Toyworld October 2017

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Lucasfilm Ltd.

Night Lights

The Team...

CONTENTS October 2017 Volume 7 Issue 2 08 News

20 Marketing World

John Baulch

Publisher and Managing Editor john@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 408 07932 651 207

Mark Austin

Sales Director mark@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

Anita Baulch

Circulation and Financial Director anita@toyworldmag.co.uk 01923 711 439

News

Opinion

Features

07 From the Publisher

24 NPD column

34 Retail Profile: B&M Stores

08 News

27 Talking Shop

18 Industry Moves

32 Viewpoint

42 Feature: Character Licensed Merchandise

20 Marketing World

108 Allegedly

53 Feature: Toy Story 70 Feature: PJ Masks

30 Fresh

74 Feature: BLE Preview

38 Licensing World

Contributors Rachael Simpson

Don’t miss this month’s special Mattel Licensing pull-out supplement

David Ripley | Jim Hawker | The NPD Group | Mark Buschhaus | Stephen Barnes

Deputy Editor rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

Casey Goodman

Editorial Assistant casey@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

30 Fresh

Mark Crowford

Design and Production Manager markc@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

34 Retail Profile: B&M Stores

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t has been an eventful month, to say the least.

The toy community has hit the headlines around the globe, unfortunately not in a good way. However, as is often the case, the devil is in the detail: if you scratch beneath the surface, there are subtle nuances to the stories which are not always fully appreciated by people who are not immersed in the trade (and even some that are).

Last month’s Lego announcement is a perfect case in point. Consumer headlines focused on extensive job losses and a significant drop in sales, leading to speculation not just about Lego, but on the very health of the global toy market itself. These ‘kids don’t want toys any more’ articles infuriate me, mainly because I am of the opinion that they are hopelessly wide of the mark. Often, individual company situations are used to make sweeping generalisations about the state of the toy industry that simply don’t stack up.

Lego’s short-term issues – a six-month blip after, lest we forget, a decade of incredible results – are being addressed sensibly and honestly by the company. I genuinely feel sorry for the Lego employees whose roles disappear during the reorganisation, but I can’t help thinking that creating a leaner, more focused company could prove to be a positive move in many respects.

Moreover, the sales dip is confined to a relatively small part of Lego’s portfolio: proprietary ranges such as Lego City, Friends, Duplo and Technic have all continued to perform well. The shortfall has been largely attributed to the under-performance of a couple of the licensed ranges, particularly Star Wars. There is undoubtedly a broader conversation to be had around the sky-high expectations for certain licences, not to mention the ramifications of excessive ‘slicensing’, but these issues affect far more categories than just toys.

The astonishing events which followed days later at Toys R Us further underline my point. Contrary to the belief of many journalists or observers, the retailer’s current tribulations are not symptomatic of an underlying malaise at the heart of the toy retail – the strong performance of retailers such as Smyths, The Entertainer and hundreds of independent specialists would suggest otherwise. To argue that Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy because kids no longer want toys is lazy and untrue. It is almost as lazy to blame the rise of Amazon, although that has undoubtedly been a contributory factor, particularly in the USA. Instead, I suspect that corporate financial mismanagement is overwhelmingly responsible for the position in which Toys R Us currently finds itself. I say ‘currently’; I am fully aware that events have moved so fast recently that everything may have changed again by the time you read this. One day there was talk in the media of Toys R Us filing for bankruptcy protection before Christmas: later the same day, said protection was duly filed. Technically, that is still ‘before Christmas’, but my word how rapidly events unfurled.

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So, what happens now? On the positive side, the latest move should offer clarity and reassurance, where there was previously a degree of confusion and panic, especially amongst credit insurers, who had pulled coverage when rumours about possible bankruptcy had first surfaced, making what happened next largely a selffulfilling prophesy. More of them later.

The bankruptcy proceedings have been positioned as both the end of an era and, more importantly, the start of a brand new one. Take CEO Dave Brandon’s quote: “We are confident that we are taking the right steps to ensure that the iconic Toys R Us brand lives on for many generations.” According to the official press release: “The company expects this process will enable it to restructure its outstanding debt, which will provide greater financial flexibility to invest in the continued growth of the company.”

So, this is all good news. Uncertainty is not great in business, clarity is the key thing – and this announcement provides a credible road map for the way ahead. There is nothing to see here, right? Keep calm and carry on (shipping).

Let us hope so. However, there is an elephant in the room: our old friends, the aforementioned credit insurers. It seems to me that the very companies which tipped Woolworths over the brink nine years ago are inextricably linked with what happens next. Without any form of credit insurance available, would suppliers continue to ship inventory? Without inventory, how could TRU continue to trade in the coming months?

As we know, the European, Australian and Asian Toys R Us operations are not part of the bankruptcy protection agreement. This would theoretically suggest that suppliers in these territories have less to worry about than those in the US market. However, while US suppliers are covered by the bankruptcy protection arrangement, and therefore have security in terms of payment, European suppliers are not. Hence the availability of credit insurance is far more critical here than in the USA. Thus, it is entirely plausible that Toys R Us’ fate in Europe will be as dependent on a small cabal of global credit insurance providers as on the goodwill of its suppliers. The next few weeks will be crucial, as the insurers process the latest developments and assess the situation. Providing they reinstate credit insurance, it will be very much a case of ‘onwards and upwards’.

Even then, it is likely that, far from being done and dusted, this story is only just getting started. With the festive season rapidly approaching, Toys R Us’ performance in the next three months may yet have a huge bearing on the saga’s denouement. Let us hope the outcome is a positive one – as I have said previously, the global toy trade is stronger for having Toys R Us at its heart.

News Toys R Us files for bankruptcy in the US The retailer Toys R Us, loaded with debt in a buyout more than a decade ago, has filed for bankruptcy in the US. The company listed debt and assets of more than $1b each in Chapter 11 documents at US Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to filing, the chain secured more than $3b in financing from lenders, including a JPMorgan Chase & Co.-led bank syndicate and certain existing lenders to fund operations while it restructures, according to a company statement.

The company didn’t announce plans to close stores, and said its locations across the globe would continue normal operations.

Michael Freitag, a spokesman for Toys R Us, wrote in an email: “Like any retailer, decisions about any future store closings – and openings – will continue to be made based on what makes the best sense for the business.”

Much of the toy merchant’s debt is the legacy of a $7.5b leveraged buyout in 2005 in which Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust loaded the company with debt to take it private. Since, the chain has struggled to dig itself out.

The Company’s operations outside of the US and Canada, including its operations in Europe and Australia and its approximately 255 licensed stores and joint venture partnership in Asia, which are separate entities, are not part of the Chapter 11 filing and CCAA proceedings.

Dave Brandon, chairman and chief executive officer commented: “We are confident that we are taking the right steps to ensure that the iconic Toys R Us and Babies R Us brands live on for many generations. Our customers around the world can continue to count on an outstanding shopping experience and excellent service whenever, wherever and however they choose to shop with us. As the holiday season approaches, our global team members are ready to serve the millions of kids and families who will be shopping with us.”

In the run-up to the filing, it was reported that some UK suppliers to Toys R Us had scaled back shipments to the retailer, in part because the cost to insure the shipments had become too expensive. Vendors often rank among creditors with the lowest priority for getting repaid if a company seeks court protection, and their decision on whether to continue shipping goods can play a large role in determining a retailer’s fate.

Commenting on the news, Gary Grant, MD of The Entertainer, said: “I fear for the future of many small suppliers that may be affected by this – it’s not a good day for the industry.”

Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA Entertainment, added: “Toys R Us is a valued partner of MGA. They were an earlier supporter of our business back in 1979. Toys R Us has done a great job positioning itself as a trusted retailer with quality products that cares for our brands. We believe their presence as a toy destination is important and their voice as a champion of play is needed in this industry. They will come out stronger out of this.”

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News John Driscoll joins The Entertainer as commercial director Smyths Toys sees mainland UK profits surge 70% Sales of Star Wars Lego, Power Rangers and Hatchimals last year have helped Smyths to almost double pre-tax profits in its UK operations to £10m (€11.2m).

As reported by the Irish Independent, new figures show that the familyowned Irish toy-seller enjoyed strong growth in 2016 in the mainland UK with sales climbing by 19% from £334m to £396.49m (€447m) on the back of new store openings. The revenue increase contributed to pre-tax profits increasing by 69pc going from £5.96m to £10m.

The 19% increase in revenues for Smyths Toys UK in the 12 months to the end of December last followed sales growth of 30% in 2015. The firm only entered the UK market in 2007 and its business has grown exponentially in the UK since then. The company recently released its 327 page 2017 Christmas catalogue, which is now available for free in all UK stores.

The firm is Ireland’s largest toy retailer, and the extent of its profits and revenues in Ireland are not available as the firm has unlimited status. The boost in profits and revenues in the UK followed the opening of 12 new shops there last year. According to the directors’ report for the UK arm, the directors are very pleased with the increase in profit, particularly given the current economic climate and increased competition in the market place.

The directors state that the revenue increase was driven by an increase of sales at its existing stores and the opening of the 12 new stores. Further expansion will occur in the UK market in the coming years.

The firm’s accumulated profits last year increased from £11.9m to £20.7m while the company’s cash increased from £4.5m to £9.3m. The Irish firm did file annual accounts up to 2007. However, it changed its status to unlimited after its 2006 accounts made front page news - revealing that the four Smyth brothers who own the business shared management fees of €14m.

The Entertainer delivers strong first half for 2017 The company has posted strong total company sales which are up 6% year on year, with like for like sales being broadly flat. Gross margin is also up on last year, despite cost price challenges, with year to date profit currently 5% ahead of plan, putting the company in good stead for the second half of the year.

It has been a great year for so far for The Entertainer, capitalising on playground crazes, such as finger spinners, fidget cubes and L.O.L. Surprise! dolls. It has also enjoyed strong growth in its own label toy offering.

The performance of TheToyShop.com is also strong, and with a number of website developments in the pipeline, it remains optimistic for the rest of 2017.

Gary Grant, founder and managing director of The Entertainer, commented: “We’re delighted with this year’s performance so far, particularly having had to face into increased promotional pressure in the category, as well as exchange rate fluctuations. We have managed to hold firm to our plans and with a number of key movie and range releases still to come, we expect a positive effect on both our sales and margin for the remainder of the year.”

Having opened six stores so far this year, the company’s expansion plans continue with a further nine stores already confirmed to open in Q3 and Q4, with more expected in the New Year.

Former Tesco category director of general merchandise John Driscoll has joined The Entertainer. He will take on the role of commercial director, previously occupied by Stuart Grant, who will move to a new business development position where he will be liaising with sourcing companies, vendors and licensors to help drive the retailer’s international business.

John originally trained with multinational retailer Marks and Spencer, followed by a period of retail consulting at Accenture, and subsequently spent nine years at Tesco where he held a number of senior commercial roles within the management team, including overseeing the toy category since 2014.

The Entertainer CEO Gary Grant told Toy World: “I am delighted that John will be joining us – it has taken us a long time to find the right person to fit into our unique culture, but I am convinced that John is the perfect fit. His invaluable expertise and knowledge of the toy and licensing industries will be crucial in driving the growth of The Entertainer, and will offer great support for our ambitious expansion plans.”

Lego to cut 1,400 jobs as company “presses the reset button” Lego has announced extensive staff cuts after the first fall in global sales for more than a decade. The company has not yet detailed exactly where the job cuts will fall, but is aiming to cut 1,400 jobs before the end of the year, in a bid to scale back the business.

In a statement, the company said it had been hit by weaker demand in established markets such as the US and parts of Europe and admitted that the organisation had become too complex over the past five years to support global growth.

The statement added that the decision to cut the jobs – representing about 8% of Lego’s global workforce – was a difficult one, but one that had to be made as the company presses “the reset button”.

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, chairman of Lego, commented: “We are very sorry to make changes which may interfere with the lives of many of our colleagues. Our colleagues put so much passion into their work every day and we are deeply grateful for that. Unfortunately, it is essential for us to make these tough decisions.”

In the first fall in sales since 2004, revenue fell 6% in the first half of 2017 while net profit was down 3%. Jørgen Knudstorp said that despite double-digit growth in China in the first half of the year, the decline in established markets was disappointing, adding: “We have taken steps to address this. We added complexity into the organisation, which now in turn makes it harder for us to grow further. As a result, we have now pressed the reset-button for the entire group. This means we will build a smaller and less complex organisation than we have today, which will simplify our business model in order to reach more children. It will also impact our costs. Finally, in some markets the reset entails addressing a clean-up of inventories across the entire value chain. The work is well under way.”

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News Hornby boss Steve Cooke to step down The chief executive of Hornby, Steve Cooke, is to step down amid a strategic review by the firm’s majority shareholder. Phoenix Asset Management took full control of the business in the summer in an effort to boost growth. A turnaround plan has already seen the company cut its product ranges and investments.

Hornby recently warned over its full-year performance due to increased competition and weaker demand. The company said Mr Cooke’s departure was “mutually agreed” and he would remain in place for a transitional period. He joined the company as the finance head in June 2015 and became chief executive in April 2016.

Interim chairman David Adams, who was appointed during the recent take-over, commented: “The position of Phoenix as Hornby’s majority shareholder represents a new chapter in the development of the group, and the board is working closely with Phoenix to set the direction of the business going forward.”

In July Phoenix completed its takeover of Hornby, which was triggered when it bought a stake from another investor that gave it a majority holding in the firm. Phoenix said it was reviewing the turnaround on which Hornby had embarked last year, as the company attempts to revive its fortunes with upcoming new product releases hoping to increase demand.

Paul McGarry leaves Disney after nearly 16 years Paul, formerly Disney’s director of consumer products, has moved on to become an independent business development consultant.

Speaking to Toy World, Paul said that he hoped to utilise his wide experience and good contacts across the toy and game industry to great effect.

He commented: “I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to establish myself as a consultant in an industry I love, using my 30 odd years’ experience and many contacts around the world to help toy and games companies expand their businesses. It’s a dream come true.”

Those wishing to contact Paul can do so on +44 (0) 7484 317225, or via email - paul@mcgarry.biz

Toy Barnhaus’ Worthing branch moves to larger premises The store has relocated to the Guildbourne Centre, and taken a unit double the size of its previous one.

Freya the Rabbit and Toby the Toymaster Puppy were both on hand to greet customers at the grand opening on Saturday 26th August, along with giveaways with every purchase. More Radio, the local radio station, was also involved in promoting the shop opening with a DJ, and the awarding of Golden Ticket vouchers to spend in store.

Stephen Barnes, Toy Barnhaus director, commented: “It has been a very busy four week shopfit, but we are delighted to have opened our larger store in Worthing. Our shop-fitters and staff have worked very hard to get the shop open on time, and we hit our deadline.

The feedback from customers in store has been fantastic, and the opening day sales have been well ahead of expectations. We look forward to more customers finding the new store in the coming weeks.”

Argos launches first ever toy catalogue Argos’ new Totally Awesome Toy Guide features 152 pages of toys for all ages, big brand names and competitions. Prizes include a Star Wars: Season of the Force holiday for four to Disneyland Paris, 10 My Little Pony: The Movie bundles, and 10 Ultimate Nerf blaster bundles.

Linzi Walker, chief toy buyer for Argos commented: “We’re so excited to announce the launch of our first ever Totally Awesome Toy Guide. It can be hard to pick out the perfect toys for children at Christmas with so many new products to choose from, so the catalogue has a number of handy features all in one place; a user-friendly format, top toys for Christmas predictions and links to our YouTube unboxing videos.”

“We know that sitting down with the Argos catalogue and circling perfect gift ideas has made Christmas memories many of our customers over the years. So, what better way to ensure today’s children can make these memories too? We hope that both parents and children have as much fun reading it as we had making it – and that we make Christmas toy buying as fun (and easy) as possible for grown-ups and young ones alike.”

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News Tony Hicks appointed as CEO of Vivid Toy Group Tony, who is based at Vivid’s UK headquarters in Guildford, replaces Eric Rossi, who will step down from his role for family reasons in order to remain in France, where he currently resides. Eric will continue to work with the business to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Tony has over 22 years of experience delivering growth strategies for major business units across Europe, Asia, and North America for market leading international consumer brands including Carlsberg, Molson Coors, and Mars. Additionally, Tony brings significant toy industry experience from his time at leading US toy company LeapFrog.

Vardhan Rajkumar, chairman of Vivid Toy Group and senior partner at Privet Capital, commented: “I’d like to thank Eric for the significant contribution he has made to Vivid in his five years at the company. We wish him all the best for the future. We are delighted to have Tony on board. He shares our ambitious growth plans for Vivid, which we can only achieve though sustained investment in the Vivid team and our brands. Building strong relationships with licence owners and strengthening our important network of distribution and retail partners will be critical to our success. Tony’s outstanding network and record of leading international toy brands will be instrumental in developing our team, growing our brand portfolio and driving further international expansion.”

Tony added: “It is a privilege to have joined Vivid Toy Group, which is an exciting entrepreneurial business with a fantastic track record and fabulous brands benefiting from an unrivalled distribution network and retail relationships worldwide. I look forward to building on the terrific platform that the team has built and exploring the many growth opportunities for the company.”

Senior sales and marketing changes at GP Flair Emmanuelle Cadet, the company’s newly appointed head of marketing, comes to Flair from Cartoon Network where she was licensing director hard lines for EMEA. Previous roles also include licensing management positions at Rovio Entertainment and Disney and overseas marketing management roles at both Tomy Japan and France.

As head of marketing for GP Flair, Emmanuelle will report directly to commercial director Nicola Bergot who will take on full responsibility for both the sales and marketing functions within the company.

Nicola Bergot commented: “We are thrilled to have Emmanuelle on board to direct and manage our extensive marketing plans, and to lead our very talented marketing team. We know that the depth of her experience both in the UK and on an international level will be invaluable to the entire team”.

Emmanuelle added: “I am delighted to be joining GP Flair, a company renowned for its best in class marketing support for its brands and partners, and I am looking forward to working with Flair’s excellent marketing team.”

With Nicola Bergot assuming much wider responsibility across both sales and marketing, GP Flair also announces two sales team promotions. Mandy Victory and Mark Ashurst have both taken on bigger roles and more responsibility as joint head of sales, reporting directly to Nicola.

Simon Hedge, managing director of GP Flair summarised: “The movement within the top sales and marketing positions at GP Flair represents a major step forward in the development of our company, allowing these senior team members to develop in their own roles and build the business for the future. I’d like to welcome Emmanuelle on board, and congratulate Nicola, Mandy and Mark on their new responsibilities.”

Ravensburger acquires ThinkFun ThinkFun joins Wonder Forge, acquired in 2012, and Brio, acquired in 2015, as the newest company under the recently established Ravensburger North America division.

Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello founded ThinkFun 33 years ago, and the company is known for its games such as Rush Hour, Zingo, Gravity Maze, and Laser Maze. As a subsidiary of Ravensburger North America, ThinkFun will continue to operate as an independent brand from its Alexandria, Virginia headquarters. Ritchie will stay on as the company’s chief creative officer. ThinkFun will also retain company directors and staff.

Bill, co-founder and CEO of ThinkFun, commented: “Ravensburger is the ideal partner to help us bring our games to even more families across North America and around the world. This will enable us to build upon our distinctive style and explore new and innovative product concepts, across multiple categories and for players of all ages.”

Tobar reveals rebrand at Autumn Fair 2017 The company’s aim is to be recognised by the consumer as well as retailers. Tobar is not only rebranding its logo but will also be making the new logo visible on the front of its packaging, making itself known to its customers for the first time since launching in 1973.

The new logo was created by the Tobar in-house design team led by senior graphic designer, Bob Whitby. It has been changed to reflect a focus on its own brands such as Animigos and the fact that the company is entering the world of licensing with its new range of edible bug products and games called Bush Grub, officially licensed by I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

David commented: “Despite being in business for over 44 years, Tobar has remained the toy company that consumers have never heard of. We want that to change and so moving forward, our brand will be more visible. We hope that in time, consumers will come to recognise our logo and understand that they are buying into our values and ethics.”

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News Visitor registration now open for Toy Fair 2018

Royal Mail issues special stamps to celebrate iconic children’s toys The new stamps feature some of the most iconic and much-loved British toys from the last 100 years.

The toys featured are the Merrythought Bear, Sindy Doll, Spirograph, Stickle Bricks, W. Britain toy figures, Space Hopper, Fuzzy Felt, Meccano, Action Man and Hornby Dublo trains.

In the 19th century, the growing middle class of the Victorian era was fuelling an expansion in toy-making and major names in British manufacturing started to appear and compete with foreign makers. Previously a producer of mechanical toys, W. Britain pioneered the hollowcast method of figure-making: made using less molten metal, toy soldiers were both lighter and significantly cheaper to produce.

In 1938 Frank Hornby launched the Hornby Dublo train set. The following years would see the arrival of some of the biggest names in the history of toys – Fuzzy-Felt (1950), Sindy (1963), Action Man (1966) and the Spacehopper (1969) all materialised in a wild two-decade span, as well as Spirograph (1965) and Stickle Bricks (1969), which were two exceptional and enduring innovations that helped inspire young minds and encourage creativity.

By the early 1960s, Britain was exporting more toys than all but three other countries, with annual sales totalling over £7 million.

Royal Mail spokesperson Philip Parker commented: “British toy makers enjoyed a reputation for quality and innovation, and these nostalgic stamps celebrate ten wonderful toys that have endured through the decades.”

Argos launches click and collect service at 100 Sainsbury’s convenience stores The launch of Argos click and collect in 100 Sainsbury’s convenience stores is part of a longer-term plan to have 2,000 “points of presence” for the general goods retailer.

Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe commented: “Customers are demanding more and more flexibility and more speed in terms of the way they shop with us. We would argue very strongly that with 2,000 points of presence, the great Argos digital capability and the supply chain that backs that up – and the fact that those businesses have access to 27 million customers a week – gives us a reasonably powerful combination to compete in the future. But I don’t pretend for a moment that Amazon and others aren’t going to be significant competitors.”

The extended roll-out of click and collect, which will enable shoppers to pick up Argos products at convenience stores, comes alongside an integration programme that has seen the expansion of Argos stores with Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Sainsbury’s currently has 100 “stores within stores” and plans to increase that to 150 by Christmas pace. Mike added that he envisages a time when Sainsbury’s, like Amazon, partners with independent retailers and uses them as delivery points for Argos goods.

The British Toy & Hobby Association has opened visitor and media registration for Toy Fair 2018. The 65th annual Toy Fair will take place at Olympia London, with press day scheduled for Tuesday 23th January.

Visitors can register to attend the show free of charge through the new Toy Fair website: www.toyfair.co.uk.

The Toy Fair is the largest dedicated toy, game, and hobby trade exhibition in the UK. Covering 22,000m2 of floor space, more than 250 exhibiting companies will launch thousands of brand new toy lines.

Retailers, licensors and media who visit the show get to experience these toys first, whilst also discovering new brands and hidden gems.

Additionally, Toy Fair is an invaluable opportunity for visitors to network with the UK toy industry, from the biggest players to the innovative inventors and start-ups, all under one roof.

Darrell Jones, marketing manager at Vivid Toy Group, commented: “Toy Fair remains one of the most important dates in Vivid’s toy calendar. It continues to offer us a great forum to showcase our new launches to our existing customers, as well as seeking out new business opportunities.”

Majen Immink, director of fairs and special events, added: “Toy Fair 2018 is the perfect event to showcase the creativity, ingenuity, and passion of the UK toy industry. Every year we see fantastic toys from all different types of businesses, from start-ups to larger international companies. We’re thrilled to have so many returning to exhibit again, including 75% of those from last year, as well as new faces joining us for the first time.”

