Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is taking further steps into the ‘brave new licensing world’ with Ermoda Tekstil for apparel, accessories, home textiles & footwear. Other IPs currently in our portfolio include Fabergé, Hobgoblin, Mayflower 400, ODD SQUAD, PGA, Tarzan, The American Collection, The Day Henry Met and ZORRO.
SELF magazine, an authority on health and wellness, has announced the launch of two new seals— SELF Certified and SELF Fave, as the brand expands further into the licensing and commerce spaces. SELF magazine readers turn to the brand as their trusted source for everything health and wellness, including the products the brand recommends on the site, its social media platforms, and in the commerce newsletter, “SELF Shops.” SELF magazine is also announcing a new collaboration with JimmyJane, a leading sexual wellness brand. The collaboration will include an exclusive line of products for personal sexual health and care and will be available for purchase in early 2021. By organically building deep audience trust through its rigorously reported, science-backed, and relatable content, the brand has created the opportunity for e-commerce revenue growth.
Adapting, Growing and Recognising Opportunity
Ian Woods, SVP, International Licensing at Discovery, Inc., talks latest announcements, growth opportunities, and the future...
Can you outline some of your activities within the last few months?
We have been proactively working with our partners across the industry to ensure we can provide support where needed and maintaining communication when it made sense. Additionally, in partnership with licensees and retailers, strategically shifting launch dates of key products where relevant looking beyond 2020. We decided to launch a handful of collections in markets such as India and the U.K. across Animal Planet and Eurosport.
You’re announcing the WROGN x Animal Planet launch in India – can you tell us more about this?
This collection is a great opportunity to tap into the causal nature of Animal Planet with a smart collection in partnership with WROGN. The unique designs allowed us to shed light on endangered species in an accessible way with an endorsement message from Virat Kholi, one of the world’s most famous cricketers, to help underline the message in partnership with the local Discovery teams.
Is India an important market for you?
We’re seeing this market as a growing opportunity across multiple categories, most notably apparel, outdoors and gaming.
And tell us about the Eurosport x Le Col launch?
This was our second season with Le Col, a great, premium partner for Eurosport. The first launch, we sold out in less than 48 hours and we really wanted to build on that success. We introduced a women’s range as part of the new collection, and we are thrilled with the success. The first drop, which was released in the summer, sold out within 48 hours, the women’s kits going first. We’re maximising this success by releasing another range in September with Le Col manufacturing even more products to ensure we can tap into the popularity of Eurosport as ”The Home of Cycling”. The recent uptick in cycling activity as well as the return to the world of live sports has proven to be a benefit for this collaboration and other Eurosport initiatives.
How has Discovery worked around these last challenging few months?
Speaking on behalf of my department, it’s been tough, but I have a smart, resilient team and all quickly adapted to working remotely. As well as each other, the priority was to support our existing partners encouraging communication as frequently as made sense. We have also shifted our focus in line with how behaviours began to change: prioritising our digital gaming studios to cater to those fans that were suddenly spending more time playing games and looking at product categories that would enhance consumers’ lives. For example, leaning into the powering people’s passions messaging and focusing on categories like health and well-being, nutrition, “lockdown” fast fashion and education. Finally, making sure we keep communicating with our industry colleagues. These last few months have impacted all us and more than ever we need to be there for each other where we can.
What positives that you might not have expected have you noticed emerging during the pandemic?
Working from home has allowed the team to be more focused and in many ways, more efficient and effective. We’re an international team and the flexibility that this has brought about, coupled with increased communication and sharper focus has actually resulted in a productivity boost required to navigate the
current state of the markets. It has proven that we have a truly international network both within the team and partners and it has resulted in more focused targeting and ultimately more accessibility to potential clients and decision makers. Consequently, the quality of conversations has been a positive takeaway. Due to our ability to operate flexibly, we have also been able to engage with a number of high-profile brands, partners and retailers that we are planning to work with as we get closer to the new normal.
And what about predictions for the future, specifically in licensing – how permanent do you think some changes will be?
That’s tough, who can possibly predict anything right now. As an observation we’ve seen consumers and manufacturers gain higher levels of consciousness around sustainability and health and wellbeing. I would hope these trends continue to shape how people consume and I feel will be something that has to form part of any future licensing strategy in order to partner with the right brands across the right products. I hope we see sustainable and causal brands/products continuing to influence consumer choice. I also hope we will see shifts in manufacturing and we start recognising the geographic options increasing for many licensees. How great would it be to see more home grown products on the shelves in the future.