To make reapplying easy, attendees from any of the past three Toy Fairs will receive a Smart Link to their existing profile, so need only check, update and submit their details to receive their 2018 show ticket.

Visitors who choose not to pre-register or confirm their Smart Link will be required to pay a £15 entry fee on the door.

New sales director at Jumbo as Stewart Middleton departs for IMC role Stewart (pictured standing on the left) is stepping down after 2.5 years to take up a new role of sales director at IMC Toys next month. After joining the company in 2015, Stewart has worked very closely with the team to focus on the company’s core strengths and instill a positive and clear strategic approach that has successfully seen the company maintain its position as the UK’s No. 1 Adult Puzzle & Accessories manufacturer, and to continue its 2016 growth in the adult puzzle market, with double-digit growth this year.

With the news of Stuart’s departure, Jumbo is delighted to announce the promotion of Steve Washbourne (pictured right) to UK sales director. Steve has been with the company for over 10 years, managing national accounts and working closely with the marketing and back office teams. This promotion will strengthen the UK office as the company steps up its efforts to continue its growth this year.

Jumbo would like to thank Stewart for his great work, and is looking forward to continuing the company’s growth into the Q4 period and into 2018, under the leadership of Steve Washbourne.

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Industry Moves Guy Rooney joins Character Options

Jonathan Harper bolsters Halilit team

Character Options has announced the appointment of Guy Rooney to senior national account manager.

Guy’s experience in sales and many years in the toy industry will be central to his new role.

David Bramford, sales director at Character Options, commented: “We are delighted to announce that Guy has joined Character Options. His drive and ambition, not to mention his valuable retailer relationships, makes him the perfect man for the job and we look forward to him being an integral part of the team.”

Guy added: “I’m extremely pleased to be joining the Character Options sales team, and I look forward to working on existing accounts and developing new business.”

Pre-school specialist Halilit has announced the addition of Jonathan Harper to the company.

Jonathan joins as marketing executive to support the team during a period of growth and will be working closely with retailers to maximise opportunities for Halilit’s ranges within stores, whilst also developing the digital and social media aspects of the business.

Amy Wildman, Halilit sales manager, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to the team and look forward to seeing him apply his wealth of digital and marketing experience to our portfolio of brands. With the recent acquisitions of TrueDough and Rosa & Bo, we now represent 11 ranges within the UK and Ireland, so Jonathan joins at an ideal time to focus on consolidating autumn/winter opportunities and to enrich our existing brand strategies for 2018.”

Jonathan can be contacted on jonathan@halilit. co.uk or 01254 872454.

Rachel Wakley joins Warner Bros.

The former Tesco head of licensing has been named as general manager, Warner Bros.

Consumer Products UK and Ireland.

In her new role, Rachel will lead the UK and Ireland consumer products team and promote the company’s cross-category plans across retail, managing and developing a diverse portfolio of brands and licensees.

Rachel, who will also join Warner Bros. UK’s executive committee, has a background spanning home entertainment, toys, video games, FMCG and retail, having previously worked for Paramount Pictures, Coca Cola Enterprises and Upper Deck International, as well as Disney and Activision Blizzard.

In a post on LinkedIn, Rachel commented: “So, today I begin my next chapter… I’m very excited to be a part of this great organisation – and am very much looking forward to the future.”

John Stanley, EVP and managing director, Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group UK, Ireland, Spain and Nordics, commented: “Rachel’s vast experience and business acumen mean that she is ideally placed to take up our passion for retail and drive to continue producing best in class product. She has a great track record of handling big-name brands and building relationships with the biggest companies in the industry and we’re delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Epoch Making Toys appoints senior national account manager John Briggs has been appointed as the company’s new senior national account manager. John has a wealth of toy industry experience, including senior sales roles at Vivid, MGA and more recently HTI. Neil Bandtock, managing director at Epoch, commented: “We are delighted to welcome John on board at this exciting time in the development of the Epoch business across the UK and Ireland. John has over 15 years’ experience in helping to develop toy retail sales and I’m sure he will be an important member of our team, as we continue our growth.”

John added: “I’m very pleased to be joining the Epoch Making Toys team at such an exciting time in the company’s development. Significant growth this year, with exciting new brands in the pipeline for early next year, is an inspiring mix.”

Toy World 18

Schleich UK welcomes Paul Dearlove Schleich UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Dearlove to trade marketing manager.

Bringing with him years of toy industry experience from across sales and marketing positions, Paul will be responsible for all trade marketing activity including implementing instore presentations and POS. Jeremy Robinson, country manager for Schleich UK, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome Paul to the business and look forward to him contributing to the company’s marketing strategy.

With years of toy industry experience, Paul’s input will be instrumental to our ongoing growth within the UK market.

Paul can be contacted on 01279 870000.

Golden Bear takes on Tracy Griffiths as licensing consultant Tracy will be working with the team as an independent licensing consultant. She has gained a wealth of licensing and industry experience, having previously worked with Fremantle Media and Mattel/Hit. Prior to that she deepened her industry knowledge as a buyer for Woolworths and Mothercare.

Barry Hughes, managing director at Golden Bear, commented: “Tracy has a proven track record in developing sustained and effective licensing partnerships in her roles with Fremantle Media and Hit. She is in a perfect position to help drive our licensing programme forward, building on our successful ranges and identifying new opportunities for the business.”

Tracy added: “I am delighted to be working with Golden Bear in what is a very exciting and dynamic period of growth for the company. Golden Bear has an established portfolio of high profile licensed ranges with key licences performing beyond expectations. I look forward to building and shaping its licensing programme, working alongside an extremely proactive and creative team.”

Marketing World DKL Marketing takes to the road with first retailer demo tour

Smyths Toys announces launch of new YouTube Stars campaign

DKL is taking its core brands on the road for the first time with a retailer demo tour around the country. Retailers have been given the opportunity to participate in the company’s creative play demonstration days which will bring a raft of activities to customers via its Hama, Plus-Plus, Scent Co Stationery and PlayMais ranges.

Each store has been offered a bespoke programme, allowing retailers to prioritise activity around relevant brands in order to help boost sales and store dwell time. Activities include make & takes, competitions, goody bags, and free gifts with purchase.

David Allan, sales & marketing director, DKL Marketing, commented: “We want to bring creative play to as many children as possible - having fun while expressing themselves and developing their imaginations.

Our creative play days have been designed with this in mind, utilising our craft and construction ranges to demonstrate endless possibilities.”

The demo tour will take place throughout October and into November.

The initiative, called YouTube Stars, launched on Thursday 14th September, giving kids the chance to win £100 to spend in-store.

Open to children of all ages across the UK and Northern Ireland, the initiative gives children the chance to become a YouTube unboxer and win a £100 Smyths Toys voucher to spend in-store.

Children are encouraged to upload a video to wetransfer and email the link to videos@smythstoys.com for their chance to become a star and feature on the Smyths Toys Superstores official YouTube channel. Three new winners will be chosen each week and will also receive a £100 Smyths Toys gift voucher to spend in-store.

Amy Matthews, PR and events executive at Smyths Toys, commented: “We want to hear what kids have to say about their favourite toys. Our new YouTube Stars campaign encourages kids to have fun and share their experience with others when unboxing and playing with their favourite toys.”

Nerf franchise to sponsor new ITV series Cannonball

K’nex launches Tiny Pop sponsorship programme

Hasbro’s Nerf franchise has been announced as the official sponsor of Cannonball, the new ITV game show, which began on 2nd September, coinciding with the launch of the Nerf Modulus Regulator blaster.

The partnership, that sees on-air sponsorship of the prime-time 7pm Saturday evening slot, was brokered by OMD with 10” idents running throughout the eight-week series, as well as two one-off specials.

Hosted by presenter and cricketing legend, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, Cannonball is a brand new action-packed gameshow that pits contestants of all ages against supersized games in a custom-built water park, testing their speed, accuracy, height, and distance as they fly through the air before landing in the water below.

Craig Wilkins, marketing director at Hasbro, commented: “Cannonball is the perfect platform for Nerf, with its adrenalin-fueled obstacles and familyfun challenges, it encapsulates the Nerf brand, and the audience we’re targeting.”

The sponsorship idents are produced by ITV AdVentures.

The six week multi-platform campaign will build awareness of the Kid K’nex range.

Paul Fogarty, K’nex UK managing director, commented: “Tiny Pop is an ideal partner for Kid K’nex, providing us with broadcast and digital platforms on which to showcase how we have adapted our unique building system for younger budding builders aged 3+, with colourful and chunky pieces that are easy to snap together. We have created a series of fun, animated product videos for the campaign, each designed to bring the range to life and engage child and parent.”

The heavyweight sponsorship includes a new 30 second TV spot running 10 times a day for two weeks, plus additional 10 and five second TV spots running for six weeks at key viewing times, achieving at least 450 TVRs with both mums (HWCH 0-3) and kids aged 4-6. A six-week digital advertising programme will support the broadcast campaign with 200,000 impressions on the Tiny Pop website.

Toy World 20

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Marketing World Paddington to become a champion for children in support of Unicef Vivendi, owner of the Paddington brand, has announced a long-term partnership with Unicef, the world’s largest children’s organisation.

The partnership will see Paddington become a champion for children, furthering Unicef’s goal to promote the rights of children all around the world.

The partnership was borne out of recognition by both organisations that the values exemplified by Paddington – kindness, tolerance, and perseverance in the face of adversity – make him the perfect champion for children’s rights.

The partnership’s first activations will happen in the UK, the USA, and Europe, and are planned to coincide with the upcoming release of Paddington 2 and the 60th anniversary of the first Paddington book in 2018.

In the UK, Paddington will support Unicef UK’s campaign around refugee children and will be featured prominently in Unicef UK’s OutRight campaign. This year’s campaign will feature the story of Paddington, who leaves his home in darkest Peru for a new life in London, where he finds a new family, home and community thanks to his friendly nature, politeness, and ability to stand up for himself.

Activation in the other countries will be communicated over the coming months.

Lily Caprani, deputy executive director, Unicef UK, said: “We are living in a time when millions of children around the world are being forced to leave their homes, and to put their trust in the kindness of strangers. As such, it seems especially appropriate and welcome to be working with a partner like Vivendi, and to have a champion like Paddington, whose own story of leaving Darkest Peru and finding a new family and home in a strange country, resonates as strongly and freshly today, as it did when it was first published.”

Simon Gillham (OBE), member of the Vivendi Management Board, stated: “We are hugely proud that Unicef has chosen Paddington as a champion for its campaign to promote the rights of children all around the globe. Paddington is the perfect example of tolerance, love and openness to other cultures, from Peru to the rest of the world.”

Hot Wheels unveils Challenge Accepted brand campaign Mattel has announced a new Hot Wheels brand campaign, in partnership with BBDO San Francisco, titled Challenge Accepted. As today’s parents are focused on finding products and services that help their children grow and develop, Hot Wheels is rethinking its marketing to better communicate the benefits of its products directly to parents. The new campaign showcases how the challenges Hot Wheels offers helps kids build the skills and confidence they need to take on the world.

To launch the campaign, a 60-second video focuses on a mother and son, and draws parallels between play and reality to convey that life is full of challenges that build resilience and champion the challenger spirit in every child. It emphasises how Hot Wheels is more than a source of fun, but also a way to learn important life skills.

Chris Down, senior vice president and global brand GM, Hot Wheels, commented: “Hot Wheels has remained a beloved brand for nearly 50 years. Car play is an intuitive play-pattern which has contributed to Hot Wheels’ success as the numberone selling toy in the world. We aim to nurture the challenger spirit in all kids by encouraging them to try, fail, and repeat to achieve success. Our Challenge Accepted campaign does exactly this in an unexpected and exhilarating way.”

The campaign will premiere during US NBC’s American Ninja Warrior to reach a co-viewing, parent and child audience, and will be supported by multi-year 360-degree marketing effort that will include television, cinema, social and digital.

The campaign launched in the UK on 20th September supported with a marketing campaign which includes digital media spend, social support, plus an Instagram influencer ambassador campaign that will showcase a real-life mum and son relationship.

Tomy holds nationwide Toomies playdates with Smyths Held at stores in West Sussex, North West London and West Midlands, the three free Toomies playdates offered young children and parents the chance to play with Toomies toys.

UK child development experts from Fundamentally Children joined Tomy to host the playdates, which offered visitors a first look at new releases including Sort & Spin UFO and Mr ShopBot, as well as best-selling bath toy Foam Cone Factory. Each play session ran for 30 minutes, giving customers plenty of time to experience each toy’s features under the expert eye of Fundamentally Children. Attendees at each session received balloons and badges, and also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the brand new Toomies characters.

Tomy also supported the playdates with social media giveaways across the Smyths Facebook page.

Nicola Jenkins, head of marketing UK at Tomy Europe, commented: “We are delighted to have partnered again with Smyths & Fundamentally Children on our brand-new initiative of Tomy Toomies playdates, which were a great opportunity to introduce parents and children to the new Toomies brand under the guidance of the leading UK developmental experts.”

“Tomy Toomies is designed to bring together our best-selling toddler and bath products, showcasing our unique characters and reinforce the magic of Hands on Fun. As one of our leading retail partners, Smyths provided a perfect setting in which local parents could meet, chat and have fun through play with our best-selling products, and the brand new products that were on show.”

Toy World 22

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NPD Insight Licence to sell NPD’s Rory Partis examines the all-important contribution that licensed properties make to the overall toy market, as well as the extended kids’ market.

L

icences are important to the toy market; just under a third of all toys value is licensed in the UK and it’s a similar story around the world.

Licensing can also be unpredictable though, especially in a market where crazes can come out of nowhere. Licensing is not just about toys; the UK Licence Tracker service shows that in fact only 29% of the total kids licensed market is coming from toys. This month’s article will cover off just what makes licensing such an important part of the kids’ market, both inside and outside of toys - and the toy market is definitely a great place to start.

Looking around the countries that NPD covers in the toy market, it is evident that licensing is certainly strong in the UK. The UK toy market value is 27% licensed goods, which is the highest share in the Europe G5, although it must be noted that Italy is only 0.1% behind. Where the UK differs, however, is that the UK toy market is in slight decline this year compared to the rest of Europe, which is generally in growth; this also means that the licence decline is a little stronger in the UK than the European average. However, licensing in the UK is generally down this year, perhaps unsurprisingly after an extraordinary couple of years where we saw incredible figures for the market and licensing in 2015 and 2016.

There have still been some notable performances this year which have contributed to growth, with movies boosting the toy sales of Batman, Power Rangers, Transformers, Cars and Spider Man. These properties collectively have added nearly £30m in value to the UK toy market in 2017 so far

- not an insignificant amount. With the way kids consume content now a hot topic, we can also see this effect with licences coming from the TV and digital arena. Paw Patrol has been the standout pre-school property for a couple of years now, and PJ Masks has enjoyed a great start in 2017, with both of these properties coming from TV. The Pokémon Go app gave a huge boost to Pokémon in toys and the Pokémon property is now the number one collectable property in the market in terms of both value and growth. We’ve also seen strong sales for Roblox recently, with toys coming from the popular online gaming platform for kids another toy licence originating in the digital world.

So, it certainly seems like the licensed toy market is in robust shape, but what about licensing outside of toys?

The UK Kids Licence Tracker is a consumer tracker which tracks licensed purchases for kids across a number of categories. The latest period shows that licensed toys are the largest category and account for 29% of all licensed sales, with clothing at number two accounting for 18%. When we look at the top licences across all 13 categories, this is when we see some big differences from looking at only toys. Disney Frozen is still the number one licence and with sales across all 13 of the categories it’s also one of the few top licences where toys is not the top category. With £41m in clothing sales, this is £4m ahead of the toy number.

Mickey & Friends is another top 10 property, due to impressive clothing results, with £32m in licensed clothing sales, compared to just under £10m in toys. One property with more equally balanced data is Paw Patrol, with the successful licence

Toy World 24

Rory Partis

Senior Account Manager, NPD being at number four across all kids licensing. A key reason for the success of Paw Patrol is that it is the only top licence that appears in the top 10 for both boys and girls, being number three for boys and number eight for girls. Paw Patrol has nearly 60% of its value in the toy category, but around a quarter of its total value come from clothing, footwear and publishing. With the top licences all having a good mix of sales across categories, the toy category enjoys the knock-on effect of the popularity of such properties across a broad range of product areas outside of toys.

Licensing is often highly visible because the big licences get the headlines. But as we detailed earlier there is a whole range of licences inside and outside of toys doing well and adding value to the market, some bigger than others. A good mix helps the variation in the market and gives kids choices, which can only be a good thing.

Property Progression: Total Property (Brand + Licence)

July 2017 Rank

August 2017 Rank

Fingerlings

#79

#43

There’s No Other City Like New York and No Other Show Like

Fingerlings has been one of the best performing items of the year and with sales of nearly £630k in August, the brand has moved up 36 positions in the space of a month in the NPD EPOS data. The cute items have consistently been in the top 10 items this year and were in fact the #3 item in value for August.

•More than 1,000 exhibitors

Fastest Growing Subclass The top growing subclasses at YTD August are showing that the performance of collectibles in the UK is still going strong. Subclasses with collectible elements make up the top four best performing subclasses with Strategic Trading Cards still the #1, where it has been for most of the year. Pre-school Vehicles is at #5 and benefiting from the strong performance of Paw Patrol in August, where it was +25% for the month. Early Electronic Learning is also in the top 10 and the Infant subclass has added over £2m in value so far this year.

The NPD Group provides global information and advisory services to drive better business decisions. By combining unique data assets with unmatched industry expertise, we help our clients track their markets, understand consumers and drive profitable growth. Sectors covered include automotive, beauty, entertainment, fashion, food/food service, home, office supplies, sports, technology, toys, video games, and wireless.

To monitor what’s happening in the ever-changing toy market, NPD collects point-of-sale information from all major toy retailers. This information, combined with our analysts’ industry perspectives, delivers a comprehensive view of what’s selling and where. We also field over 12m consumer surveys annually to help industry leaders understand why consumers shop where they shop and why they buy what they buy. For more information visit www.npd.com. Follow NPD on Twitter @npdgroup

Toy World 25

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Licence to thrill This month, Toy World spoke to a number of independent retailers about how well licensed toys are performing in 2017, the stand out ranges for Christmas, and what opportunities licensed toys present from a retail perspective.

Andy Tipping - Marlow Toys, Marlow

Peppa Pig sales have increased within certain ranges in our store, along with the master toy range which has opened things up a fair bit in terms of product options. Thomas & Friends remains steady – we offer Take n Play, some of the smaller Trackmasters offerings, and wooden Thomas options too. Batman Lego performed brilliantly around the time that the film actually came out in cinemas, and we are noticing a similar spike in Lego Ninjago sales, what with the new movie having been released very recently. Sales of these products have increased immensely, largely down to the marketing surrounding the film itself. Generally, four weeks after a film has been released, you will see growth in related product sales. The same is true of the time the DVD is released, another sales spike occurs. This happened for us with Trolls. We usually get stock in four to six weeks before a movie release; four weeks after the initial film release is when we saw the highest sales, as the Trolls message was widespread by then. We saw another spike when the DVD was released, and a third when the movie was

released on the Sky store. These three spikes form a definite pattern that retailers ought to be aware of.

Licensed toys offer kids the opportunity to have their own specialised character merchandise.

Drawing on Star Wars as an example, kids become familiar with characters such as R2D2, Yoda, Darth Vader and other lead characters, and this translates into sales. Spider-Man stands out among the Marvel superheroes, and once the Lego movie has been and gone a lot of customers will still be looking for Batman products. If children recognise a superhero or a specific character in a TV programme, and feel a connection to them, then it will drive licensed sales.

As an independent retailer, one of the biggest challenges we face, both with licensed and generic products, is trying to compete with bigger corporations – you’re never going to get stock for same price as the likes of Amazon, because of its superior buying power. We also face challenges in ensuring that stock is ordered early enough.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if you haven’t committed early enough then you can get caught out. Golden Bear’s Bush Baby World springs to mind immediately as a good example of this. The range has been massive everywhere, and the bigger retailers have managed to get them back in stock after selling out, but smaller independent retailers such as ourselves have missed out as we couldn’t order the same initial quantity due to the size of our business.

Being a Toymaster member means we can run an official Lego Ninjago colouring competition, which has a prize on offer. We can use licensed toys in this way, to hold competitions and other events, and this increases footfall and encourages customers to come and look at different things in store. This in turn increases the interaction we have with the children when they come into the shop.

Looking forward to Christmas, the Lego Star Wars BB8 set will surely be a best-seller, and definitely the top-selling Lego set of the period. I’m expecting

Toy World 27

PJ Masks to also enjoy success at Christmas; new playsets are being released, and the property is now out-selling Paw Patrol. The second instalment in the Jurassic World franchise is coming out in 2018. Anything dinosaur-related usually performs really well for us, so I am looking forward to that particular movie release.

The performance of a licensed range is definitely linked to the success of the film itself. A case in point is Disney’s Lone Ranger, starring Jonny Depp, which came out in 2013. The film was launched with a licensed construction toy set, and not only was the film a flop but the products were too, and not through any fault of their own. How popular a film is at the cinema will definitely affect a customer’s view of the licensed products. If you come out of the screening feeling uninspired and disconnected from a character, you are unlikely to want to go and buy an action figure of that character, or stationery with their face on.

The new range of Ben 10 licensed goods has recently been launched by GP Flair, some years after the property first aired, and currently it is up against some other big players in the kids’ market that perhaps weren’t around when it was originally launched. Kids TV is so varied now that when manufacturers re-launch product lines for slightly older properties, they need to ensure it will still appeal to that target age range. Licensing is a very competitive market, but I think Ben 10 will continue to hold its own.

I’d advise retailers to always ensure that they offer a certain percentage of licensed toys in their store, even if they consider themselves to be a more traditional shop. Not only this, they also need to gauge through their systems which ones perform well. We are very fortunate in that our EPOS system allows us to monitor what is selling through well for us, and we can therefore make sound decisions on stock and pre-orders based on this feedback.

Talking Shop Debra Maloney Austin’s Department Store, Devon So far this year, sales of licensed toys have been strong. Although trade is a bit fickle at the moment, the licensed ranges have been selling well, apart from Minions which has been disappointing. Shopkins, NumNoms, Shimmer and Shine, Paw Patrol and Lego Ninjago are the ranges that have been performing best, and our customers can’t get enough of blind bags. Outdoor toys has also been brilliant for us this year, as well as slime. The relaunch of Puppy in my Pocket and Kitty in my Pocket has also proved popular.

I think Paw Patrol and Lego Ninjago do so well for us because of TV advertising and YouTube influencers, which I think is becoming more and more important. Even the little ones watch YouTube, so I think promoting toys using the media has developed in leaps and bounds, compared to where it was 10 years ago.

Licensed toys can offer things that non-licensed toys do not. There is a lot of media hype which makes kids feel they have to have certain licensed lines, but generic toys aren’t quite the same. Kids like to play with what they see on the TV and YouTube, and I think children are just as influenced by each other as by advertising.

One of the biggest challenges we face with stocking licensed toys is the price competitiveness. Competing with companies like Amazon etc. makes it a challenge to make a decent margin on licensed toys. But I think we compare favourably with Amazon with the extra service we give; we run a toy club and people can come into store to see the goods, feel the goods and ask questions. We find this is an aspect of our business that grandparents especially appreciate.

One opportunity that licensed toys present for us is promotional events.

We run character event weekends, and we build a bit of hype around certain products. For example, we have a Peppa Pig costume and such events are always popular. We find that this results in a much higher footfall than average, as people like to see things happening; we tend to run these events on a Saturday and notice at least a 10% increase in footfall.

For Christmas, I think the key lines are going to be Paw Patrol and PJ Masks. The L.O.L Surprise! dolls are also a key range. We plan to run a few more character days and lots of online promotions before Christmas, but we haven’t made many plans for next year yet. We have planned a few things for Lego Boxing Day, and the new Star Wars film released around Christmas will be big, so hopefully sales will continue into the New Year.

Matthew Booker - Automattic Comics & Toys, Wiltshire So far this year, sales of licensed toys have been slower than in previous years. However, the ranges that are performing the best for us are Rick and Morty, Paw Patrol, Pokémon, and DC Comics.

I think these ranges are doing well because they relate to popular films and television shows and characters, which customers recognise and relate to.

One thing that licensed toys offer that generic toys do not is the recognition factor, which makes them a confident purchase.

As a retailer, one of the biggest challenges I face in stocking licensed product is when other retailers decide to start dumb discounting on product released prior to the opening of a film. This happened earlier this year with the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Some retailers started selling the new

Toy World 28

Spider-Man toys at already a third off the original price, two weeks before the film hit.

I do wish manufacturers would stop supporting big discounts in mass retail before the film has even been released and give a product time to find its ground. Making a profit isn’t a bad thing, but retailers are forced to put all their eggs in fewer and fewer baskets, and UK consumers have come to expect such discounts. Nowhere else on the globe is this discounting culture so prevalent, and it’s not good for business.

I think Star Wars ranges are going to do well this Christmas, with the new film opening, but I also think that for licensed toys, next year is shaping up to be similar to this year – there is just so much product out there.

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Jon Scrivens Hamlin’s Toy Shop, Berkhamsted

Sales of licensed toys this year have been solid. Some of the key ranges such as Star Wars are continuously strong sellers; the Lego ranges including Lego Ninjago products - and Cars 3 are good examples of ranges that have performed well.

When the Cars 3 film came out, everyone wanted a Jackson Storm, to the point where we were selling out of the die-cast figures.

These three ranges have performed the best for us, tying in with the film releases. Social media also plays a big part. We have recently set up our own social media channels for the shop, and we have found that promoting products this way has helped the business, as well as the products, as it makes people aware of who we are and what we stock. We have an Instagram account where we post pictures of new and exciting products which we think are appropriate to the time of year. For example, during the summer we might post up pictures of outdoor toys to let people know that if they are planning to have a water party, then we have Super Soakers and water balloons in stock. With social media, if you are building up from the bottom then it takes time to have an effect, but any increase in awareness is helpful.

We arranged a Pokémon Training Day which wasn’t quite as successful as I would have liked, but it did highlight to me that people were at least looking at our Facebook page, which until that point it was hard to gauge whether it was actually having any effect. We’re hoping to do an event tied into our Christmas lights turn on, so that will be fun as we will try to get people into licensed costumes, theming the event around

Star Wars as the film comes out around Christmas.

We are a popular destination for presents for birthday parties, and find that if a parent is trying to get a present on the day they will often go with a licensed product because they know that the child will like a particular licenced property.

They trust well known characters, such as My Little Pony and Paw Patrol.

I think licensed toys offer a familiarity that generic toys do not.

Because children are aware of the licences from television programmes that they love, they already have an existing emotional connection, or desire for the product, rather than for a generic toy which they may not be familiar with. With licensed toys, much of the work has already been done for us.

I think children choose which toys they want based on both their parents’ tastes and what is popular with their friends in the playground, but the influence of their friends and television advertising has a very strong pull. Before parents even know it, their kids are into something like Paw Patrol - it often comes out of nowhere.

One of the biggest challenges that we face with licensed toys is knowing when to stop stocking them before they become less popular. The trick is knowing when to cut your losses, and anticipating when the next big thing is going to take over, it’s a balancing act.

One of the biggest advantages though is the buzz that licensed products can give us. When Pokémon Go! came out last summer there was a massive surge in Pokémon products, including plush, cards and action figures. A range that there wasn’t a big market for suddenly became a big thing again. It was good that we could jump on it at the right time rather than being behind the times.

Next year is looking quite exciting for licensed toys, I’ve not quite seen all of the new ranges yet, but from what I’ve heard there’s plenty of new stuff to look forward to.

Mark Buschhaus and Stephen Barnes Toy Barnhaus

Taking stock

B

y the time you read this in early October, we will be in full swing for the Christmas period. We will have moved two of our stores in two months – no mean feat! The first store, in Worthing, has been a great success, and has shown us that moving to a well laid out, customer friendly store in a much larger, secondary location, can make a difference. We were a bit apprehensive ahead of the move, but had no choice but to find alternative premises. However, the feedback has been fantastic, and customers certainly seem to be enjoying the wider aisles and new ranges.

Along with this, this is the time of year when our stockrooms really start to feel the strain. This is our first year with an external warehouse, and it is definitely making things a bit easier. That said, when we received 27 pallets in one day last week, there was nothing easy about sorting it all out, despite having ample room.

August and early September trade has been steady. Nothing new is standing out all that much, but existing bestsellers continue to perform well for us.

Bringing in the new games will give us an early read on how some of the latest lines are going. As we have seen in the last couple of years, sometimes all it takes is a single You-Tube video to transform a game into a sensation overnight.

We made our trip to Autumn Fair a few weeks ago, and, as always, it was a day well invested. We found some great final things to add to our range. Grossman has done a great job with its range of slime and putty, and there were some interesting games from Esdevium Games too.

Licensed products make up a significant part of our range. People expect to be able to find the key toys in our stores, and this drives significant footfall. We have our evergreen licences, such as Peppa Pig, Thomas, and Barbie, and these will always be among our strongest sellers. However, I would say that over the last year or so movie licences have not been as strong, and it seems that Marvel Superheroes have slowed significantly. So many movies released close together meant that kids did not really need another action figure or roleplay item related to a character they already own. Additionally, new characters introduced to movie franchises are simply not engaging enough to persuade children to spend more money on products based on them. Star Wars is a good example of a franchise that I think is suffering from this effect. Although Episode 7 was a good film, and a massive hit at the box office, it was not such a fantastic hit for us in retail sales - it was over-licensed, and so much product was everywhere. In situations like this we like to stock some of the range, but not go too heavy on it. In fact, this is the way we are approaching Episode 8, and early signs are that it is the correct way to go. On a more positive note, one film licence which has worked well is Cars 3.

The die-cast vehicles have been one of our bestsellers for the last few months, and it’s become an evergreen, even though the film itself wasn’t necessarily an overwhelming success.

In pre-school, TV shows seem to be able to drive significant sales, and our licensed sales in this category have increased heavily. Arguably, over the last few years the best new licences have come from pre-school, with Paw Patrol being the standout, along with PJ Masks for this year. These properties seem to have longevity too, which is great news for toy shops. Overall, licences are a big part of our business, but it’s always worth keeping a watchful eye on them when it comes to deciding which ones to stock.

Toy World 29

Fresh

FRESH THIS MONTH:

Each month Fresh sets out to find the latest products that will have toy retailers reaching for the phone.

In September we have new releases from: MGM Entertainment, Juratoys, HTI and Character Options.

Awesome Little Green Men

Cra-Z Slimy Creations

MGA Entertainment

Character Options

0845 0533 333 | www.mgae.com

01616 339 800 | www.character-online.com

Collectible Awesome Little Green Men are a fresh new take on little green army men, raising the bar by infusing battle and game play. There are 100 characters to collect in Series 1, including four super rare figures in both the green army and the blue army.

Each with their own expression, kids can find the likes of Sgt. Juliett and Major Zoomie to collect, each boasting different stats to create the game-play aspect.

Awesome Little Green Men come in Blind Boxes, Starter Packs and Deluxe Battle Packs, with Battle Packs containing everything kids need to start a mission. Fans can join the troop too with their own dog-tag for each character, and a new recruits collector’s sheet to track their collection. The Blind Boxes come in miniature crate boxes, while the Starter and Battle Packs are presented in truck-like packaging, showing some of the characters included.

Andrew Laughton, managing director at MGA Entertainment, commented: “There aren’t many boys collectibles on the market.

Action figures yes, but not collectibles, so we saw a gap. The great thing about Awesome Little Green Men is it’s not just a collectible but there is game play as well and this keeps boys engaged with the brand.”

Awesome Little Green Men is being launched in the UK with a schedule of influencer activity, high footfall sampling, a full PR schedule and activity on PopJam.

2017 has seen slime emerge as as a key craze across the UK, and a viral success on social media. Character Options is pleased to have launched the new Cra-Z-Slimy Creations range which will fuel the craze even further with a new added dimension.

There are two all in one Cra-Z-Slimy Creations sets available, both of which include a number of accessories and the slime activator. With the Silly Slimy Fun Kit kids can make neon, glitter and galactic slime, plus sequins and googly eyes are included for extra slimy fun.

Mark Hunt, marketing manager at Character Options, commented: “Slime is buzz word - it’s all kids want to make - and now Cra-Z-Slimy Creations gives them everything they need to make gooey, stretchy, squishy slime. It’s the first range of its kind to offer a fully functional kit. We’ll be launching with TV from October to ensure every child knows about Cra-Z-Slimy. With a mass unboxing/influencer campaign, we expect it to be very popular, and it’s arrived ahead of the busy Christmas buying periods.”

Zoob Racerz Car Designer Juratoys 020 8878 2133 | www.juratoys.co.uk

Teamsterz HTI 01253 775 544 | www.htigroup.co.uk Teamsterz, HTI’s extensive own-brand range of collectible die-cast vehicles, garages, playsets, and track sets, adds to its existing collection of Large Light & Sound Vehicles with a new range of smaller 6” Light & Sound Vehicles. Available worldwide in spring/summer 2018, the range comprises six different themed chunky vehicles, each with their own unique light and sound effects, providing fantastic play value. Designs include a Fire Engine, Garbage Truck, Rescue Helicopter, Police Pick Up Truck, Police Motorbike, and Ambulance. Presented in a Try Me open box, Teamsterz fanatics can explore the 6” Light & Sounds Vehicles from the very start.

Zoob award-winning building sets have five different styles of pieces that snap together in 20 ways to make connections that rotate, axels that spin and much more. The pieces move after they’re connected, enabling children to create toys they can play with instead of just look at. Inspired by nucleotides, the basic structure that makes up DNA, Zoob captures dynamic movement based on the way things move in nature instead of using traditional stacking connections.

The Zoob Racerz Car Designer lets kids build three cars at the same time to race against each other, or alternatively build a 12-wheeler flatbed truck, using either the guides provided or their own imaginations.

The set includes 76 coloured Zoob pieces, 12 high quality rubber tyres, notched to work like gears, and instruction guides on how to construct a Supersonic Stinger, a Gear Getter and more. All Zoob kits are compatible with each other, so with each new set the child’s overall collection grows – as do the creative options on offer.

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Š 2017 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

*NPD Total Property YTD November 2016

Viewpoint Next in line please

David Ripley David is currently EMEA category director for Toys, Nursery, Sporting Goods & Pet Care at Groupon. His long career as a toy buyer has included stints at a number of the industry’s largest retail accounts.

A

s the intensity of the business end of the year starts in earnest and the industry shows a generally flat return for the first nine months of 2017, I want to add to the growing discussions on the true state of the UK toy market.

Looking at the tracking figures from NPD amongst other market insights and retail indices, I start to draw the conclusion that the ‘blind spots’ that market insight companies have are growing and creating a further disparity between what can be measured and the industry reality. The exit polls at the recent general election and referendums have proven that, despite the accuracy of data collection, the final analysis can be wildly incorrect.

The two key data elements that are either missing or misrepresented in the YTD 2017 toy numbers are spinners and the true size of rapid growth toy retailers with the focus on Smyths, B&M and Amazon Marketplace.

The sales of spinners and fidget toys is a short-term impact, but how can 2017 toy trading be flat in a year that saw one of the biggest crazes of the last decade? A craze that was sold in quite possibly the widest global retail distribution ever – even my local haberdashery shop, that has never even sold a toy related sewing product, had spinners stacked in the window.

Therein lies the issue – how

many spinners were sold by retailers and market stalls not covered by NPD? An educated guess based on how slow large traditional retailers were to react to the craze is 80%. So, 80% of all spinner sales were not showing in the NPD figures YTD – my simple calculation below would suggest that £64m is missing from the 2017 NPD numbers.

Using the latest Office of National Statistics, the population number for children aged 0-16 is around 13m: adjusting the number who fall into the spinner primary target age bracket of 4-14 to 8m and assuming that each child owned on average two spinners each, purchased at an average price of £5, that would equate to retail sales YTD of £80m on spinners – only 20% or £16m of which was picked up by NPD EPOS data.

The second factor is the longer term and rapidly growing source of UK toy sales from Amazon, Smyth’s and B&M. Anecdotally, the number of suppliers stating that Amazon is firmly a top three domestic customer demonstrates that the sales blind spot being created by this retailer is growing, and despite attempts at extrapolation to cover these retailers, I am not convinced that it is being accurately represented. Amazon is signed up to NPD, but the coverage must exclude FBA and Marketplace third-party fulfilled sales.

That said, the trading year has been challenging and

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having recently undertaken many key-season store reviews both here and in the US, I can take a relatively educated guess that the US retail market is conservatively sitting on 25m units+ of excess spinner stocks - this is just the volume on the shop floor promo ends and standalone pop-up Mall concessions. This number does not take into account the true stock volume in the overall supply chain, either in transit or in warehouses gathering dust: this additional stock could double the 25m units.

I am sure some of these spinners can be recycled back into raw materials, components or alternative products - I have seen a very innovative patent for Spinner Yo-Yo’s, but naturally I am sworn to secrecy.

Ultimately, I am sure that these products will start to find their way into landfill, especially when retailers and suppliers have given up on selling 10 spinners for £1 or indeed 12 for £1 as my local Poundland is still selling Loom-band packs.

Taking into account the main components and typical materials used in these products, they are not likely to bio-degrade for a few centuries, if ever. I would love to be there when archaeologists, circa the year 4,000, dig these up and state that the world in 2020 was not quite as technologically advanced as history would indicate.

viewpoint Everyday sexism in the toy business

Jim Hawker Co-founder of Threepipe agency: a team of PR, social, content, SEO and paid media experts

T

he gender equality debate rages on and I for one am pleased about it. As a fairly new father to a rather boisterous two year-old girl, I am keen that we widen her horizons as much as possible, rather than slip into an accepted path of pink and princesses.

The recent BBC experiment which aimed to eradicate stereotypes with an active experiment in a classroom, showing the impact that fuelling gender stereotypes can have on children by the age of seven, was quite shocking to me. I do not want my daughter growing up to feel she will earn less or have restricted career paths available to her.

After watching the programme, I immediately went on a cull of her toy box and removed a few offending items. I was then forced to put them back by my wife, who reminded me that a healthy balance is key - rather than simply having a box of trains, planes and

construction toys.

I have a feeling that I have been over compensating in how I may be spending my time with her. We have rugby lessons (yes, for a two year-old) on a Saturday and then time is often spent at RAF Hendon, rushing around helicopters, airplanes and stepping around the occasional bomb.

I think the wife is right. A healthy balance is key. The daughter enjoys arts and crafts just as much as she enjoys running around with a football in the garden, and I think as long as we provide that balance then that will be the most important thing.

In our family, it tends to be the grand-parents and older friends of the family that gift the most offending items. I am hopeful that a younger generation will have a more positive impact on how we view children, how they should play and what products are right for them.

Retailers seem to be making good progress in the way products

are being merchandised, though I suspect this is down to the intense lobbying from groups that exist to call out everyday sexism. Clarke’s shoes have removed children’s shoes that were blatantly sexist in their product naming. This seemed to me to be an ‘own goal’ that was completely avoidable; I don’t understand why someone in Clarke’s felt that with all the increased scrutiny that it could get away with it. Or perhaps, they just didn’t think.

Product development when organised globally, and not adapted for the UK market, seems to also be one of the worst offenders. The amount of times I have seen blue and pink versions of products, even in the last couple of years, is quite baffling. I know there is still a market for this approach but personally I feel it is time we all made a commitment to stop this lazy form of marketing.

As an industry, we have a responsibility to help all children reach their potential.

Retail Profile

B&M

Sticking to values Toy World spoke to B&M’s toy buyers Sarah Atta and Hayley White to get a glimpse into the retailer’s plans for the forthcoming festive season.

Have you kept to a similar SKU count to previous years, or has this year’s toy range been expanded?

Every brand and licence wants to be part of B&M now, so selecting is becoming harder and harder. We have kept to a similar SKU count, but we are getting more savvy in how we build our ranges and what we offer our customers.

Has it been difficult to deliver the value which B&M is renowned for with the currency fluctuations and suppliers price rises?

Can you tell us about the company conference you recently ran?

We gathered all our 650 managers at Event City in Manchester and showcased all the lines we’re backing for this Christmas. It was our best-ever conference. Unlike other retailers, who we know charge suppliers to get their product featured at events such as this, we simply wanted to show off all the lines that we love and know will bring in great sales. We even dressed up as super heroes for the occasion.

So what lines are you most excited about this year?

We’re expecting great things from Jo Jo Bows and Hatchimals.

Yes, it’s been a very challenging time, but we have tried to stick to our ‘premium quality at value prices’ motto. We still believe we are the best value retailer in the UK. Many factories have shared the pain, and we have maintained as many retail price points as possible.

Overall, how has licensed merchandise performed for you this year?

It’s been a big movie year where we had high hopes, but we haven’t seen the sales that we expected. Having said that, our licences continue to sell well, as we choose which ones to back very carefully.

Are there any licences which have performed better than expected, or any which haven’t quite matched expectations?

Spider-Man, Minions and Cars haven’t started so well. We expected these to be huge with the movie releases. Let’s hope the DVD releases help.

We are still enjoying success with Trolls and Paw Patrol. Shimmer & Shine is new for B&M, and is also trading well.

How do you think Christmas trading will be this year? Do you foresee a hugely competitive retail environment driven by heavy promotional activity, or is it more about having the winners this year?

Christmas trading is going to be very tough. We expect there will be a lot of promotional activity again, as there is every year, but we will stick to our ‘great everyday low prices’ approach and back the winners. We do not ‘high/low’ price like our competition.

Are you confident you’ll have good levels of stock across your toy selection?

Yes, we have good levels of stock. We have shipped very early this year, so if the stores need something tomorrow they can have it.

What TV advertising plans do you have for the run-up to Christmas?

We’re running a heavyweight TV campaign, advertising some of our bestselling lines. The ads will start from November.

Have you made any changes to the way you’ve approached the TV campaign this year?

Our advert will take a different format to last year’s, but we will still be showing great brands at great prices.

What will constitute a successful Christmas period for you?

We’ll be happy to achieve positive like-for-likes and sell through.

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For licencing opportunities contact:

nickinternationalcp@nick.com

FOR LICENSING AND RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT CONSUMERPRODUCTS@NICKELODEON.CO.UK © 2017 Viacom. Blaze and the Monster Machines. © 2017 Viacom. Shimmer and Shine. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES © 2017 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. All Rights Reserved.

PAW PATROL © 2017 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. TM & © Spin Master Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Licensing World

W

elcome to Toy World’s latest extended Licensing World section – dedicated to bringing you the very latest developments from the world of kids’ licensing. This month sees the return of the ever-popular Brand Licensing Europe, and our guide to the show begins on page 74. In addition to comprehensive coverage of the key properties which licensors will be highlighting at the event, we’ve also spoken to a selection of licensing executives to gauge their thoughts on the current state of play in the licensing arena.

The following pages also include a roundup of the latest licensed merchandise which will be hitting shelves in the coming months, which we hope will give retailers plenty of

ideas to help refresh their licensed product offering.

We’re also shining a spotlight on two fantastic licensed properties: PJ Masks, which has enjoyed a tremendous first year in the UK market, and Toy Story, an iconic brand which is building strong retail momentum as we head towards the eagerly-anticipated release of Toy Story 4 in 2019. We’ve collaborated with MTW Toys and Thinkway Toys to look back at the history of its award-winning toy range, as well as offering a sneak peek at what lies ahead for the brand over the next couple of years. Retail buyers and a celebrity share their treasured Toy Story memories and we even got to speak with Bob Pauley, one of the seminal character designers on the original Toy Story movie and the man who contributed some of the most

formative and iconic character design work on Buzz Lightyear.

This month’s issue is also accompanied by a special pull-out supplement which we’ve published in conjunction with Mattel Licensing. The publication looks at all the latest activity around Mattel’s rich portfolio of enduring brands, including Barbie, Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam and Hot Wheels, and also gives details of the company’s plans for new franchises such as Enchantimals.

With contributions from the Mattel licensing team, along with its key licensees and retail partners, it’s not to be missed.

So, dive in – your essential guide to the world of kids’ licensing starts here…

53 74 70 Toy World 37

Licensing World Character Options acquires Pokémon distribution rights

Viacom introduces new retail loyalty agreement

Character Options has been appointed as the master toy distributor for the Pokémon brand for the UK and Ireland. The agreement between Character and the global master toy licensee, Wicked Cool Toys, will see action figures, playsets, plush, role play and other toys based on the hit Pokémon animated series join Character’s portfolio from summer 2018.

Jon Diver, joint MD at Character Group commented: “We are thrilled to be adding such an iconic and powerhouse property as Pokémon to Character’s product line up.

Toys are a major part of the Pokémon brand and bring a tangible dimension to the fun for kids. The partnership with Wicked Cool Toys spells exciting times ahead and gives Character a tremendous opportunity to add further breadth and depth to our product range; we cannot wait to get started.”

Michael Rinzler, co-president of Wicked Cool Toys, added: “Pokémon is one of the most beloved entertainment properties in the world, and Wicked Cool Toys is thrilled to become part of that legacy. We can’t wait to deliver innovative and fun toys that embody the joy of Pokémon to kids and the brand’s millions of passionate fans around the world.

Working with partners such as Character is an important part of that strategy.

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) and EU.Promotions have announced the first exclusive Viacom retail loyalty agreement for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). A series of panregional loyalty programmes will reward shoppers with a variety of Nickelodeon and MTV-branded merchandise at partnering mass retailers.

The exclusive three-year agreement will enable EU.Promotions to target a broad range of retailers across the EMEA region. Programmes will be tailored to participating retailers including a selection of Nickelodeon and MTV rewards. As part of the agreement, EU.Promotions has exclusive mass loyalty promotional rights for all NVCP brands including: SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, Blaze & the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine and JoJo Siwa, along with the teen/adult MTV portfolio.

In a range of different concepts, consumers will be able to collect Nickelodeon and MTV-branded rewards corresponding to different tiers of in-store spending. Incentives may also extend to experiences, such as tickets to local Nickelodeon and MTV events.

Specific prizes will vary by location and retailer.

Dan Frugtniet, vice president, licensing and business development, NVCP, commented: “We are excited to expand our successful partnership with EU.Promotions across EMEA, further customising the retail experience for customers while engaging with and rewarding fans of Nickelodeon and MTV beyond the screen.”

Alpha Animation & Toys announces UK licensing agent It has been announced that Rockpool Licensing will be representing Alpha’s key pre-school property, Super Wings, across all categories. Super Wings launched in the UK in February 2017 on Cartoonito.

Following success of the property in the US and Europe, Rockpool is poised to help the licensing programme take off in the UK. Vickie O’Malley, managing director at Rockpool Licensing, commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with the Alpha team. Super Wings is a fabulous show, filled with great characters and exciting worldwide adventures, not to mention a great theme tune. The potential for consumer products is clear and Rockpool is proud to begin a partnership for the future with the powerhouse that is Alpha Group.”

Mark Hyndman, country general manager – UK & Ireland at Alpha Animation & Toys, commented: “Anticipation and enquiries for the UK launch of cross category Super Wings products is already exceptionally high. We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Vickie and confident that Rockpool’s experience in developing brands and products, combined with its excellent licensee network and retail connections, will enable us to deliver a programme of high quality products to Super Wings fans and their parents across the UK.”

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Licensing World newsanalysis

Reading between the lines Toyworld spoke to Toymaster product manager, Paul Reader to get a view of licensed merchandise from the perspective of the independent retail channel.

How important is character licensed merchandise to your members?

Licensed merchandise plays a major part in the toy business and it’s the same for our members especially in the pre-school category. The problem lies with managing the space in-store and targeting both the evergreen must haves with the new kids on the block.

Posh Paws named exclusive soft toy licensee for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

What have been the stand-out properties so far in 2017?

The stand out properties for us in pre-school have been PJ Masks and Paw Patrol. Batman, especially Lego, and L.O.L. Surprise! has dominated the Mini Doll Collectibles category and we must not forget Pokémon in the Games category.

Are there any new properties that you are expecting to come through towards the end of this year or the start of next year?

Nothing jumps out for the run up to Christmas. Next year we are looking forward to Jurassic World, Incredibles and Vampirina. The rest I’m sure we will pick up at BLE in October.

How challenging is it for your members to compete on price with the major accounts on licensed lines and does this affect the way you approach licensed merchandise?

The price points for licences are not usually an issue when it’s launched as independents get in quickly. We find it is year two when suppliers seek wider distribution and especially when it takes off and all other majors scramble for sales. The larger playsets then get targeted.

As long as suppliers continue to support independents with the price points that best suit us, we will be okay. Our sales will always decline when the licence has reached maximum distribution – it is then time for us to move on and target the next one.

As a group, how closely does Toymaster work with licensors?

We started very recently to work with licensors, we identified a need to form relationships for sign off with marketing initiatives and have a better understanding of what is happening to the brand in the future season 2/3 etc. We would welcome the opportunity to work together with more companies and help them understand how they can have their brands featured in the independents.

What marketing opportunities can Toymaster offer licensing companies?

Toymaster prides itself in stocking brands, we do not have an own label programme and therefore work very closely with suppliers and licensors. Our biggest strength is the ability to support a brand early and provide early sales reads for particular product. We are very loyal and evergreen licences like Thomas, Peppa Pig, Power Rangers, etc. are key and we actively encourage members to make themselves a destination store for a particular brand or licence.

Short term licences and a congestion of movies do not help any retailers. Independents suffer from too much too soon when there is insufficient sales periods between launches. Too many majors competing for market share may choose to reduce product before it’s had time to establish itself and a 25% offer at launch makes no sense to me at all.

What is the advantage to licensors of having a strong presence across the independent channel?

Our marketing initiatives with Window Features, Catalogues, and our ability to provide sampling and POS distribution throughout the group should make us a perfect partner.

The ultimate goal for any brand is to obtain longevity status and become a destination for independent retailers. We would welcome any licensor to give us a call and discuss how we can help.

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Posh Paws International has secured its first licence for a charity.

The licence was awarded via The Point.1888, which has been recently appointed as Battersea’s brand extension agent to form a programme of product ranges that extend the charity’s work, ethos and heritage into new categories. This new partnership between Battersea and Posh Paws International is part of this new product era.

Featured in the range will be a selection of dog and cat plush products, based on real life case studies of some of the thousands of animals that pass through the charity’s doors each year. There will also be a selection of soft toys representing the most popular breeds in the country, with the full range being available in a variety of sizes and price points.

Posh Paws’ Battersea collection will launch at London Toy Fair 2018, and is set to hit shelves in spring/summer 2018.

Speaking of the appointment, Posh Paws’ brand and marketing director Lauren Shipman, commented: “Battersea Dogs & Cats Home works tirelessly to care, nurse and rehome thousands of sick, stray and unwanted pets each year, and animal lovers owe a lot to their efforts. Posh Paws holds the charity’s work in great regard, and we’re thrilled to be their exclusive plush licensee, bringing the nation’s favourite four-legged friends to stores for such a good cause.”

Jack Allen, senior brand executive at The Point.1888 commented: “Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is a brand that we feel very passionately about and a partnership with Posh Paws is a perfect fit. One of the many reasons we are excited about this range is due to the quality and variety of plush that Posh Paws can create. We’re looking forward to the launch and allowing consumers to connect with real characters from the Home.”

Amy Zalin, licensing manager from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home added: “Battersea is very proud to be partnering with Posh Paws, a market leader in plush, and we can’t wait to see the products on shelves. This partnership will enable us to help fund the vital and tireless work of the Home to help even more dogs and cats find their new homes.”

Character Licensed Merchadise

Mattel 01628 500 000 | www.mattel.com Thomas & Friends continues to Set Friendship in Motion, and the toy range includes the My First Railways Pals sets, including the My First Railway Pals Destination Discovery. While Adventures launches the Cranky at the Docks track set, Trackmaster introduces the Scrapyard Escape Set, based on the new film Journey Beyond Sodor. The Minis range includes the Motorised Raceway in addition to the new Steelworks Stunt set, also inspired by the film. The Super Station includes 10 metres of track and is designed to work with different scale engines, it can store up to 100 engines, and features ten different Sodor locations with multiple configurations.

Imaginext expands its range with the DC Super Friends BatBot Xtreme and RC Mobile Command Centre, with the Power Rangers Morphin Megazord continuing to take centre stage.

The new Shimmer & Shine range includes the Magic Flyin’ Carpet, and the Teenie Genies Floating Genie Palace, while Blaze and the Monster Machines introduces the Animal Island Stunts Speedway. The Go Jetters range includes the Jet Pad Headquarters, while Octonauts launches the Midnight Zone Gup-A, and Bing introduces Toilet Train Bing.

2017 launched the highly-anticipated Disney Pixar’s Cars range ahead of the Disney Pixar Cars 3 movie release. The new Movie Moves McQueen is inspired by speed and stunts of the new movie, also available is the Florida Speedway Playset.

Ahead of the Justice League Movie, Mattel has launched the 6” Figure Assortment and new Ultimate Batmobile which can be controlled using a smartphone device.

Fans can also re-create superhero battles with iconic role-play items, including the Voice Changer Helmet, Cyborg Blaster and Cape & Cowl set.

The action-packed Justice League Action range arrived in early 2017 with the 12” Justice League Action Figure Assortment, also available is the Battle Wing Batman and Feature Batmobile.

The WWE Tough Talkers 6-inch Figure Assortment with sound recognition technology allows figures to interact with signature phrases and sounds, and also available is the new Tough Talkers Interactive Ring Playset.

Expanding the portfolio is DC Super Hero Girls, the #3 fashion doll property that features females in empowering roles, launched to show girls and boys a new universe and storylines that have strong female characters at the heart of the action, bringing action figure dolls to life with the 12” Action Figure Doll Assortment.

Simba Smoby 01274 765 030 | www.simba-dickie-group.de/en The master toy range for Wissper has everything fans of the show need. Favourite characters can be collected with the 3-inch figurine assortment; each figure is articulated and a perfect replica from the show, making this line a key offering for fans of the TV series. The Wissper and Peggy 8.5” doll set continues to appeal to children too with a fully articulated Wissper doll, a Peggy figurine, a panpipe, a bag, a mirror, and a hairbrush all included.

As well as the characters, Wissper is all about the vibrant locations and Simba’s range offers five 2-in-1 transforming playsets which lets little ones transport into one of the many fantasy Wissper worlds.

Another master toy line from Simba is Masha and the Bear which includes the feature plush Dancing Bear, or alternatively there’s the 50cm Bear or the CDU of 25cm Bears for quick impulse buys. The 20cm Masha Doll is perfectly styled like the character from the show, giving it instant appeal for fans of the series. Singing Masha and Tickle Me Masha make great interactive options, whilst the assortment of four Masha Mini Dolls meets the ideal pocket money price point.

Recently launched is the Playground Playset, Ambulance Playset and Animal Friends plush.

With Bob the Builder role-play being among the best performing lines for the licensed property in 2016, favourites like Bob’s Tool Belt will continue to be offered for 2017.

The Cars 3 toy line includes a radio control collection with cars in scale 1:32, 1:24 and 1:16 and each vehicle features full driving functions, with the 1:24 scale boasting turbo speed and the 1:16 scale being able to perform doughnut spins, drifts, and being able to blow smoke. Role-play products include the Workshop Trolley which comes in a red Cars design with a DIY McQueen buildable car, plus a variety of tools for pretend play, while the Petrol Pump features a realistic breakdown simulator and fun sound effects. Dress-up accessories are also available with Tool Belt and Tool Bag. The Transformers range includes die-cast, radio control cars and feature mechanic, as well as Robot Warrior Bumblebee.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Alpha Animation & Toys 01293 804599 | info@alpha-toys.co.uk Alpha Animation’s pre-school offering, Super Wings, landed in stores this summer. The toy collection features favourites from the popular action-packed animation series which launched on Cartoonito in February.

The Alpha Animation & Toys Super Wings collection consists of over 10 different product lines featuring star hero Jett and his friends across transforming vehicles, RC toys, feature playsets, and more.

Transform-a-Bots are Super Wings figures that transform from a plane to a robot in just three easy steps for little hands. The Transform-a-Bots are also available in collector packs allowing fans to recreate their favourite missions from the show.

These sets include mini-figures with characters from the airport crew.

Another key product in the range is the Transforming Vehicles. These have excellent play value with over 10 simple steps to transform from plane to robot with each character transforming differently depending on their unique form.

The range will also include Jett & Dizzy as remote-control Dance ‘n’ Transform Vehicles. Jett & Dizzy dance and spin 360°, and they transform from bot to jet with a simple remote control. In addition to motion, users can activate lights and sounds with a push of a button designed for little hands.

The hero line is the World Airport playset which features a large 35-inch scale set and includes electronic sounds and lights, many moving features, minitransforming characters, Jett and Donnie, the elevator, the Control Tower, a ramp and base compartments that reveal a rotating luggage carousel and a cargo scale.

Pioneer 01279 501 090 | www.pioneereurope.com Qualatex is currently gearing up for the much anticipated eighth instalment of the Star Wars franchise The Last Jedi with a new Qualatex Bubble Balloon and coordinating 11” latex balloon pack. Following the style of its previous Star Wars products, fans of the movie are able to take home characters of both sides of the Force with its light side and dark side Bubble design. The products were announced on Force Friday II and have been in demand ever since, with retailers getting ready for the UK cinema release on 15th December.

Qualatex is also eagerly anticipating other key titles premiering this winter including Thor: Ragnarok and My Little Pony. Crowd favourite Thor is a key member of The Avengers and the God of Thunder features prominently on its Avengers Bubble Balloon and corresponding latex balloon packs – making these a perfect pocket money buy or birthday party decoration.

My Little Pony is consistently a popular theme for children’s birthday parties and Qualatex expects interest to only increase with the release of the movie this October.

Pioneer, who has the distribution rights for the My Little Pony Procos partyware in England, Scotland, and Wales, is expecting significant uptake as My Little Pony comes to the fore once more with demand anticipated from fans, new and old.

The success and exposure of these huge films will only renew consumer interest in these evergreen properties – making these ranges a must for all toy stores this autumn.

Vivid Imaginations 01483 449944 | www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk Following the My Little Pony Movie release in October, young artists will be able to colour their favourite characters with the My Little Pony Giant Colouring Pages, Color & Sticker book and Color Wonder.

Children can collect, swap, and pencil top with the latest classroom craze, Ooshies. Ooshies are squishy mini figures of licensed characters that also double up as pencil toppers. New for autumn/winter 2017 is the Pixar collection, which includes characters from favourite Pixar titles, such as Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Wall-E, Toy Story, and more. Also available are rare and limited edition characters with glow in the dark, glitter, hologram, pearl, and furry finishes. Licences also include Marvel, DC Comics, WWE, TMNT, and Cars 3.

Children can also collect, express, and play with the Disney Emoji collectibles; following the new game Disney Emoji Blitz and As Told By YouTube content where fans have notched up over 100 million views. Launching in September, Vivid’s range will include the #ChatBubble blind purchase option which includes two Emoji figures in a stackable mini container, the #ChatPack five figure pack and #ChatCollection storage tin with exclusive figures.

For Disney fans, there are characters from popular franchises Disney Princess, Frozen, Pixar, and Classic. Also available are the rare and limited edition #Squishi and #Goldi finishes. The range will be refreshed for Series 2, with 28 new characters to collect and #RoseGold and #Glitz special finishes. Series 2 will launch in January with #ChatBubble, #ChatPack, and #ChatCollection, along with a larger #GroupChat 10 figure pack.

Also flying into stores for AW17 is Crayola PJ Masks products! Pre-Schoolers will be able to colour their favourite PJ Masks heroes with a PJ Masks Color Wonder and PJ Masks Giant Colouring Pages.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Amscan International 01908 288500 | www.amscan.co.uk Amscan is currently developing its licensed dress up side of the business and has some exciting new additions for children launching later this year. Brands include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, PJ Masks, and Elmer which join the existing licensed DreamWorks Trolls and Barbie costumes. The new styles will be in stock for Book Week 2018.

Top ranges within Amscan’s licensed portfolio include Paw Patrol which continues to perform strongly.

Amscan is now extending its unisex party range to include new party accessories such as stationery sets, puzzle cubes, sticker books, and a Marshall pull piñata. Pokémon is another popular choice; Amscan has recently launched a refreshed party range for 2017 featuring new characters alongside all-time favourite, Pikachu.

The party supplier has also refreshed its My Little Pony ensemble to feature a vibrant array of party tableware, decorations, and favours which complement its existing foil balloons. With the new My Little Pony movie also launching in October, this will make a great party theme for fans. Evergreen properties are also key; including Disney and Marvel, plus DC Comics characters Batman and Superman.

Ahead of the new Lego Ninjago movie releasing in October, Amscan also has a coordinating ensemble containing tableware, banners, invitations, and foil balloons. For the girls market, new licences recently launched include The Powerpuff Girls foil balloons and Num Noms partyware and balloons.

Posh Paws 01268 567 371 | www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk Ahead of the eagerly awaited Star Wars: The Last Jedi film out in cinemas 14th December, Posh Paws International reveals its new line of Star Wars: The Last Jedi soft toys.

A range of bag clips, 8”, 10”, and 18”soft toys will be available from November, featuring a host of Star Wars characters, both old and new, from the upcoming movie. Brought to life in plush toy form are the new Praetorian Guard, Storm Trooper executioner, Porgs, and BB-9E from the First Order.

The newest Star Wars soft toy instalment also features Kylo Ren, Rey, Captain Phasma, Storm Troopers, Finn, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8 – all of whom are available in the highest quality plush by Posh Paws. Top selling characters Yoda, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett are also available in 8”, 10” and 18” as well as bag clips.

Posh Paws also offers a new premium Deco Star Wars plush range, presented in a galactic black branded gift box. Each plush features enhanced detailing and materials, making items in the range a true premium purchase for collectors everywhere. The first Star Wars characters celebrated in this range will be Yoda, Chewbacca, BB-8, and Darth Vader.

Funrise 01908 555 640 | www.funrise.com Last month marked the launch of the new toy line from Funrise, Luna Petunia. As the master toy partner of the Netflix show, Funrise has launched a broad collection that brings the world of Luna Petunia to life as she embarks on adventures with her fantastical friends in the land of Amazia.

The range features the main characters from the show including Luna Petunia, Sammy Stretch, Bibi Bubbles, and Karoo across an assortment of figures, mini playsets, plush, role-play and more. One of the key items, the Luna Petunia Talking Doll, says a number of key phrases from the show, including “stop, breathe, and believe” and is articulated for play, featuring her signature, brightly coloured outfit.

Rounding out the toy line is the Petunia Manor Treehouse. This deluxe play set features three levels and double-sided play. It also features lights and sounds from the show, a working slide, spinning pole, and an umbrella that pops open. There’s also a room for dancing where Luna Petunia can twirl around, and a secret trap door with a ladder that drops down. The Petunia Manor Treehouse also includes exclusive Luna Petunia and Kitty Bat figures.

To support the launch Funrise has implemented a full marketing campaign including TV, digital, and parental support.

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POSTERS | WALL ART| STATIONERY MERCHANDISE | GIFTING Call: 0116 284 3640 www.pyramidinternational.com

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Paul Lamond Games 0207 254 0100 | www.paul-lamond.com There is a host of character licensed product available this autumn from games and puzzles specialist, Paul Lamond.

As well as being a comedian, actor and talent show judge, David Walliams is also one of the biggest selling children’s authors with over eight million books sold worldwide. Now available are four 250 piece puzzles featuring entertaining scenes and quotes featuring characters from four of David’s most famous books; The Boy in the Dress, Billionaire Boy, Mr Stink, and best-seller, Gangsta Granny.

Where’s Wally and Horrid Henry also feature prominently in Paul Lamond’s character line up. The Where’s Wally collection of products not only includes a range of 250 piece puzzles, a Memory Card Game and Board Game but also features a Where’s Wally Find It puzzle and Rubik’s Cube.

A new licensed character joining Paul Lamond’s extensive pre-school line up this autumn is Highway Rat, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s villainous storybook character. Highway Rat will be a key focus this Christmas as a specially adapted version of the storybook is scheduled to be BBC’s main animation over the festive period. The Highway Rat range includes a 24 piece Giant Floor Puzzle and 4-in-1 Puzzles set as well as a new Memory Card game.

This new addition joins prestigious pre-school brands such as Dinosaur Roar, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea in Paul Lamond’s ever popular pre-school collection of games and puzzles.

Jumbo Games 01707 289 289 | www.jumbo.eu With Christmas just around the corner, Jumbo has a variety of games that all the family can enjoy playing together.

New to Jumbo’s offering is the Disney Guess the Movie Game that is perfect for all the family. The game features an array of popular and recognizable Disney films from the classics through to the modern-day animations – so everyone can get involved and will be able to play and be kept entertained this autumn/winter. There are 100 Disney and Pixar movie cards for players to try and guess what movie they are from, but only given a small section of the picture, depending on what window is opened on the movie board. Teams or single players can play this game.

The Disney Cars 3 Piston Cup Race game is a game for young fans. This fun-fueled game is ideal for little ones to enjoy playing with their friends and family.

The game features a spinning race track, electronic Piston Cup podium model that plays entertaining sound effects of cars racing, and includes four Cars character model playing pieces.

Also available is the refreshed Disney Princess Glass Slipper Game, which features an elegant light up glass slipper that plays charming sound effects when pressed down and will keep children entertained for hours. The aim of the game is to collect the five different picture cards to help get to the ball, and with the help of the Fairy Godmother, transform into the objects and helpers from the movie. The Disney Frozen Magical Ice Palace Game includes the magical ice palace which lights up and plays sounds, as well as illustrated cards of the much-loved characters.

Trends UK 01295 768 078 | www.trendsuk.co.uk Trends UK electronic learning toys feature Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, and Mr Tumble Something Special.

Designed to help pre-schoolers develop early learning skills whilst having lots of fun, Trends UK ELAs feature top pre-school licences, Peppa Pig, Thomas and Mr Tumble. The ELAs include activities for understanding colours, communication, phonetics and numeracy through interactive play features, and are supported with PR and marketing activity online, in social media and lifestyle press.

Trends UK is introducing the new Mr Tumble Learning Pad, created under licence from BBC Worldwide. The Mr Tumble Learning Pad is an ideal toy for any fan of the programme as it combines recognising colours, letters, numbers, and musical instruments with Mr Tumble and his friends. The interactive and fun learning toy will be available from summer 2017.

The Peppa Pig range includes Peppa Pig Laugh & Learn Alphaphonics. For autumn, the new Peppa Pig Play Mat will entertain fans with fun graphics and activities.

New Thomas toys offer exciting movements and sounds to explore. The range launches with the Thomas Flip & Learn Phone and Thomas Learn & Play Alphaphonics.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Golden Bear 01952 608 308 | www.goldenbeartoys.com Bush Baby World centres around the collectible plush Bush Babies which feature a patented design that enables children to wiggle the eyes and waggle the ears. There are lots of Dreamstar Bush Baby characters to collect; Neesha, Oni, Issi, Kojo, Mimi and Kiki plus there are Nenia, Sasu, Adero and Abi who come complete with their own Sleepy Pod where they can snuggle up and close the leaf door. The Shimmies of Bush Baby World include Princess Melina who is styled with a sparkly crown and comes with a Royal Sceptre, Shimmer Star, Silver Bag and Royal Pod as well as a comb for her colourful long hair. The Dream Tree heads up the range and comes with a Sleepy Pod and exclusive Dreamstar Niki as well as a fun swing seat, basket lift and sparkly lightup flower crown.

Building on the strength of the pre-school brand, Golden Bear’s In the Night Garden Baby range is the perfect introduction to the perennially popular brand and includes plush toys in pastel colours as well as themed Blankies, Rattles, and Hanging Chimes, all designed to delight and entertain little ones, as well as stimulate the senses. Golden Bear has also expanded its core In the Night Garden Range for autumn 2017 with the introduction of the new Twinkling Lullaby Igglepiggle and the Ninky Nonk Wobble Train.

Designed to appeal to younger DC fans, Golden Bear’s DC Super Friends range enables budding superheroes to create their own super adventures at home. Heading up the range is the Interactive Power Punch Batman, which features fully poseable arms and oversized fists, one of which makes punching noises on impact.

Complete with cape, mask, and utility belt, children can press Batman’s chest to hear his signature phrases and watch as his eyes light up as he speaks.

Golden Bear is also expanding its popular Mr Tumble Something Special range for autumn 2017 with the introduction of Sing Along Mr Tumble to the range.

Just Play 0208 643 0320 | www.justplayproducts.com The Mickey and the Roadster Racers collection allows pre-schoolers to re-enact the excitement of fixing, building and customising cars. Mickey’s Custom Car Kit lets kids transform Mickey’s rover into his hot rod and comes with over 20 interchangeable pieces to help fix the deluxe play race car. The set features fun Mickey phrases and realistic sound effects.

Mickey’s Roadster Racers Pit Crew Workbench has kid-powered gauges, a drill press and several tools including a mallet, screwdriver, and wrench.

Also available is The Happy Helpers HQ. The set includes the HQ phone and the Minnie cell phone, the Bowtastic Pastry Playset featuring lights and sounds, a working whisk, a light up oven, and a cake with colour changing icing, and the Minnie’s Happy Helpers Bag Set. The Jo Jo Siwa range includes a Fashion Doll which looks just like Jo Jo in her Boomerang music video and sings the hit song, along with an interactive microphone and a trio of cuddly Bow Bow plush dogs.

From the Lion Guard range is the new TV promoted Rise of Scar Playset which comes complete with lights, sounds, and multiple interactive features, including a Lava ball launcher and collapsing ledge, not to mention an exclusive articulated Kion figure.

Spin Master 01628 535 000 | www.spinmastertoys.co.uk In addition to creating toys for its own highly successful licensed properties, Spin Master also boasts a strong range of licensed character merchandise throughout its toy and games offering.

The Pirates of the Caribbean figures, playsets, and role-play toys support the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge, Disney’s fifth instalment in the franchise. The range includes the Silent Mary Ghost Ship, which promises to be in high demand for the Christmas selling period which will also see the autumn release of the DVD, whilst the figures and dress up kits offer retailers great pocket money and stocking filler purchase opportunities.

The Arts and Crafts range includes Spin Master’s Build-A-Bear Stuffing Station. Kids use the station to stuff the two soft bears, make a wish in their hearts, dress them in outfits, and name them on their unique birth certificates.

Licensing has also played a key role in developing the Meccano range.

Working with some of the most enduring and exciting names in the world of motoring, along with innovative technology and materials, Meccano’s licensed construction kits allow enthusiasts to build their own versions of some of the world’s most desirable vehicles, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Ducati.

Finally, Spin Master has developed a host of new licensing opportunities through its range of popular games. Working with Disney, L.O.L Surprise!, and JoJo Siwa, along with its own Hatchimals and Paw Patrol franchises, Spin Master offers an extensive range of family fun and action games featuring some of this years’ most popular licensed characters.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Character Options 01616 339 800 | www.character-online.com Combining mass appeal with excellent play value, Character Options’ licensed toy ranges have so much to offer across collectibles, games, pre-school, and other essential categories. This month, retailers can look out for a line-up of current brands and must-have launches.

The Mash’ems and Fash’ems ranges are always ahead when it comes to licences, and My Little Pony and Marvel Avengers are two of the most exciting brands that kids can look out for, to add to their squishy collections.

From the games portfolio comes Pokémon Trainer Guess - the new line meeting demand for Pokémon fun. Kids will be entertained for hours as the electronic guessing game asks them a series of questions before guessing what character they’re thinking of. Also available for fans of Cars 3 is the Cars Piston Cup Race Game which promises adrenaline fuelled racing fun as players use the buttons to race Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm.

GP Flair 0208 643 0320 | www.flairplc.co.uk

VTech 01235 546838 | www.vtech.co.uk Amalgamating the success of its cameras and watches, the new Star Wars Stormtrooper Digital Camera and Star Wars Camera Watches are set to be top sellers this year.

Featuring Star Wars mini games, signature sound effects, and Star Wars themed 3D style clock faces, children can add themed effects to the photos and videos that are captured using the builtin camera.

The ultra tough design of the Stormtrooper camera resembles the black and white helmets of the Stormtroopers. It’s easy to take photos or videos and add Star Wars effects, stamps or frames.

Children can play one of the three fun interactive, augmented reality games such as Fighter Battle, where imperial ships appear on the screen, ready to be shot down.

Also available is Lightening McQueen in VTech’s pit stop toy, which features 15 interactive activities, four racing accessories and three exciting modes of play. Children can also learn to write, race, and draw with VTech’s Write & Race Lightening McQueen. Using the chunky, easy grip stylus, children can trace the lights and play with their favourite race car.

With the Kidizoom Lightening McQueen Camera Watch, children can wear Lightening McQueen’s number 95 on their sleeve, or take photos and videos with all of their favourite Cars 3 friends with VTech’s Lightening McQueen styled camera.

The new Shopkins World Vacation theme offers two, five, and 12 packs to collect all the new Season 8 characters. The hero line for Christmas is Skyanna’s Jet Playset, which comes with exclusive Skyanna Pilot doll, three exclusive Shopkins and themed accessories. The Jet, which can hold three Shoppies dolls, has rotating seats and an overhead luggage compartment. Also from the Shopkins licence is the Cutie Cars range which has 37 die-cast cars for fans to collect.

Also in the collectible aisle is Mineez Despicable Me. The blind packs are the core collectible line with an added element of surprise. The Core Collector pack contains three figures and the Deluxe Collector’s pack has six figures, one of which is hidden.

Alternatively, the Collector’s Tin comes with two exclusive figures and the Micro Key Rings can hang on almost anything. Kids will also be entertained by the Drop & Pop Minions which bounce high off the floor when dropped.

The interactive Dru’s Super Lair playset is the standout product for Q4, with sound effects and three exclusive figures for added play value. The Fizz Surprise comprises of a fizz ball which dissolves in water, causing a submarine to rise to the top with two colour changing minions hidden inside.

Ben 10 is another licence in Flair’s portfolio. The basic, articulated collection offers 13 characters including Ben, Heatblast, and Diamondhead.

Fans can then progress to the larger scale Power up figures, while 11” super deluxe figures are available as Heatblast and Forearms. The all-purpose Ominitrix has an entry level price point and is accessible to all, while the luxury level Deluxe Omnitrix offers more interactive features.

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special

Where the story began Toy World spoke to Albert Chan, founder, CEO and president of Thinkway Toys, master toy licensee for the Pixar’s Toy Story brand, about how the company’s involvement with the brand came about, and both the challenges and opportunities it presented.

What was your initial reaction when you were presented with the Toy Story opportunity?

Who can forget such a moment? I still remember that evening very well. During the 1995 January Toy Fair in Toronto, Mr. Jim Rayburn, head of the Disney licensing group of Canada, dropped in to our showroom at the end of the day. We walked over to a quiet area where he discreetly pulled out a couple of sketches of a cowboy and a spaceman. He told me these were the hero and antagonist in an upcoming movie hitting theatres on Thanksgiving that year. My adrenaline was steadily rising as I listened.

Finally he popped the question and asked if Thinkway Toys would be interested in making products for this property, as the global master toy licensee. Jim went on to explain that there was a condition to the offer: Thinkway would need to go to the New York Toy Fair a month later for an official Toy Story presentation. Afterward, the Disney US office would make a final decision on which company would make the toys for Toy Story.

I was excited and honoured at the same time. My company’s track record of speedy production and delivery with Disney Canada had prepared us for this incredible opportunity. Now my humble company was being invited by the entertainment giant to make toys for a full-length feature film! That would be the dream of any toy company. I instinctively knew the answer and without hesitation, I said “Yes”.

In February 1995, Thinkway Toys successfully acquired the global rights to the Toy Story licence.

Things were never the same again!

Why did you take a chance on manufacturing toys for Pixar when it was an unknown and untested studio? What appealed to you about the opportunity?

Even though Pixar was an unknown and untested studio at the time, I was still very excited about making toys for its first movie for a number of reasons.

First of all, an animated movie about toys coming alive when humans are not around was a really interesting idea. I could imagine young children watching Toy Story in theatres and going wildeyed when they saw the toys come alive. The lead characters - a spaceman and a cowboy - were my favourite toys when I was growing up. From personal and business experiences, I believed these action figures would be strong enough on their own, if by chance the movie didn’t succeed.

Secondly, I took a chance on Toy Story out of respect for John Lasseter, the film director. I was impressed by his creativity and passion for the film and I was ready to give him full support. Little did I know at the time that John had already won an Oscar for his short film Tin Toy in 1998.

Finally, Toy Story was at the frontier of computer

animation - it was to become the very first computergenerated feature film. It was a chance to be a part of history. Besides, Disney would be promoting the film, so I knew there would be substantial marketing support behind the property.

With emotions and sentiments aside, there were real risks involved in taking on Toy Story. Being the first fully computer-animated film, a brand new medium back in 1995, no one could guess how the final footage would look on the big screen. For most publicly held companies, it was risky business. For me, it was an investment that paid off.

But the real challenge lied in the extremely short production lead-time. That was the main reason major toy companies like Mattel and Hasbro turned down Toy Story. We, on the other hand, were eager to take on the challenge to prove ourselves. In the few months after obtaining the Toy Story licence, we literally worked around the clock, designing a full line of products such as action figures (talking and non-talking), bendables, plush, electronic banks, etc.

We used stereography 3D printing, another first in the toy industry, to make prototypes to help speed up product approval. We then switched to focus on manufacturing and logistics.

We were very proud when we shipped out the world’s first Toy Story products in August 1995. By October that year, there were more than three million Buzz Lightyear action figures in retail stores around the world. It was a big miracle by a small company.

Were you worried about the challenge of creating a larger scale action figure than the toy industry was accustomed to at the time?

John Lasseter firmly believed that the Buzz and Woody action figures should be the same size as their movie counterparts. He explained that Buzz Lightyear was designed as a 12” action figure in reality and that was the scale applied throughout the film. At the time, traditional action figures in North America were only 5 1/2”. What John wanted was more than double the industry norm. I was unsure if retailers would accept the larger size and the groundbreaking higher price point.

Adding to the challenge, I was faced with an impossibly short lead-time. A smaller prototype had already been made and I would need to go back to the drawing board and start over again to redesign, produce and ship the toys before the movie hit theatres in just five months.

To persuade me, John looked at me and said: “Albert, just trust me”. I gave him my trust and followed his guidance to make the jumbo-sized action figures. As it turned out, John’s vision was right on the mark. Children and collectors alike loved the actual movie size Buzz and Woody action figures. Today, the 12” size remains a key item with most action figure lines.

How have you found working with John Lasseter?

Working with John Lasseter over the years, I have learned to respect and follow his instinct to make toys for his movies. John is an avid toy collector.

We met for the first time in 1995 at the Pixar office in Richmond, California (not the current Emeryville location). The room was filled with all kinds of wonderful toys. Five minutes into the meeting, John and I started talking about his toy ideas and that transpired into playing with his toys on the floor - it was a toyetic beginning. I realized that John possessed great knowledge about toys and it would be wise of me to follow his directions.

As a case in point, we produced a Jessie doll based on Toy Story 2 and Edna Mode from The Incredibles as a result of John’s recommendations. Even though those films would appeal primarily to boys, John saw a niche for girl toys. The result was that Edna was a complete sellout, and Jessie’s sale numbers are now close to Woody’s!

What role has the Toy Story brand played in Thinkway’s history?

Toy Story has been and remains the most important project in the history of my company. It catapulted Thinkway Toys to the global level and opened doors with other licences. Buzz and Woody have become Disney Pixar’s icons and Toy Story is an evergreen franchise. To this day we are still manufacturing and shipping 12” Buzz and 16” Woody all over the world.

Toy Story has changed my life and I will be forever grateful for this unbelievable opportunity!

What’s the buzz?

Toy World spoke to Darran Garnham, CEO of MTW Toys, UK distributor for Thinkway, to find out how the Toy Story range has been performing for the company over the past year, and what the future holds as we look forward to the fourth instalment of the film franchise. movie years and we can feel the excitement growing as we approach the fourth movie in 2019. Thinkway always delivers something special.

What are your objectives for 2018?

2018 will see the ramp into the movie year. We are working closely with retailers to set space and destinations in 2018, capitalising on all opportunities before, during and after the movie window. A recent screening of the first three movies on TV saw increased demand and sales; this will undoubtedly get hotter throughout 2018, into 2019 and beyond.

How has Toy Story performed for you in 2017?

Toy Story is a consistent favourite with consumers and retailers alike. The management of the line and brand has kept Toy Story in demand throughout non-

What marketing initiatives are planned for next year to build momentum as you head towards Toy Story 4 in 2019?

I’m really excited for the plans and discussions we are having with Disney. We will adopt robust 360 strategies with TV, digital and social platforms. With its wide fanbase, Toy Story offers the ability to activate some lovely social media executions.

What are your favourite Toy Story movie moments and characters?

Buzz dancing and speaking Spanish; Woody playing with his own merchandise; Rex trying to beat Zurg on the video game but his arms falling short, and the car scene with tour guide Barbie in Al’s Toy Barn. Favourite character? I really like Lotso: the mix of strawberry cuddles with more than a hint of a devious dictator mastermind – ‘Welcome to Sunnyside’.

How can retailers maximise on Toy Story next year?

If we are not in discussions with you already, please reach out. We have a product mix and range that will work for all retailers. The range is very competitive, while retaining the quality and innovation that Thinkway is renowned for.

Reaching for the sky

Toy World spoke to Geoff Sheffield, vice president sales UK & Eire, MTW Toys, about the Toy Story range’s continued success at retail, and the marketing initiatives planned as the company looks forward to the 2019 release of the franchise’s fourth instalment. on shelf during 2018, as we build to that all important 2019 movie year. Any retailer that has yet to have had a discussion with us for 2018, please reach out - we’d love to look at what we can do.

What marketing initiatives will we see between now and 2019?

How is the Toy Story range from Thinkway currently performing at retail, and what support is it receiving?

Toy Story continues to strike a chord with UK consumers and in turn with UK retail buyers. The phrase ‘evergreen’ is often overused, or something brands/ properties are striving for. With Toy Story, Disney Pixar certainly has an evergreen property which has held its place at retail, despite there being no new movie content since 2010. Whenever the movies are screened on UK TV, there is a positive impact at retail, and this shows again how dear the characters are to those who either grew up with the movies or are now introducing a new generation to the franchise.

The product line is well supported through the various channels and we will be working closely with all our partners to make sure they build the right presence

The Thinkway Toy Story range will be supported once again with TV ads in Q4 2017, with more to follow in 2018. Cinema is also an interesting channel for us, as it presents us with a rare captive audience away from the distractions of tablets and phones. At the same time we will be raising our focus on social media platforms, as well as focusing on finding bespoke, innovative ways to support our key partners, highlighting them as destinations for the Thinkway line.

In 2017 we tested a number of new approaches to marketing the line with the use of bloggers and influencers. We intend to work with all parties, studio and retailers, to develop more of these approaches, allowing us to drive home the power of the franchise and the success of the Thinkway line.

Can you give us details of any new products that will be released to support Toy Story 4?

It’s obviously far too early to talk about new movie merchandise, so that will just have to wait until we get closer to the actual release. 2018 is essential in terms of making sure our retail partners continue to buy into the evergreen line, as well as working on ways to create

points of difference, such as our new non-speaking line, which introduces a different price point to the market.

That being said, there is no escaping the fact that the Signature line is really the Holy Grail as far as movie merchandise goes. The packaging alone makes this a standout line Buzz Lightyear’s packaging was also featured in the movie, of course. When you discover all the features packed into the Thinkway line – such as the fact Bullseye enters gallop mode when he is rocked there really is no greater toy for the true Toy Story fan. We cater for a range of budgets, but Thinkway has built its reputation on producing quality product; whatever their choice, consumers are guaranteed a product that will survive whatever their little Andy or Bonnie throws at them.

Finally, which is your favourite character?

I love Buzz because there are so many layers to him, but actually my favourite characters are the Aliens. Not only did they save all the main characters from certain destruction, but my wife does a brilliant Alien impression.

Hayley White & Sarah Atta B&M

HAYLEY: I was 10 years old when the first Toy Story film was released. I remember my mum taking me to the cinema to watch it, and I still remember the hype about it being the first 3D animation of its kind. Just over 20 years later, the brand still lives on, and now I’m buying and selling the toys myself.

It’s one of the few licences that I have grown up with as a child into adulthood and I still love it! It’s as popular as ever and is now entertaining a whole new generation of kids. I love that it appeals to the young and the old, it’s cleverly written and funny, and that’s why it’s got such a loyal following.

SARAH: Trying to avoid the two obvious leading characters, I’d say my favourites are Hamm and Mr Potato Head, just for their witty one-liners.

HAYLEY: Although he’s a villain, Lotso’s back-story from Toy Story 3 really pulls on the heart strings and I can’t help but feel sorry for him and really want to like him.

SARAH: The scene from Toy Story 3 where the toddlers from the Sunnyside nursery explode in to the room and cause havoc, just after Lotso had said what a great place it is to live, really sticks in my head.

HAYLEY: There are too many stand out moments to pick just one - from funny moments such as “Spanish Buzz” to well thought out scenes such as Buzz shouting at Woody in Toy Story 2 “YOU ARE A TOY!!!”, which echoes what Woody said to him back in the original film.

SARAH: The Signature Collection Buzz and Woody are my favourite Thinkway toys: they’re so iconic, replicating the characters from the movie in their original packaging.

Toy Story is a big part of the Smyths Toys story, with classic characters such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear - and who can forget the Barbie and Ken scenes. At Smyths Toys we have remained supporters of the brand from day one and look forward to continuing that relationship leading up to the new movie in 2019.

Personally my favourite memory is the first movie - I watched it with my nephew when I was a teenager and he was a toddler. With him leaving for university this year, the Woody and Andy relationship still rings true for us all as a family.

Sinead Byrne

Smyths Toys Superstores

Tom Fletcher McFly

My favourite memory is watching Toy Story 3 on holiday in America with my wife and children, just after it came out, while sharing a 1 litre refillable cup of coke (only in America!).

Safe to say we didn’t take up the free refill option.

Slightly predictable I know, but Buzz is my favourite character, although Rex would run a very close second.

My favourite moment is when Buzz gets to realise his dream and actually fly, thanks to Woody finding a way to light the firework on his back, allowing them to safely make it back to the removal truck with Andy’s other toys, in the first Toy Story film.

Given Buzz is my favourite character, I’d have to go with the Signature Collection Buzz Lightyear as my favourite Toy Story product.

Chris Ashton Groupon

My favourite memory has to be the hysteria around the toys for the first movie. There can’t have been many kids without a Buzz Lightyear on their Christmas lists!

I think one of the genius aspects of Toy Story is that all of the characters in their own way have real appeal. That said, Rex will always be my favourite.

My favourite moment from the movies is Woody driving around Al’s toy barn with Barbie as tour guide.

The Toy Box Collection Buzz Lightyear is my favourite Thinkway Toy Story product.

Stuart Grant The Entertainer

Neil Mitchell Shop Direct

I remember seeing Toy Story at the cinema for the first time when I was a kid. It instantly became my favourite movie and when we eventually got it on video, I remember my parents putting it on while my younger sister fell asleep. I would listen to it from my bedroom and knew every line by heart. I think I still do. More recently, I introduced my eldest son (who is called Buzz!) to Buzz and Woody at Walt Disney World and seeing him tell Buzz Lightyear that they had the same name was amazing.

I always loved Buzz as a kid - I loved space and he was just such a cool toy! As I’ve got older I’ve grown to love Woody and I don’t think I could choose between them now. Of course, Rex and the whole gang are amazing too!

I would be tempted to say that the end of Toy Story 3 is my favourite movie moment, but even thinking about it makes me emotional. I have never cried so much in the cinema. So, on a happier note, I love the whole opening of Toy Story, from Andy’s playtime and seeing his imagination, through his birthday party and the soldiers’ mission downstairs and eventually meeting Buzz.

The new Buzz Lightyear is incredible. I still have my original one and my son (Buzz) has a few of his own, but there is something magical about the new one. The way he bends and moves is exactly like the movie and I’ll never forget my kid’s face when he moved his head for the first time! Plus, the box is just as good as what’s inside. I’ve secretly kept this one for myself though...sorry kids.

I’ve just returned from 2 weeks in Orlando with my wife and 2 daughters, aged 3 & 10. One of the highlights was the Toy Story Mania ride at Hollywood studios, my 10-year-old daughter and I whirling around shooting the targets.

Then we queued up to meet Buzz and Woody, get their autographs and have our picture taken.

My favourite Toy Story character has to be Buzz Lightyear! He’s just a cool character that will never date – and he translates into the best toys.

I’ve watched Toy Story 3 more than any other movie, as it’s my daughters favourite. I really like the opening scene with the Wild West train; it features all the main characters plus the aliens, Hamm, toy monkeys and trolls!

It’s hard to pick a favourite product – I’d probably go with the Talking Buzz & Woody twin-pack, both iconic characters in one box with lots of cool features and 50 phrases with lights and sound.

Paul Reader, Toymaster We once received a shipment of Spanish-speaking Buzz Lightyear, long before he spoke Spanish in the movie. I also remember a Dream Toys event, where I went to the Radio 5 studio to do an interview with Nicky Campbell. I took a Buzz Lightyear along with me, and as Nicky was finishing off a serious political conversation with another guest, I inadvertently pushed a button on Buzz, causing him to say his iconic catchphrase, ‘To Infinity and Beyond’ rather loudly, which completely changed the mood in the studio.

My favourite character has to be Buzz Lightyear – I love his humour and sarcasm.

I love the scene in the first movie when Woody tries to tell Buzz he is a toy and he just won’t believe him.

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1996 – Chrome look finish Buzz Lightyear Action Figure

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1995

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1995 – The very first Buzz and Woody Thinkway Toys 1995 – Ultimate Action Figure Buzz Lightyear 1995 – Variety of Collectible Gift Sets featuring key characters

2015

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2014

2015 – To celebrate the 20th Anniversay of the original movie Thinkway launched new packaging for the classic characters

2015 – Buzz and Woody action figures featuring sayings and weapons from the TV Special

2011

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2011 – Your favourite Toy Story characters in a Hawaain adventure 2011 – Dolly, Buttercup and Mr Pricklepants from Toy Story 3 (photos not shown) 1998 – Assortment of Chrome finish Buzz Lightyear action figures 1998 – Buzz and Woody Talking Room Guards

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2010 2010 – Talking Lotso Bear

2010 – Buzz and Woody action figures that interact with each other with over 100 phrases

1999 – Evil Emperor Zurg Talking Room Guard

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2012 – Buzz Lightyear with light up blaster and shield with 4 play modes

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2009 – Ultimate programmable Robot Buzz Lightyear

2009 2009 – The Signature Collection are the most accurate depiction of the Toy Story figures that have ever been produced. The figures that have been manufactured are to the highest detail reflecting the exact dimensions , details and features of the original animated toys.

For the love of animation

Toy World spoke to Bob Pauley, Pixar production designer about his input into the development of the iconic franchise in their relationships. It was also good to explore the incongruities, especially when you took the personality traits and married them with a toy: Rex is a great example. He may be a T-Rex, but he is timid and shy, not a ferocious beast. People can see themselves in the characters – we can all relate to them. We care what happens to them.

Did the characters reach the screen as they had been initially imagined, or did any of them undergo any significant changes along the way?

When you were working on the initial Toy Story movie, did you have any idea just how big it would turn out to be, and how long its influence would last for?

I genuinely did not! That may sound surprising in hindsight, but at the time we really had no idea.

Pixar was an amazing place to work – it was an underground operation, we were a rogue team. It was all new and a lot of fun - we were in it for the love of animation. There was no big studio ethos, but there was less pressure that way.

John Lasseter came to my desk one day, saw a sketch of Buzz and instantly said “This is going to be huge.” He knew straight away. John has that contagious enthusiasm, he is so inspiring – a joy to work with.

What is it about the characters that has made them so enduringly popular with successive generations of children - and their parents too?

I think the key is that the characters are believable.

They have strong, clear personalities – you get a real sense of who they are. There are big differences between them, so we could explore the tension

Characters always evolve. I came in to Pixar full time in February 1993, when the movie had been green lit. Buzz and Woody already existed, but we made some crucial changes over time: Woody was originally a ventriloquist’s dummy, with a jaw which went up and down. We wondered whether some people might find that a little creepy – you don’t want to build in any obstacles to people relating to the characters. Also, Woody was also originally much taller, and Buzz was shorter; when we started to shoot tests, we realised it would be tough to make it work when they were such different sizes. John also wanted to change Buzz so he was more representative of an authentic NASA figure; the purple pads on the end of his fingers replicate the real designs of NASA gloves.

Some characters who were originally part of the movie went away completely. Other characters evolved; Mr Potato Head is a real toy, so we needed to adapt him to make the character work in an animated setting. We try to put ourselves in the mind of a toy: how would it act, what would it physically have to do to move around, what are its limitations.

We’re not trying to create reality; we want to make it believable. Their world is much smaller than ours; they need to jump to get up on the kerb, there is dirt in the corners of the windows. Little details like that really bring you into their world.

Did you have any idea how successful the movie would turn out to be from a merchandise perspective?

Initially, we were a little surprised that none the big toy companies were excited about the project, but Albert from Thinkway was passionate about it from the start and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner. I know that being a toy manufacturer is a big risk, but it is great that he had trust and faith in the brand and he has done such a great job. It is fantastic to see how well the Thinkway range still sells today, and that Albert and his team are still looking at ways to improve the products for a new generation of kids.

Which is your favourite Toy Story character, and why?

That’s a hard question - I like so many of them.

Naturally, Buzz is a favourite, because he was such fun to work on. I also love Rex – he’s great fun to work with and such an interesting character. I love his voice and his ‘positive but permanently worried’ attitude.

Over two decades after the first movie, how proud are you that Toy Story remains such an iconic, cherished brand?

It’s great that the movie still resonates with kids as well as their parents, and provides great family memories which will last a lifetime. Within the Pixar team, we have animators for whom Toy Story was the first movie they ever watched – and now they’re working here. With Toy Story 4, there will be a Toy Story for the next generation. Maybe that will inspire future generations to get into animation too.

Did the writers draw on their own childhood experiences and favourite toys to create the characters?

Absolutely – we’re all big toy geeks. Many of the Pixar team grew up in the early 1960’s; there were certain toys we all loved and we wanted to celebrate that. It was good to include recognisable toys we all grew up with, such as Etch-a-Sketch and Slinky Dog. As we produce more Toy Story movies, you’ll see toys being introduced that kids of today grew up with.

Do you see yourselves in the characters?

John Lasseter is a lot like Andy: he took great care of his toys. I had something of an ‘inner Sid’; I always liked taking toys apart to see how they worked, or gluing different toys together to see how they would look.

©Disney/Pixar

Character Licensed Merchadise

John Adams 01480 414 361 | www.johnadams.co.uk To celebrate the launch of the My Little Pony movie, John Adams Leisure has expanded its arts and crafts range with new and refreshed lines. The My Little Pony Blopens Creative Case lets little ones create cute pony pictures using air brush effects, with a handy easel. Jelly Stickers also gets a My Little Pony makeover, allowing kids to paint and create 25 jelly effect stickers that sparkle with glitter once they dry. Family favourite Fuzzy-Felt and the My Little Pony Paint and Style have also both been refreshed.

The eZee Beads range has been extended with a licensed Paw Patrol set, allowing children to create colourful models of their favourite characters using beads and water. Fuzzy-Felt also has a licensed Paw Patrol set, featuring the popular pups in mix and match rescue scenes, allowing little ones to create felt creations.

Disney fans can now create their own Beauty and the Beast moments by making a magical Disney Princess Snow Globe.

Once filled with snow and water, the globe can be spun to watch Belle dance in a snow-filled scene.

K’nex 01189 253 270 | www.knex.co.uk K’nex creates a universe where engineering, art, and fun click to bring STEAMagination to life. By partnering with powerhouse licences from the gaming and entertainment world, K’nex offers children (and big kids) a new way to play with their favourite characters in the real world.

Nintendo fans love the K’nex Mario Kart and Super Mario ranges, including bike and kart building sets, plus an ever-popular range of buildable Mystery Figure blind bags, regularly refreshed to reflect the latest game play from the legendary franchise.

Earlier this year, K’nex also revealed a line of TinkerToy building sets combining the award-winning TinkerToy building system with the main characters from My Little Pony. The range spans from introductory character and accessory building sets right through to big ticket purchases sure to wow fans, such as the multi-level Twilight Sparkle and Canterlot Castle Building Set, with a swing, working elevator and two buildable figures.

Gemma International 01264 388 412 | www.gemma-international.co.uk Gemma’s wide range of licensed greetings includes a number of key licences; Peppa Pig, PJ Masks, Thomas & Friends, Blaze & The Monster Machines, Num Noms, Care Bears, Pokémon, Disney, and Marvel. New for 2018, Miraculous Ladybug joins Gemma’s portfolio of licences to complement the toy market and offer toy retailers opportunities to up sell.

With cards at the core of its business, and with over 30 years’ experience in licensed greetings, Gemma also manufactures roll wrap, gift packs, and gift bags. Its range of partyware includes Shopkins, Peppa Pig, Animal Jam, and Hello Kitty with two new ranges launched this year, Care Bears and PJ Masks.

Gemma continues to see great demand for its licences. PJ Masks cards and wrap has been a new signing this year, and its new range of PJ Masks partyware is now available. Also on offer are balloons, banner packs, and masks with a sheet of stickers.

Star Cutouts 01613 445 839 | www.starcutouts.com Star Cutouts has launched a new range of mini table top cut outs. These are ideal for those wanting to enjoy the company of their favourite character as they make the perfect alternative gift and can be used for parties and events. Each pack features a variety of children’s favourite characters and fans are encouraged to decorate any personal space with as many or as few characters as they choose. Mini table top cut outs are approximately 20cm tall and will feature ranges including Disney, Minions, Hey Duggee, and Elvis Presley.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Kidicraft 01282 500 899 | www.kidicraft.com Kidicraft’s Super 3D puzzles now include over 60 puzzles to choose from, with ranges that include National Geographic, National Geographic Kids, Selfies, Howard Robinson, and Kevin Walsh’s Nostalgia collection. As well as the 48 and 63-piece puzzles, there are products with 100, 150, and 500 pieces, many of which are suitable for both adults and children alike.

All Kidicraft puzzles feature lenticular photography, which gives the impression of movement in every completed jigsaw. There is a floor display unit available for retailers, which is designed to hold a wide range of puzzles for maximum impact in store.

Rainbow Designs 01329 233 700 | www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Rainbow Designs has joined forces with Disney to bring retailers a high-quality baby collection.

Launching in stores this autumn will be the prestigious new Hundred Acre Wood Signature Collection. This high-end collection celebrates the classic heritage of A.A Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and his loveable friends; Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore in a style that is totally dedicated to baby.

The innovative new collection will feature an array of nursery plush essentials such as Ring Rattles, Comfort Blankets, and Character Plush toys. The signature collection has been developed using only the softest of fabrics to create a special bond with baby and forge memories that will last a lifetime.

The new collection will join Rainbow’s already high-profile brand line-up that includes: Peter Rabbit, Paddington, My First Thomas & Friends, Peppa Pig for Baby, Guess How Much I Love You, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Miffy, Elmer, The Snowman and the Snowdog, and Roald Dahl.

Pyramid International 01162 843 640 | www.pyramidinternational.com In the world of entertainment licensing, characters are king, with some of the biggest properties having individuals that click with consumers and take brands to new levels of popularity. Characters such as Wonder Woman and Spider-Man have done incredibly well at the box office and are fresh in the minds of consumers. There has also been a surge in the popularity of Harry Potter.

With the blockbusters of Thor: Ragnorok and Justice League dominating cinemas this Autumn, characters are sure to stay at the peak of popularity. With an extensive library of products across gifting, stationery, wall art, posters, and merchandise, Pyramid International is able to offer solutions across all areas of retail. This product library, coupled with licences for all the heavy character hitters including those for DC Comics, Marvel, Harry Potter, as well as for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Little Brother Books 01392 427 779 | www.littlebrotherbooks.co.uk Little Brother Books specialises in annuals, seasonal formats, and other key promotions. It partners with many of the world’s leading brands, including WWE, Shoot, CBeebies, Barbie, L.O.L. Surprise! and more.

Its USP is its retail partnerships and store distribution. This is driven by the category expertise and 100% focus it gives all of the unique formats that it publishes. The category support it offers drives its retail distribution, including many non-books retailers who it supplies exclusively with its formats and dedicated displays.

The company is also known for its flexibility and speed to react to current trends and crazes in the dynamic kids’ market. This will become increasingly important within licensing going forward, due to the multiple media platforms that drive new IPs into the market.

L.O.L. Surprise! is the latest brand partner and Little Brother Books has the first licensed product for the property, offering retailers the opportunity to support this exciting new brand outside of the core toy category, driving increased spend as well as brand penetration. There is more to come from Little Brother Books, with developments in the pipeline.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Blue Sky Studios 01133 879 670 | www.blueskydesigns.co.uk All is set for a record breaking Christmas period for Blue Sky as two of this seasons biggest theatrical releases are fast approaching - My Little Pony the Movie and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Both licences have been heavily backed by retailers, and overall feedback from Autumn Fair was very positive on both key licences.

The company’s licensed property portfolio has expanded with new additions, and Blue Sky is expanding its reach into other categories with both new and existing properties. Next year it will be offering gift, lighting, stationery, and bags across various licences, including a premium Star Wars range of stationery aimed at students/adults, which features canvas covered notebooks and premium pen sets, all with a subtle iconic repeat pattern, alongside the Retro Star Wars Comic range with refreshed packaging.

My Little Pony has a complete artwork refresh for 2018 with a colourful but more delicate design called Scribble Happy.

Blue Sky has also expanded its partnership further with Hasbro by securing two further brands in Hanazuki and Transformers, with strong artwork and characters. 2018 will be a big year for Transformers with a theatrical release in Q4, and Blue Sky is currently in development on a range of retro stationery and gifts.

To spearhead its product offering on fashion, stationery, and bags, the comapny has recently secured the rights to new property Hamsta World, created by HappyInk, with a range of premium stationery, a new range of bags, and novelty gifting products, all due to launch in early 2018.

Stor 07809 572 778 | www.storline.es As a worldwide licensee, Stor offers a wide range of licensed products, including kids dining, lunch and drinkware, baby and toddler feeding, toilet training, storage, ceramics, bakery, young adult and a new range of furniture, with licences on these products including Disney, Marvel, Lucas Star Wars, Nickelodeon, Universal, Warner Bros., Mattel, DreamWorks, Emoji, Miraculous Ladybug, PJ Masks, Peppa Pig, Pokémon and many more.

Stor’s key range is the kids dining, lunch, and drinkware, and it also has a new range of 3D and shaped lenticular lunch bags. Another one of Stor’s most recent additions is the young adult drinks ranges, including coffee tumblers, travel mugs, and hydro drinks bottles which feature licences which also appeal to the older age market, such as Classic Disney, Minions, Star Wars, Marvel, and Hello Kitty.

Within the lunch, dining, and drinkware offer there are a huge range of products and licences available.

The company has a new toddler feeding range which was recently launched at the K&J Trade Fair in Cologne with a positive reaction, and the whole product range will be on show in October at the Canton Fair in China.

Sambro 0845 873 9380 | www.sambro.co.uk New ranges featuring Littlest Pet Shop, MasterChef, Jurassic World 2, Power Rangers & Hatchimals will hit shelves from spring through to autumn 2018. Each range will demonstrate Sambro’s ability to push boundaries with new product innovation, increased range depth and value for money.

The Sesame Street collection marks another achievement for the Sambro team, who was announced as master toy partner for the brand. The Sesame Street Collection, available in stores now, is an interactive range for pre- schoolers, and features all-time favourite characters including Tickle Me Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird.

Jo Jo Siwa continues to dominate the girls market and Sambro’s new range of bows and accessories for spring 2018 will further cement the popularity of the cult brand, with products including the sell-out Jo Jo Bow Maker extending the retail opportunities for the licence into new categories such as arts and crafts, bags, and stationery. More exciting developments will be announced at BLE.

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Character Licensed Merchadise

Schleich 01279 870 000 | www.schleich-s.com/en

Sakar 02476 518 500 | www.sakar.com

27th October will see Thor: Ragnarok hit the big screen and fans of the licence can bring the superhero fun home with the new Thor figurine.

The Marvel action hero stands in his signature pose on a cut-out brick scene, and retailers should also look out for the new Dr. Strange figurine.

Another hero who fans will be looking out for in stores as Christmas approaches is Spider-Man. Following the blockbuster film release earlier this year, Schleich’s Spider-Man and Green Goblin figurines are a must have for fans who can relive the hero and villain showdown. As with all Schleich products, the attention to detail is paramount.

The Beauty and the Beast Bluetooth Karaoke Mic from Sakar allows children to join Belle and Mrs. Potts to sing along with their favourite tunes. Featuring Belle, this mic has enchanting bright LED lights and a booming speaker. The microphone seamlessly connects to Bluetooth enabled devices to bring melodies alive. With longlasting battery life, a mixer with volume/ echo control, and bright flashing light effects, children can spend hours of fun singing along. A free song download of the karaoke version of Be Our Guest is also included with the purchase.

The Sakar Emoji Movie Plush Speaker is a fun music speaker shaped like the poo emoji, and is super soft, compatible with most devices, and has a 3.5mm AUX cord, making it ideal for travel.

Feature

PJ Masks

Hero product Toy World spoke to Katie Rollings, head of UK licensing at Entertainment One Family, about the success of PJ Masks, what makes it stand out within the pre-school category, and new product categories to look forward to in Q4.

Have viewing figures for PJ Masks continued to increase in 2017?

Yes. PJ Masks has strong, consistent viewing figures which have been building steadily across Disney Junior and Tiny Pop. It’s now one of the top rated pre-school shows on both channels, and gets strong viewing figures across our official YouTube channel. New episodes will air this autumn and, with new bespoke shorts on the slate, there’s a continual pipeline of new content available for fans.

Has the consumer product roll-out lived up to expectations so far?

It’s exceeded our expectations by far. Initial reaction to the toy line was very strong, helped by broadcast and retail digital channels which built excitement ahead of the launch of products.

As the master toy range has been such a huge success across the globe, what challenges have been presented in terms of ensuring there is sufficient product available to meet demand?

The success of PJ Masks has resulted in us pulling forward our rollout plans in almost every territory. Coupled with the initial demand exceeding our expectations, this inevitably created some stock allocation difficulties.

However, these issues are all resolved now and the licensing programme is well placed for this Christmas and beyond.

Specifically in terms of the UK, do you feel there will be a good supply of PJ Masks product in the market over the festive period or do you foresee shortages?

We don’t foresee shortages. We’ve made sure there is sufficient product across multiple retailers. The next few months sees the launch of

new category lines such as apparel, publishing, homewares and secondary toys, as well as the introduction of new core lines and playsets - there will be plenty of PJ Masks products for fans to choose from.

Are there any particular products or ranges which have performed particularly well thus far?

To date, all ranges have performed well but we’ve seen stand out success with vehicles, figures and role-play items - the sort of items that fans can use to recreate their favourite scenes.

The aspirational nature of the show and its characters really helps to fuel this aspect of the licensing programme. Initial sales have also been promising for homewares including bedding, as well as the first book range.

What new product categories will be hitting the market in Q4?

Q4 sees the introduction of stationery and art & crafts; the expansion of apparel into daywear and accessories; partyware and further SKUs within the toy category. We also have the first PJ Masks DVD, Time to be a Hero, launching in October.

What plans do you have to keep the momentum going in 2018 and beyond?

From spring 2018 you’ll see more product categories launching, including ELA, diecast, role play, FMCG and health and beauty. Series 2 will then bring 52 new episodes to air, which will introduce new characters, new locations and exciting new adventures. This will be supported by a new marketing theme and new product range

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from autumn/winter 17.

We’ll also expand the experiential activity for the brand next year, with enhanced character meet & greets, and exciting retail events such as hero training initiatives, where children can learn to be their own hero.

There will be new gaming content and new online and offline activities, so that fans can access the brand at multiple levels, appropriate for the 2-5 age group. We will continue work with a broad range of partners across the charity, nursery, schools and retail sector to encourage children to get active, like the partnership we’re launching with diddi-dance this autumn. There is plenty to look forward to in 2018 and beyond.

As the pre-school category is one of the most fiercely competitive in the market, what do you think has helped PJ Masks to cut through and become the success it has?

PJ Masks is the first TV show that specifically focuses on superheroes for pre-schoolers. It offers all the excitement associated with superheroes pace, excitement and action - in an environment that is, importantly, age appropriate. You can’t succeed with pre-schoolers unless you have first class scripting, characters and positive messaging, which all shine through in PJ Masks. The eOne team then weave the marketing, licensing and content together in a way that offers a compelling programme for all parties – licensees, retailers, broadcasters, consumers and fans. All these parties know that our approach is long term, and based on strong experience in the market. We think PJ Masks has huge potential.

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PJ Masks © Frog Box / Entertainment One UK Limited / Walt Disney EMEA Production 2014.

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sales@ravensburger.com Sales Hotline 01869 363800

08611 35pc Puzzle

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PJ Masks

Ravensburger 01869 363 830 | www.ravensburger.com The 4-in-Box Puzzle contains four jigsaw puzzles in one box, cut into 12, 16, 20 and 24-pieces respectively, while the 35-piece puzzle features a range of PJ Masks characters, including the infamous villains Romeo, Luna Girl and Night Ninja.

The extra-large 60-piece jigsaw puzzle glows in the dark when the lights are turned off.

For additional PJ Masks fun, Ravensburger has three games to choose from. The Mini Memory matching pairs game is still a favourite with players of all ages, and the Giant Card Game includes rules for four different games.

Rounding out the range is the popular Night Sight Game. Ideal for up to three players, kids simply put on their mask and work together to stop Romeo from stealing all the toys - a fun yet simple game for the whole family to enjoy together.

Worlds Apart 0800 389 8591 | www.worldsapart.com Worlds Apart is focusing on the superhero brand with a range launching in October covering its key categories: Home, Toy and Outdoor. The range includes a Cat Car feature play tent, a GoGlow Pal night light plush, a ReadyBed, an entry price point play tent and a comprehensive home range including a bed, multi storage unit, bookcase and table and chairs. The 2018 spring/summer range will include a new GoGlow lighting SKU – Bendables. Available in Catboy, Owlette and Gekko designs, GoGlow Bendables are characterised night lights featuring light up eyes and flexible, bendy arms. There will also be a new Headphone Hat added to the range.

Copywrite Designs 01908 618 811 | www.copywritedesigns.co.uk Copywrite Designs has partnered on popular pre-school property PJ Masks, and will be launching a full range of licensed sticker creative play products in January 2018. Comprising such items as a Mega Sticker Set, Colour and Sticker Pad, Travel Activity Tube and Filled Sticker Truck, Copywrite’s range will cater for PJ Masks fans of all ages, providing colouring and sticker fun for kids looking for a creative way to celebrate their masked heroes.

Just Play 0208 643 0320 | www.justplayproducts.com Just Play’s PJ Masks offering includes the Light-Up Figure 2 Pack Assortment, while the Deluxe 15cm Talking Figures range features the three heroes and three villains from the show. The PJ Masks 16 Piece Deluxe Figure and Accessory Set helps fans to recreate scenes with all of their favourite characters. These figures are scaled to fit all playsets, including the upcoming Transforming Figure Playsets.

Each Transforming Playset comes with two action figures; one of the character as their daytime persona and another of their PJ Masks alter ego. Rounding out the range, the multi-level HQ Playset features lights, sounds and interactive features.

Amscan 01908 288 500 | www.amscan.co.uk Amscan offers a range of PJ Masks role-play costumes, which allow kids to transform into their favourite character from the series, be it Catboy, Owlette or Gekko. Recent new additions to the company’s PJ Masks range also include foil balloons, which are already proving a popular pre-school choice.

MV Sports 01217 488 000 | www.mvsports.co.uk MV’s collection includes a tri-scooter with three puncture proof tyres, and a folding inline scooter, both with adjustable handlebar heights, and printed decks and decals. Finishing off the core range is a selection of bikes ranging from 10” balance and training bikes to 12” and 14” bikes featuring removable stabilisers, front and rear brakes and adjustable handlebar and seat heights. The PJ look can be completed with the safety helmet which includes a quick-release buckle and extra padding for a secure fit. 2018 sees the launch of Catboy’s 6v car with forward and reverse gears, lights and sounds, plus a range of character inspired helmets.

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Hit success on Disney Junior internationally – now in over 85 territories worldwide

Extensive licensing and merchandising programme launching internationally throughout 2017

Over 300 licensee partners signed internationally across multiple categories

PJ Masks Š Frog Box / Entertainmxent One UK Limited / Walt Disney EMEA Productions Limited 2014.

10 Music Videos and 20 brand new interstitials airing internationally in 2017

Feature

Brand Licensing Preview

Strike up the brands

Brand Licensing Europe returns to Olympia from 10th-12th October, bringing with it a host of new and revamped zones, areas and programmes offering a wealth of information on the licensing industry and the opportunities it affords. Rachael Simpson speaks to the show’s organisers to find out what is on offer to visitors at this pivotal annual event.

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ith the UK’s departure from the EU still making headlines on a regular basis, BLE returns for its 19th year with a strong emphasis on Europe. European-focused sessions at this year’s event will include the NPD’s global industry analyst Frederique Tutt presenting NPD’s overview of the European licensed toy market in 2017. This session will include a special focus on kids licensing beyond toys in the UK, looking at the biggest categories, and what parents are buying versus grandparents. Complementing this session, Billy Langsworthy, co-founder of Mojo Nation, will lead a panel entitled ‘Playing with Brands: a look at the design process behind toys and games’.

“In addition to all the amazing content visitors are used to seeing at BLE, there are three big themes to the show this year – Europe, sports and gaming,” explains Anna Knight, BLE brand director. “We’ve got more European exhibitors, more European retailers and licensees are registering, and we’re really

focusing on the ‘Europe’ part of Brand Licensing Europe in our educational content, including a Brexit session from Kelvyn Gardner: ‘Licensing in Europe - the background, the present and the potential future, including the potential implications of Brexit’ - which will help to prepare us all for what’s about to

come.”

The Toy & Game Innovation Zone, hosted by Mojo Nation, will showcase some of the most interesting examples of licensed toys and games launched within the last 12 months, as well as previewing some of the hottest new lines arriving for Christmas 2017 and beyond. As well as allowing visitors to get hands on with the products, the area will also host the designers responsible for creating them. Select creators will be on hand to discuss the development process behind turning brands into toys and games, as well as taking part in live product demonstrations.

With a focus on gaming, BLE is introducing new the Gaming Activation Area this year. “This is a showcase and demonstration area, which aims to educate licensees and retailers on the journey of a video game IP from screen to store,” comments Anna. “The area will include a mock retail environment where a range of IPs will be featured. It’s really exciting not just for the IPs that will be featured, but also because it’s the gaming industry working together to showcase its combined potential. Exhibiting this year are Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Ubisoft, Capcom, Sega, King, Activision Blizzard, Rovio, Pokémon, Tinderbox, Animal Jam, Level-5 Abby, and Those Licensing People.”

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In addition to the panel discussions, the 2017 seminar programme, featuring 30 sessions across two seminar theatres, will cover a range of themes including fashion, lifestyle, toys, gaming and sport. “This year’s seminar programme will feature sessions on Brexit, and how to launch a pan European licensing programme,” says Anna.

With so much on offer at the show, exhibitors and visitors alike are urged to take advantage of the more social aspects of BLE 2017. “Don’t forget the networking!” stresses Anna. “It’s not all work and no play. Lima will be running its BLE Garden Party again at Kensington Roof Gardens on the Wednesday evening; tickets are available from the Lima website with members receiving a discount. This year there are rumours of

a karaoke competition with some great prizes up for grabs, so watch this space.

Also, if you do the right amount of networking whilst in attendance, you’ll also gain insider knowledge on the many peripheral parties that happen throughout the week across West London.”

As ever, BLE is an important event for anyone involved within the licensing industry, and this year’s show seems set to provide more advice, information and networking opportunities than ever before. Over the next few pages, Toy World takes a look at some of 2017’s exhibitors, and which top brands and properties they will be presenting at the show.

Company Profile

Aardman

10 years of Shaun the Sheep Rachael Simpson spoke to Robert Goodchild, head of licensing at Aardman Animations, to find out how the second Shaun the Sheep movie is progressing, the opportunities the brand presents to licensees, and how the company is working to cover a range of media platforms. the appeal comes from the fact that parents and kids are happy to sit together and watch the show.

The parents are happy because it’s safe and the humour is the right level, and appeals right across the generations. The reason a lot of characters become so well-loved is precisely because they capture the attention of both kids and their parents.

Are you pleased with the viewing figures and online coverage that Shaun the Sheep is generating?

Can you give us some background on Shaun the Sheep?

We are celebrating 10 years of Shaun the Sheep this year, although the character himself has been around for more than 20 years, having first appeared in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave back in 1995. That led to the development of his fan base and the merchandise programme, and he really took on a life of his own from that point forth. In 2007 we put out the first 40 episodes of Shaun the Sheep on CBBC, and also on BBC 1 where it ran after Terry Wogan’s Points of View, following complaints from viewers who wanted to see it on other channels. We have been broadcasting now for 10 years on CBBC, and it’s shown all over the world too – we have done 150x 7-minute episodes, and generally each global territory is on its first or second broadcast. It’s not just TV anymore; we cover a range of media including social media, gaming, and events. We are very happy with the property’s performance so far.

What is it about Shaun that makes him so likable?

People just loved him from the start. There was something about his personality in A Close Shave that fans took to; the humour that shines through his demeanour and attitude. The show appeals to the whole family and, although it’s aimed at 5-11 year-old kids, it’s written with everyone in mind. The writers just want to produce something that they find funny. A lot of

Viewing figures are tricky because each territory has different ways of reporting. With TV it often boils down to the timeslot – a good example is NHK in Japan, where the show has held a Saturday morning timeslot for a long time.

That regularity means that kids know when to tune in and it has become a regular feature for them. Across our whole business, including YouTube and global communities, we now have had over 2 billion views on YouTube and we have 400 million sticker shares across Facebook, iOS, Line and WeChat online. It’s not just about viewing figures – although TV is important, the way families consume and watch TV is changing and we work hard across other areas to make sure the show is seen.

How is production going on the second Shaun the Sheep movie?

We are in pre-production at the moment, and the story will be revealed early next year – we know it will be far more ambitious than the first movie. At the moment we are working on story development, concept art and the characters themselves. Because it’s a stop-motion movie, rather than CGI, everything is a physical sculpt which takes time. We expect production to start at the end of this year, with a launch date of spring 2019 – but this is yet to be confirmed.

What opportunities does the property present for licensees?

While the second movie is very important, and there will be a spike of activity associated

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with it, we always stress that the brand has been around for 10 years now. We have a content plan for the next five years, and we position ourselves as an evergreen brand. We’ve released five new style guides and design themes in the last 12 months, we release an annual promotional theme every year, we offer short-form content, gaming, and we have a big focus on live events coming up. All these elements come together to offer a brand programme which doesn’t just focus on the movie, but the other, long-term aspects of the licensing programme. We have around 25 licensees in the UK, and around 160 worldwide.

One of our primary objectives is to build our UK business. In Japan we now have over 50 licensees and two touring exhibitions, plus a host of other activities such as cafes, plus our Chinese business is expanding rapidly, and we are performing consistently well in Germany too. We are working with Start Licensing to help us achieve the same success in the UK, and are also looking for partners that share our vision for Shaun - ones who can see the creative possibilities associated with working with the property, and the possibilities that come from working with Aardman. Aardman has a very strong movie slate going forward, and there is a lot happening within the studio – the development of a new IP for one – so there is plenty on offer for licensees who come on board.

Can you elaborate on the Shaun the Sheep content plan you mentioned earlier?

We have a commitment to continue development of the Shaun brand over that period of time. The full slate isn’t completely greenlit but we will be expanding the theatrical side following the success of the first movie. We will develop custom-made content around that side of the business. It’s not all about creating TV show after TV show, but rather tailoring the content across a range of platforms, from experiential activations to short-form. We are investing in the brand to keep it flexible so it responds to the way that media is consumed across our core markets.

LICENSING AVAILABLE FROM WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS AQUAMAN and all related characters and elements © & ™ DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: TM & © WBEL (s17)

Brand Profile

WWE

Ring Kings Toy World speaks to Warwick Brenner, WWE vice president EMEA, licensing, consumer products, to find out more about the brand’s enduring success.

How has the WWE brand performed over the past few years?

WWE has consistently broken records during the past couple of years. Revenues in 2016 achieved an all-time high and internationally we grew 11% to another record level. WrestleMania 33 last April was the most social event in WWE history, according to Nielsen Social, and was the most-watched WrestleMania ever, reaching a record 1.95m global households on WWE Network alone.

WWE is the number one sports channel on YouTube with more than 12b WWE videos viewed over the past year, and we have more than 800m social media followers around the world. Our talent roster is deeper than ever, and we’re set to deliver more than 500 live events in 23 countries around the world in 2017.

Our Consumer Products business has grown 37% over the past four years, which is an outstanding achievement and testament to our leaders-in-class partnerships and the passion of the WWE Universe fanbase.

WWE is a global entertainment company and our mission is to put smiles on people’s faces around the world. We are storytellers, following the hero’s journey in the classic protagonist vs. antagonist battle, where conflicts are resolved in the ring with family-friendly athletic performances 52 weeks a year. Fans engage with the brand via multiple touch points: TV, WWE Network, digital and social media, movies, music, live events, consumer products, and through more than 150 Superstars on the WWE and NXT rosters.

new 6” Tough Talkers, where kids can be fully immersed in what it’s like to be in a real WWE match; plus the Tough Talkers Ring Playset, where interactive rings set the stage through recognition technology. Users simply activate a Tough Talker figure in the ring, and the ring unlocks and plays the WWE Superstar’s entrance theme music plus additional sounds and phrases.

WWE and Mattel are also launching a girls product line this winter, featuring the first-ever fashion dolls of Nikki and Brie Bella, Sasha Banks, Natalya, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Alicia Fox, to leverage the popularity of female WWE Superstars and give our sizable girl fan base a new way to connect with their favorite brands.

In addition, we have a selection of new role-play, novelty, collectible and family game products launching through Jakks Pacific, Bandai, Funko, Jada Toys, Topps, and Winning Moves.

How has the consumer products division fared recently?

What are the key things to look out for in 2018?

We’ve enjoyed growth across the entire consumer products division in 2016, with yearon-year record-breaking performance for the brand. With over 30 local licensees here in the UK in addition to 14 global partnerships with leaders in class. Toys represent a major segment of the licensing programme.

Mattel is our master toy partner, and the WWE range’s consistent performance in the action figure category shows the power and collectability of the brand. Mattel action figures feature amongst the top-sellers yearover-year having this year launched 77 unique action figures in the UK. Innovation will also drive collectability this autumn/winter, including new Then, Now and Forever Basic and Elite figures;

We have several major tours and pay-perview events taking place in 2018, including WrestleMania 34 on Sunday 8th April which will be taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana. This global pop culture extravaganza is the equivalent of other brands’ theatrical releases, where each year we increase in-store branding and theatre across the high street, in the run-up to this and each of our events.

Earlier this year we ran bespoke WrestleMania 33 campaigns across 14 retailers and five different EMEA markets. Following our first ever 52 ft. feature wall activation with Selfridges we were honoured to have been nominated for a Licensing Award in the Best Licensed Retail Execution category.

We also created and recently launched a bespoke TV and social media advertisement with Smyths Toys Superstores featuring WWE Superstars AJ Styles, Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch.

For 2018, we are again creating multiple interactions and activations with retailers, using WWE Superstars in a variety of ways, including personal appearances and meet and greets along with unique money-can’t-buy competitions.

What makes WWE special?

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STAND E45 For more information on licensing opportunities, please contact

Warwick Brenner, Consumer Products: warwick.brenner@wwecorp.com / +44 (0) 20 7349 1749

TM & © 2017 WWE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Touching Base

Show and tell

As the 19th edition of Brand Licensing Europe draws closer, Rachael Simpson speaks to a number of exhibitors, both first time and returning, to find out what they have in store for licensees, and how 2018 is shaping up for the licensing industry in terms of both challenges and opportunities.

Marianne James Nickelodeon

Graham Saltmarsh Cartoon Network This year we’ll be bringing our growing portfolio of fantastic brands, which includes both established and newly launched franchises.

Anchoring the line-up will be two of our original IPs that are back in action and better than ever - Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. We’ll also have cult hit Adventure Time, multi awardwinning family sitcom The Amazing World of Gumball, and prime-time rating show We Bare Bears.

For the first time at the show, we’ll also be presenting the first Boomerang Original The Happos Family, criticallyacclaimed Adult Swim, animated sci-fi comedy Rick and Morty, and TNT Germany’s hit drama series 4 Blocks.

Next year is already looking incredibly exciting for us. We have a lot of great product launches planned across our portfolio; while it’s a little too early to be sharing specific details, we can say that there’ll be the second wave of toys for Ben 10, exclusive softline launches on The Powerpuff Girls, and some very cool collaborations on Adventure Time.

Supporting these will be creative marketing and retail activations, and we will also be offering our fans some great ways to interact with their favourite brands too.

In terms of challenges facing the licensing industry, the focus may have shifted from economic uncertainty to political uncertainty around Europe and the rest of the world, but pricing is still keen and we must continue to respond to this as we do at the moment – by offering tried and tested brands alongside some exciting new ones, excellent new animation across multiple platforms and the best possible marketing and support for our partners.

Of course, DTR is a continued hot topic, along with the high revenue it can bring in the short term, versus those partnerships that will deliver sustained revenue in the long-term. This is always going to be a discussion point whenever the licensing industry meets.

We go to BLE 2017 with our largest pre-school portfolio ever, with something for every child. We will be taking partners through the plans to sustain our current hits such as Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer and Shine, with new on air promotions, style guides and opportunities. We will also be sharing retail, product and programming plans for our newer series such as Digby Dragon, Rusty Rivets, and Nella the Princess Knight, and introducing the newest Nick Jr. series, Sunny Day. Other highlights at this year’s BLE will be the chance to have a first look at the reimagined new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Partners will also have the opportunity to learn more about our newest Nickelodeon star, JoJo Siwa, and the licensing programme around her.

2018 is shaping up to be a massive year for Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products as we build on the success that we’ve seen over the last two years. We have been careful to support and grow existing properties and use the popularity of those existing series to launch new IP. Licensing opportunities in pre-school will increase throughout 2018 as we launch Rusty Rivets and Nella the Princess Knight product lines, and sign on partners for our newest show, Sunny Day. In addition to pre-school we also expect to see growth in lines for older kids, as lines around JoJo Siwa come to market, and toys for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles launch late in the year. We will also look to expand opportunities around live, in-market experiences in 2018.

Bringing new IP to market continues to be a challenge as legacy brands dominate shelf space. Supporting new properties and new ideas is important for the licensing industry as a whole, in order to keep the industry innovative and competitive. We are very fortunate with NVCP properties, as we have a far-reaching promotional window in terms of our channels, live events and proven past successes - but we recognise it is tough for newcomers.

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TV HOLIDAY

SPECIAL

WINTER 2017 TROLLS TV SERIES SET TO DEBUT 2018

TROLLS 2

SPRING 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION: UK Licensing: Naome Jones +44.203.618.6552 Gaming & Digital Licensing: Bill Kispert 818.777.5446 Publishing: Siobhan Harkin +44.203.618.5539 Live Entertainment Licensing: Carol Nygren 818.777.9507

Touching Base Baptiste Cazaux Editions Albert René

Jon Gillard Games Workshop

On October 19th, the 37th adventure of Asterix will be released, which sees our heroes embarking on an adventure to explore the fascinating world of Ancient Italy. With 2m copies planned for the first print run in France, and 2m more in Europe in 16 different languages, it is the biggest comic book launch of the year. To celebrate the launch we are organising an impressive media campaign which will guarantee major exposure surrounding the release of the new comic, and we expect many licensees to take advantage of this event by offering new products.

2018 will be the year of the magic potion. After the success of the animated movie Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods, Asterix will be back in theatres in December 2018 in a new CGI movie with an original screenplay - Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion. This will be a quest across Gaul, in which our heroes will be searching for a young druid worthy of learning the secret of the famous Magic Potion. This movie event will present a great opportunity for the creation of new products and plenty of promotions, all boosted by the Magic Potion.

The licensing market is a very challenging and competitive business, but Asterix remains an evergreen licence for all the family. Our little Gaul has existed for over 50 years and will continue for the next 50. As a company, our greatest challenge is to create quality products that meet the expectations of our fans, as well as attracting new ones.

Games Workshop has exhibited at BLE before of course, but our presence this year is bigger than ever.

We’re casting our net more widely, and looking for licensees in categories we’ve previously not considered. We have brands with a 40-year pedigree and our potential fanbase is growing, as geek culture becomes more and more mainstream. Our Warhammer brands are largely untapped outside the core tabletop wargames market, as our computer games are, from a licensing perspective. We’ve got some of the deepest, most developed and (we think) coolest fantasy and science-fantasy IPs out there, ready for the right licensees to bring them to new markets.

Games Workshop is experiencing a remarkable period of growth.

FY 2017 was the biggest in the company’s 40+ year history. Our core business grew sales by 34% and operating profit by 127%, with licensing revenue up 26%. We are one of the 400 largest public companies in the UK now, and we view licensing as a critical part of our strategy for continuing growth in the long term. Our Warhammer brands are already household names amongst teenage boys (and men who used to be teenage boys), but they’re getting more traction now with different demographics and different product categories. It’s just the tip of the iceberg though, and our meeting schedule is for BLE is quickly filling up with potential licensees who want to share in this success.

Like a lot of licensors we’re enjoying the challenge of finding ways to bring our worlds and characters to new audiences, while at the same time servicing our hardcore fans with new products and ways of immersing them in IPs which they already love. The wants and needs of these two audiences can be quite different, and finding licensees that can service one or the other (or both) is a balancing act. The other thing I’d say is that we’ve previously turned down a lot of licensing opportunities because Games Workshop wasn’t yet ready for them, so we very much want to get the word out - the gloves are off, and we want to hear from any potential licensee with a great idea and a proven business model.

Vickie O’Malley Rockpool Licensing

BLE 2017 is a busy one for Rockpool; Animal Jam, the world’s No. 1 social on line game for kids, has now soared to over 80m registered users. We have an amazing roster of licensees on board and will be talking to further potential partners and retailers about this very special brand. We were very proud to announce our partnership with Alpha Group recently, and will be presenting Super Wings for the first time at the show.

It’s a great pre-school show from China’s largest toy company, animation studio and comic publisher, and a fantastic new opportunity for UK licensees. It’s also an exciting time for Tough Mudder - for the first time we have the opportunity to talk to technical apparel and performance wear partners, so will be holding key meetings at BLE. We’re seeking additional partners for Brambly Hedge, especially in social expression, gifting and homewares, and we’re interested to talk to licensees who want to tap into the amazing business that the Tractor Ted has already established in the country store and garden centre market. We’ll also be making one more appointment announcement before BLE, so watch this space.

On the surface of it, 2018 looks set to be a relatively quiet year for blockbuster licences, and this presents a great opportunity for new brands and for those from smaller companies to break through. Licensee contacts have told me that that they are looking further afield for potential properties, and into new categories for licences.

The full impact of Brexit is still unknown but the fall in the value of sterling, the rise of inflation and the ensuing squeeze on household budgets obviously represents a challenge for licensed and branded goods. The on-going uncertainty will impact businesses from every corner of licensing, but opportunities will doubtless arise for individual players. The eternal squeeze on bricks and mortar shelf space is always a challenge for licensees.

This of one of the many reasons Rockpool is excited to be working with our friends at Evode Group, the print on-demand and personalisation specialists, building partnerships with retailers, brand and platform owners to integrate Evode’s POD technology and manufacturing capability. The opportunity for infinite support of licences across a dazzling range of product areas is an extremely interesting prospect for brand owners, retailers and consumers.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Aardman 01179 848 485 | www.aardman.com

Games Workshop 0115 916 8000 | www.games-workshop.com

Stand F15

Stand B32 Fresh off the most successful year in its four-decade history, Games Workshop returns to BLE to showcase its flagship Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar brands. With a new edition of the core Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game launched this summer, the next generation of fans is discovering the biggest redesign of the iconic Space Marine in the brand’s history, and new ways to play which allow them to immerse themselves in its rich science fiction universe.

In addition to the 43 video game licensees who have so far generated 26m lifetime sales across multiple titles, Games Workshop’s merchandise, publishing and hobby games programmes have helped achieve $128m in licensed sales at retail during 2016/17. Over the next year, names such as Sega, Musterbrand, Titan Publishing and Hachette will be joined by the likes of Half Moon Bay, Wargaming, Prime One and Fankicks, spearheading the entry into new categories and markets.

This year, the Games Workshop stand is larger than ever. As well as the displays of detailed painted miniatures that Games Workshop is renowned for, visitors to BLE can experience the fast-paced gameplay for themselves on the company’s demonstration table, as well as speak with representatives about the many licensing opportunities still available.

Following on from celebrating 40 years of its characters and brands in 2016, this year is set to be even bigger for Aardman. This October, the team will be exhibiting at BLE, presenting the studio’s current portfolio of classic characters and new IP to new and existing partners. With production coming to an end on Academy Award winner Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure Early Man, the studio is working closely with Studiocanal on a licensing, publishing and promotional programme for the film.

Hot on the heels of Early Man is Shaun the Sheep’s second big screen adventure, with a sequel set for release in 2019. With 2017 marking 10 years since launching Shaun the Sheep as a standalone property, the studio continues to invest in the evergreen brand with a focus on new short form and digital content, interactive live events and themed attractions. This year, the team is focusing on design with new style themes including Sheep Dreams, and new digital projects developed to satisfy the appetite of Shaun’s worldwide community, who are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy the brand across a variety of platforms.

Aardman will also be presenting Learning Time with Timmy - a new series for early years English language learners, developed in collaboration with the British Council, the world’s premier provider of English language learning. The 26 x 5’ curriculum-based episodes launch on YouTube in Q1 2018 and will be supported with engaging bonus content. There are also further opportunities with international broadcasters and publishers, adapting the show to teach local languages. The team is developing an international licensing programme to further extend this learning brand, and is looking for merchandise and publishing partners.

Lisle Licensing 01937 586 237 | www.lislelicensing.com Stand C45 Lisle Licensing returns to this year’s BLE with an array of licences to suit multiple categories and some new properties making their London debut. Based in the UK, Lisle Licensing represents a catalogue of digital, toy, character entertainment, sports and lifestyle brands.

Lisle Licensing works with a variety of brands such as Leo Messi, Nitro Circus, Masha and The Bear, Studio Pets by Myrna, Glimmies, Alvinnn!!! and The Chipmunks, Tetris, and several new licences which will be announced in due course.

Lisle Licensing prides itself on representing and showcasing a range of fun, different and stimulating brands that breathe life into the licensing industry. With over 50 years of experience, extensive contacts and market knowledge, Lisle Licensing offers its licence partners an experienced service, with an internal capacity that manages all strategy development, product approvals, royalty reporting, and contracts.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Entertainment One 0203 691 8600 | www.entertainmentone.com Stand C50 At BLE 2017, Entertainment One (eOne) will present global licensing and merchandising opportunities for its trio of award-winning entertainment properties; Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.

Peppa Pig is one of the top performing pre-school properties around the world and generates over $1.4b in worldwide retail sales per year. With over 800 licensees supplying products worldwide, Peppa Pig now has a strong retail presence across the globe. The licensor is gearing up for the brand’s 15th anniversary celebrations in 2019, which will be marked by new episodes, top tier partnerships, retail events and special product lines. eOne’s pre-school superhero TV property PJ Masks enjoyed strong sales for Just Play’s master toy line, which appeared on shelves across the UK in the past 12 months. Retail reports have surpassed expectations with many stores selling out lines across the range. Fans of the show can look forward to new adventures when series 2 launches across the EMEA region from spring 2018 on the Disney Junior network. Series 2 will introduce new characters and locations that will give licensees and retailers fresh inspiration for product lines. A third series is also in development.

Finally, eOne’s Emmy and Bafta award-winning animated series Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom continues to expand its global fanbase. In the US, the first toy range from Jazwares launched at retail in August 2017, while in the UK the property has been boosted with new partnerships including food company Naturelly, a promotional tie up with The Woodland Trust and a fresh toy line from Character Options which debuts at retail in Q4 2017.

Pokémon 0207 381 7000 | www.pokemon.com/uk Stand B35 As a globally recognised and respected brand, Pokémon is constantly seeking to innovate and reach out to new demographics, as it continues to build on the success of its 20th anniversary year in 2016.

Pokémon has always had a fiercely loyal and engaged fan base, and by introducing new licensing categories such as fashion apparel and accessories, bedding, designer collaborations, puzzles, technology gear, and home décor, the brand is reaching beyond its traditional demographics with products designed to further brand engagement for all ages.

The property made its way onto Nintendo Switch this year with Pokkén Tournament DX and November will see Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon launch on Nintendo DS Family systems.

An uplift in sales the for Pokémon Trading Card Game has continued with the launch of the first Sun & Moon TCG expansions, which was supported by Pokémon’s biggest ever TCG retail promotions across multiple major retailers in the UK, and the first ever European TCG promotion with Toys R US. TCG’s catalogue was further enhanced with the release this month of the Shining Legends expansion.

Building on its mission to bring the best Pokémon experiences to fans around the world, The Pokémon Company International is also gearing up for the launch of the first range of toys from new master toy licensee Wicked Cool Toys in July 2018. Apparel remains a key category across both kids and adult wear and a number of new deals and collaborations in both the UK and Europe are due to be announced over the coming months.

The 20th Season of popular animation Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon has rolled out across Europe this year. In addition, Movie 20: I Choose You will have a limited worldwide theatrical release on 5th and 6th November.

With new licensees across the board witnessing a large uplift in sales, a raft of new licensing deals, retail promotions, collaborations and promotional partnerships due to be announced in the near future, 2017/18 looks set to be another successful year for Pokémon.

Imperial War Museum 0207 416 5314 | www.iwm.org.uk Stand R38 At BLE 2017, the Imperial War Museum (IWM) will present its diverse licensing programme inspired by the museum’s rich archive. This year, IWM will be unveiling new partnerships with SmartFox and Peterkin that signify a continued expansion of the toy category. These new toy partners will join The Monster Factory and the The Lagoon Group. In addition, IWM will share details of a new partnership with Crest Gardens for a gardening giftware range that will increase the licensor’s retail footprint.

Visitors to the show can expect an insight into the heritage licensed toys and games market when IWM presents a seminar entitled Chocks Away! Making Toys Fly with IWM on day one of the show at 13.30pm.

IWM was established to tell the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War. Licensees have access to IWM’s collections, which includes posters and graphic art, film, photographs, paintings and sculpture. Its archive taps into the widespread popularity for vintage and British nostalgia and offers licensees a wealth of artwork to inspire product development. Providing access to curatorial expertise and historical accuracy, IWM’s collections inspire contemporary, relevant and commercial ideas and give authenticity to products.

A dedicated brand licensing team based in the UK is supported by a US licensing agent, Spotlight Licensing, who is on hand to guide licensees through the museum’s collections.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Centa IP +44 (0) 787 969 8465 | www.centaip.com Stand B92 Centa IP returns to BLE this year with four properties for prospective licensees. Beat Bugs, a Netflix original series, introduces a new generation to music from The Beatles.

The animated series, created by Josh Wakely, features five child-like bugs who adventure together in an overgrown backyard. Each episode centres on a famous song by The Beatles, many voiced by celebrity guests who also double as one of the Beat Bugs’ eclectic friends. Season 1 of the show, with its 52x11’ episodes, proved successful and featured such household names as James Corden, P!nk and Sia. With a 44’ short movie scheduled for November, season 3 of the show due to launch in spring 2018, and a planned spring summer special episode also in the pipeline, options for licensees are many and varied. Multiple licensees are already on board including Golden Bear as UK master toy partner. Further opportunities are available across multiple sectors, with the show’s creative elements lending themselves to apparel, greetings, games and more, with assets that embody the music, humour and heart of the show.

Adding to the musical theme is Mowtown Magic, with characters and storylines motivated by the songs and sounds of the Mowtown genre. This new licence will be introduced for the first time at BLE. From Australian-based, award-winning animation studio Cheeky Little Media, Kazoops is a celebration of difference and diversity. The show follows Monty Kazoop as he challenges accepted wisdom and shapes the world around him. His adventures with his pet pig Jimmy Jones are entertaining and his discoveries always surprising. This toprated show was launched on CBeebies in the UK in July 2016 and has since collaborated with licensees across several categories including Tomy as master toy partner, Penguin as publisher, and Cooneen for apparel.

Centa IP has also recently been appointed the US, Australasian and UK licensing agency for Zafari, a new property from Ink Group out of Europe. Zafari follows the adventures of Zoomba, a baby elephant born with zebra stripes. Based in Zafari, a waterfall valley at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Zoomba and his friends embark on wild adventures. The Zafari merchandise will start with the launch of the master toy range during Q2 and Q3 in 2018, followed by publishing, apparel and app launches at the end of 2018 and into 2019 Q1.

Rockpool Licensing 07799 064 288 Stand E104 BLE 2017 is a busy time for Rockpool, as the company is representing Animal Jam, the world’s No. 1 social on-line game for kids. Worldwide registered users have reached over 80m and the game boasts an average play duration of over 60 minutes, in part due to the depth of content in the game. As a brand, Animal Jam provides a number of opportunities for licensees and retailers, such as in-game added value within product and promotion. Rockpool has an impressive roster of best in class licensees, and the company will be talking to further potential partners and retailers at the show about the brand.

Rockpool recently announced its partnership with Alpha Group, and will therefore be presenting Super Wings at the show for the first time. The pre-school school show comes with the backing of China’s largest toy company, animation studio and comic publisher.

Alpha has made a statement of intent by setting up a UK team lead by Mark Hyndman, which has successfully launched the Super Wings toy line this summer. This pre-school property offers a range of opportunities for UK licensees and has already seen interest across key categories.

Tough Mudder, the world’s top mud racing brand, is undergoing a busy period. As well as the recent announcement of the Sky TV broadcast deal, for the first time Rockpool has had the opportunity to talk to technical apparel and performance wear partners. There is potential for this property across lifestyle, sporting goods, health and beauty categories, and the company will be holding key meetings at BLE. This year has seen some key events for Brambly Hedge, including the appointment of IP Licensing in Germany, its first Korean licensee, Segwang, courtesy of Asiana, and the first ever exhibition of Jill Barklem’s artwork at the Illustration Cupboard in Mayfair.

This property, which has family, celebration, nature and the seasons at its heart, presents opportunities for licensees in social expression, gifting and homewares.

Rockpool will be looking to talk to licensees who want to tap into the business that the Tractor Ted has established in the country store and garden centre market.

This home-grown pre-school show has been developed from scratch by the team at Tractorland into a business that spans programming, TV, DVD books and more. The company is also pleased to be working with Global Merchandise Services on the development of its programme for the fitness and lifestyle coach Joe Wicks. The companies are currently working on deals and are looking to meet with partners who can realise the potential of this new opportunity in licensing.

Finally, Rockpool is also working with Evode Group, the print on-demand and personalisation specialists, to forge partnerships with retailers, brand and platform owners to integrate Evode’s POD technology and manufacturing capability.

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©Aardman Animations 2017 Licensing@aardman.com +44 (0)117 9848900 Aardman.com/rights

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Brand Licensing Preview

Universal Brand Development 0203 618 8360 | www.universalpictures.com Stand D60 Universal will showcase a slate of film franchises and entertainment properties. Executive producers Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow, and stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, return for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Scheduled for worldwide release in June 2018. Key toy partners Mattel and Lego, plus many more, will showcase the strength of the franchise at retail. 2018 will also see the 25th anniversary of the first Jurassic Park film. Exclusive fan-created content will appear on social media and JurassicWorld.com, plus product collaborations celebrating the 25 years of this iconic movie franchise.

Following the global box-office success of DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, an all-new feature film is set to debut in 2020, and throughout 2017-2019, a variety of new content is set to release across multiple media platforms, including a Trolls Holiday Special in 2017. Universal, in collaboration with master toy partner Hasbro, will continue to expand the breadth and scope of its consumer products programme.

Also, from DreamWorks Animation, How to Train Your Dragon 3 makes its theatrical debut in 2019, with the popularity of the How To Train Your Dragon IP continuing to climb. Dragons Race to the Edge is currently the number one animation TV series in multiple EMEA territories including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Illumination and Universal’s Despicable Me franchise continues to set new records and was recently crowned the highest grossing animated film franchise of all-time. From the creative team at Illumination, in collaboration with Universal Pictures, comes a newly imagined version of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role of The Grinch, which is set for release November 2018.

The Fate of the Furious set new box office records this past year, reaching more than $1b globally and is currently the biggest grossing movie of 2017 at the international box office. Universal will continue to demonstrate the evergreen potential of this brand with the launch of Fast & Furious Live – a global, automotive arena tour that’s set to launch at the O2 in London at the start of 2018.

Finally, Universal will showcase a DreamWorks Animation Television programming line-up that offers something for everyone. Coming free-to-air in the EMEA territories are two highly acclaimed DreamWorks Animation Television series: Voltron Legendary Defender and Spirit Riding Free, an original series based on the 2002 Oscar-nominated film, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Also featured are pre-school favourites: Noddy: Toyland Detective, which is based on the classic British brand, and Dinotrux.

Editions Albert René +33 (0) 1 4392 3972 | www.asterix.com Stand F71 Introduced in 1959 by Albert Uderzo and René] Goscinny, Asterix the Gaul is now a major licensed character, appealing to all ages around the world. In the publishing field, 37 albums have been translated into more than 110 languages and more than 370m copies sold internationally, making it the highest selling comic book series ever. Asterix is a cross-media character, appearing in nine animated movies as well as four live action movies over the decades, which have been enjoyed by more than 100m people. The Parc Asterix near Paris is the second most-visited theme park in France, with 2m visitors per year.

Asterix is a family friendly brand with positive humanist values. As well as success in Europe, the licence is growing in territories such as China, India, the USA and South America. Books, toys, collectibles and food are among the company’s most successful categories, and the Asterix style guide is used by apparel brands.

2017 started with the Ice Hockey World Championships, bringing about 1b viewers worldwide and offering visibility to the brand through the numerous promotional supports, advertising and merchandising. On October 19th, the 37th adventure of Asterix will be released, which sees the characters embark on an adventure to explore ancient Italy. With 2m copies for the first print run in France, and two more in Europe in 16 different languages, it is the biggest comic book launch of the year. A substantial media campaign has been organised to assure full exposure of this release, and many licensees are taking advantage of the latest offering to develop new products related to the launch.

After the success of the animated movie Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods, Asterix will be back in movie theatres in December 2018 with the new CGI movie Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion. Based on an original screenplay, the film follows Asterix in a quest across Gaul, looking for a young druid worthy of learning the secret of the Magic Potion. Alongside the opening of the new Pégase Express ride this year at the Parc Asterix, a new hotel will open in 2018 and a second in 2019. Finally, a TV surprise is on the way, with details to be announced soon.

Consequently, a growing number of new major partners and licensees will develop Asterix products and promos in the coming months and years, including exclusive chocolate boxes from Leonidas, a new puzzle based on a key visual from the new album courtesy of Ravensburger, a loyalty programme with a FMCG supermarket leader, some new back-to-school products and an exclusive fashion range at C&A in 16 countries. Successful toys and games already on the market include Winning Moves’ Gaulish version of the game Guess Who?, Carta Mundi’s various card games, Kayford’s plush ranges and Plastoy’s figurines.

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Brand Licensing Preview

The Copyrights Group 0203 714 1184 | www.copyrights.co.uk Stand D80 The anticipated second Paddington Bear film launches globally from 10th November 2017, featuring new characters portrayed by Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson, who join the all-star returning cast of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton, and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. The film will be backed by marketing campaigns and promotions across QSR, retail, FMCG, travel and more. Supporting the release of Paddington 2, the Museum of London will launch an exhibition during the October half term featuring original costumes and props from the film, while luxury vintage train brand Belmond British Pullman will be hosting special Paddington afternoon teas on board its trains.

In addition, a new Paddington mobile game is set to launch globally on 25th October in 15 languages. The free-to-download infinite runner game will be available on Apple, Android and Windows Phone devices.

New movie tie-in lines launched this year include new feature plush toys from Rainbow Designs, while University Games added to its games line up with a family board game. In France, Cijep launched a new plush range alongside children’s furniture. Trunki added Paddington to its ride-on suitcase range across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, supported by retail initiatives, while new apparel partners are on board across a number of markets to include France, Spain, USA and Australia. The product range is bolstered by further new products across confectionery, back-to-school, home textiles, stationery, FMCG and more.

HarperCollins cemented its commitment to the Paddington publishing programme with a new six year deal for World Publishing rights, with a range of movie tie-in books launching across formats in September and November.

Looking ahead to 2018, Copyrights is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the first Paddington book with a specially designed logo, a worldwide gifting partnership, limited edition and collectible products, and anniversary activities to include international exhibitions with archive items. In addition there will be promotional activity for the launch of the Paddington 2 DVD in spring, as well as key celebration timings and activities throughout the year. With long term content plans across a number of platforms, Paddington is set to remain at the forefront of fan’s minds for years to come.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products 0207 984 6116 | www.warnerbros.co.uk Stand D30 Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) heads into BLE 2017 with a slate of franchises and innovative partnerships with local, regional and global licensees and retail partners who are on board to support the studio’s content and roster of properties.

The company’s key franchises include DC’s portfolio of film, television and animation offerings; J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, encompassing the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises; and Animation favourites, including Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and more.

Action-adventure film Justice League sees the world’s most powerful super-heroes team up for the biggest theatrical event of the year. Aquaman will also be featured at the show, well in advance of its 2018 release date. The award-winning DC Super Hero Girls franchise continues to engage fans with its immersive world that encourages kids to discover their own superhero potential through its global content and licensing and merchandising programme. WBCP will also highlight the DC TV programming slate with live-action hits The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl, as well as animated series Teen Titans Go! and Justice League Action.

J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World brings to life two franchises – Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts – with an expanding range of characters, stories, immersive experiences and products. The Harry Potter franchise continues to grow across all age demographics and Warner Bros. Pictures’ is preparing for the second instalment of the Fantastic Beasts film series, which will hit theatres in November 2018.

WBCP will also continue to highlight some of its most beloved animation favourites: Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry and much more.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Nickelodeon 020 3580 2000 | www.nickjr.co.uk Stand D10B32 The Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) presence at BLE 2017 will showcase the licensor’s largest-ever pre-school portfolio as well a first look at the reimagined Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the partners on board for Nickelodeon’s newest superstar JoJo Siwa, and the plans for SpongeBob SquarePants.

The NVCP team will share plans to sustain the momentum of Paw Patrol, as series 4 of the show premieres on Nick Jr. with new locations, vehicles and characters. Blaze and the Monster Machines also has new episodes rolling out on Nick Jr. across the coming year including episodes set on Animal Island, supported by new style guides. The future of Shimmer and Shine will also be presented, as the show introduces new characters and settings, taking audiences deeper into Zarahmay Falls. UK series Digby Dragon, a top show on both Nick Jr. and Milkshake! will also be presented as NCVP takes partners through the future of Digby and his friends in Applecross Wood.

Nella the Princess Knight and Rusty Rivets are the newest Nick Jr. hits with product for both properties launching at select retailers in time for Christmas this year. Vivid has been announced as the master toy partner for Nella, with Spin Master partnering on Rusty. BLE provides an opportunity for licence and retail partners to hear the product and promotional plans for each property.

Sunny Day is set to premiere on Nick Jr. in spring 2018. A bright series with an emphasis on creative problem solving, Sunny Day is set in a hair salon with a collection of colourful characters, and offers numerous opportunities for partners. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is reimagined in the brand new series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which will have its worldwide premiere in 2018. NVCP will take partners through the new series which features a new art style and standalone storylines.

JoJo Siwa has over 4m subscribers on YouTube and her range of JoJo Bows is proving so popular that many UK schools have banned them. Since NVCP took on the licence for JoJo in spring, over 20 UK licensees have come on board and the NVCP team will be taking partners through the strategy to develop Nickelodeon’s newest star.

Following the tremendous response to SpongeBob Gold, which launched at London Fashion Week in February, NVCP will present plans to extend the initiative across retail and into categories beyond apparel. Partners will also be taken through future storylines for SpongeBob SquarePants.

Brand Licensing Personal stories. Powerful experiences.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Sega Europe 0208 996 4594 | www.sega.com Stand C35 Sega Europe will be showcasing its broadest range of IPs to date at this year’s BLE. The company’s full breadth of brand pillars will be on display including Total War, Football Manager and the Sega Retro collection. At the centre of this activity will be Sonic The Hedgehog.

Following the successful multi-platform game Sonic Mania, which launched on 15th August, Sonic will feature heavily both on the Sega stand and as a key part of the new Gaming Zone.

The future of Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog licensing programme will draw from a multi-media content plan including new animation (Sonic Boom series 2; currently rolling out globally with series 1 now airing on Netflix) and a worldwide movie release (date to be announced). The Blue Blur merchandise strategy will be anchored by the company’s core business, which boasts a rich roadmap of multi-platform games, backed up by heavyweight marketing campaigns.

The immediate future promises a line-up of games, which will celebrate both the past and future. Sonic Mania, which launched in August, is an all-new 2D adventure with HD retro style graphics featuring new and re-imagined classic levels, new game play and other surprises to entertain the core fans. Reception to this title has been positive, scoring 87% on Metacritic.

Following this, Sonic Forces launches this November. From the development team that produced Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, Forces will feature both Classic and Modern Sonic and will offer fast gameplay incorporating a range of gadgets and new weapons, in addition to a customisable Hero Character.

Sega’s growing list of licensees include a number of new partners across a variety of product categories. Announced earlier this year, Watermelon is working towards the launch of a new online store dedicated to the sale of customisable and personalised merchandise. The initial range plan will comprise apparel, homeware and tech accessories, and is set to launch this winter.

On the clothing side, Sega has recently signed Poetic Brands for a range of adult nightwear, underwear and t-shirts for the UK featuring the Classic Sonic and Sega’s retro gaming consoles, the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Dreamcast. Branded Clothing International has also recently partnered with Sega to produce a range of children’s nightwear, underwear and swimwear for Sonic the Hedgehog in the UK, and for Toys R Us in EMEA. Also on board for children’s footwear in the UK is Brand International.

Finally, Sega has produced high quality coffee table publications this year through deals with Read Only Memory, Pix’n’Love and Cook and Becker, who produced the limited celebration of 25 years of Sonic art history book.

come and see us at

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(Art & Design Section)

Theresa Triangle

Steven Square

Carla Circle

Visit our website:

Rich a Rect rd angl e

www.theshapekids.com

Shape Kids are 4 wooden magnetic toys that are all interchangeable, so that your child can make an unlimited amount of funny looking characters.

For ages 3-6.

For Licensing opportunities, visit us at BLE stand B32 Erik Mogensen

Email: erik.mogensen@gwplc.com Tel: + 44 (0) 115 900 4120

Christian Dunn

Email: christian.dunn@gwplc.com Tel: + 44 (0) 115 900 4107

Owen Rees

Email: owen.rees@gwplc.com Tel: + 44 (0) 115 900 4122

Brand Licensing Preview

Cartoon Network 0207 693 1124 | www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk Stand D50 Cartoon Network will present a growing portfolio of brands at BLE 2017. Anchoring this year’s line-up will be two of the company’s original IPs - Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls.

The fresh take on Ben 10 sees adventure-loving Ben Tennyson return in his original and favourite form, as a 10-year-old boy who transforms into aliens. This latest iteration made its debut on TV screens across EMEA in October 2016. The merchandise roll-out is now well underway and a strong range of toys from global master toy partner Playmates is already exceeding expectations at retail both in the US and Europe. Contributing to the success is a bespoke array of in-store and online trade activations, including an augmented reality Ben 10 hero experience touring across key European markets.

April 2016 saw The Powerpuff Girls return to TV screens across the globe. A comprehensive marketing strategy is driving engagement, and awareness has been boosted through a raft of recent free-to-air broadcast launches. Targeting girls aged 4-12, with strong appeal to teens and adults too, the EMEA merchandise roll-out is underway following the first wave of toys from Spin Master. Fashion is core to the licensing programme and Cartoon Network has secured an array of partners delivering multi-channel fashion offerings for girls, teens and millennial women. These ranges are now available alongside launches in accessories, gifting, homewares, publishing, and Back to School.

Adventure Time continues to attract fans, reaching 77m individuals in Q2 2017 around the world. Supporting the pipeline of multi-platform content, Cartoon Network is driving the property forward with a growing licensing programme, fan-experiences and marketing activations. Partnerships include Lego, Minecraft, Dr. Martens, McDonalds and Desigual.

Cartoon Network is looking to take The Amazing World of Gumball into Back to School, toys, apparel, publishing and FMCG. Meanwhile, We Bare Bears continues to entertain fans, with season three about to hit TV screens. Beyond the target audience of kids aged 6-12, the prime-time rating show also has teen and adult appeal.

Over 53m individuals worldwide have tuned in to watch the adventures of The Happos Family and season two has been greenlit. From Turner’s Adult Swim brand, Rick and Morty, targeted at ages 16-35, has a growing licensing programme stateside, and Cartoon Network is looking to build upon this success across EMEA.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment 0207 157 3693 | www.itvstudios.com Stand C20 Robozuna, a Netflix Original animated series, will have its official brand launch at BLE. In this kids’ adventure series, 14-year-old Ariston and his homemade robot sidekick Mangle attempt to free their oppressed nation from an evil empire. This original IP will launch across multiple platforms simultaneously, including traditional linear broadcast, VOD around the globe through Netflix, YouTube with short-form content, and in apps and gaming. The content on each platform will create a seamless 360 degree user experience, making it an attractive proposition for licensees.

To celebrate the launch of Robozuna, ITVS GE will be hosting private screenings of new episodes by invitation only. Alternatively, viewers can catch Robozuna when it debuts in the UK on CITV in 2018. Consumer products rollout will follow the broadcast.

ITVS GE adds another new property with the new interpretation of Watership Down. The four-part CGI animated mini-series is a reimagining of Richard Adams’ classic 1972 novel and is a co-production between the BBC and Netflix. Licensing opportunities will be available for the series in multiple categories, with some deals already underway.

The action TV series Thunderbirds Are Go has now been aired in over 40 markets. The recent range of adventure-wear for kids from Regatta is in over 40 stores in the UK, and will be available nationwide from October with marketing and experiential support targeting the half term holiday. Other deals include a storytelling game app from Kuato Studios, set to release in early 2018 on iOS and Android. New episodes of Season 2 will launch in September on ITV and CITV, while production of Season 3 is well underway.

ITVS GE’s nostalgia brands include the Supermarionation TV shows created by Gerry Anderson, including the original Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In recognition of this milestone, licensees have developed a range of limited edition anniversary products celebrating the show.

This year sees the anniversary of The Last Unicorn, a cult animated film first released 35 years ago which still appeals to dedicated followers and attracts new fans. ITVS GE will be talking to international partners about opportunities to expand the licensing programme for this classic title.

In addition, ITVS GE acts as a full-service agency for third party brands including Oddbods - with the latest deals including nightwear recently launched in Primark stores - as well as retro favourite Village People.

Toy World 100

The Worldwide Best seller Comic Series is back New Album 19th october 2017

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Brand Licensing Preview

BBC Worldwide www.bbc.co.uk Stand E20 Doctor Who returns to BLE following the announcement that Jodie Whittaker will be taking over from Peter Capaldi next year, and BBC Worldwide is looking to add to the brand’s licensing portfolio.

Following the success of Penguin Random House’s collection of Dr Men books, BBC Worldwide, in partnership with Mr Men licensor Sanrio, has signed a deal with RP2 Global to launch a range of Dr Men figurines in the UK this autumn.

Hey Duggee recently became available on Amazon Prime Video as part of a BBC Worldwide content deal, and a third series of the show has now been greenlit. Master Master toy partner Golden Bear is developing a plush range for autumn/winter 2018, whilst new licensees for this year include Paper Projects for stickers and Blue Sky Designs for art, stationery and activity products.

Fisher-Price, the global master toy licensee for Go Jetters, launched its first range of toys in the UK in autumn/ winter 2016. New Go Jetters lines from Fisher-Price are due to launch in spring 2018 with further roll-outs planned in other markets. Dreamtex has inked a deal to create Go Jetters bedding and home textiles and Ravensburger is on board for puzzles and games.

Golden Bear has retained the master toy licence for BAFTA award-winning CBeebies show Something Special, while Sarah & Duck will see its very own eShop launch this autumn. Top Gear has added a range of new licensees to its portfolio, and BBC Worldwide has joined forces with licensee Museums & Galleries to create a range of BBC Earth calendars, cards and stationery.

The Shape Kids 07754 404172 | www.theshapekids.com Stand H8 Created by Jan Grime in 1991, The Shape Kids offers imaginative play opportunities for kids who enjoy blocks and building. The range of characters, which vary from 18-21cm, includes Steven Square, Carla Circle, Theresa Triangle and Richard Rectangle, and each has its own distinct personality - Steven Square is naughty, Carla Circle is shy, Theresa Triangle is a bit of a know-it-all, and Richard Rectangle is the sensible one of the group.

The magnetic take-apart element of The Shape Kids allows children to spend hours creating myriad combinations of arms, heads and legs – there are 18 combinations for Theresa Triangle alone – and means that children can also apply their imaginations to coming up with completely new characters.

The Shape Kids sets provide entertainment and play patterns that are both educational and enjoyable.

In addition to The Shape Kids toys, two books; The Shape Kids Are Honest and The Shape Kids Learn Not To Lie, are also available and complement learning and play opportunities while imparting valuable lessons in honesty, fairness, kindness and friendship. In The Shape Kids Are Honest, Steven Square finds a wallet in the park and decides to spend the money inside on lollipops. However, Theresa Triangle teaches him about honesty, and it turns out to be a lesson that he thoroughly enjoys. In The Shape Kids Learn Not To Lie, Steven Square gets caught telling a lie which upsets his mum and the other Shape Kids.

As a result he feels embarrassed, and promises his friends he will never lie again.

Feedback for the brand has been very positive, with orders rolling in from kindergartens and direct from parents who have recognised the value of these magnetic toys. The Shape Kids brand provides opportunities for licensees to get on board across a range of categories, including publishing, toys, apparel, games and more.

Mattel 01628 500 000 | www.mattel.com Stand E10 Mattel presents a portfolio of iconic brands and innovative new properties at BLE, creating franchises that continue to inspire the licensing industry.

The empowering girls’ brand Barbie continues to evolve, encouraging girls to reach their fullest potential; be that as a princess or President. This year Mattel also introduces new girl’s brand Enchantimals, inspired by friendships with animals, which offers strong licensing potential.

Next year will see Thomas & Friends undergo a number of changes. Mattel is planning to adjust its Thomas content to make it more appealing to both boys and girls, as the brand is re-imagined throughout 2018. Next year is also a big one for other Mattel brands, as Hot Wheels celebrates its 50th Anniversary, and Scrabble, the classic board game, gears up for its 70th Anniversary celebrations.

Bob the Builder continues to inspire children and parents to work as a team and build together. With more broadcasters coming on board, record YouTube hits plus Season 3 expected to launch in A/W 2018, a full year of activity is planned. New launches for Fireman Sam are growing the franchise alongside strategic marketing campaigns, plus another movie to be released next year.

Fisher-Price gives children the freedom to learn, imagine and discover, and, with new partnerships in mobility and plush categories, the brand continues to offer wide-ranging licensing potential.

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Brand Licensing Preview

Saban Brands 020 3794 9660 | www.sabanbrands.com Stand E15

Xilam Animation +33 (0) 1 4018 7200 | www.xilam.com Stand B110 At BLE, Xilam will showcase flagship brand Oggy & the Cockroaches, brought to life through a master toy partnership with Lansay that will include traditional and electronic plush, a line of 3D plastic figurines, board and card games and a remote-control toy. The products will hit shelves in France in Q1 2018, following the re-launch of the series by French-broadcaster Gulli, following the past success of plush in France, and collectible figurines in Italy.

Oggy & the Cockroaches is currently watched in 600 million homes worldwide and boasts an internet audience comprising 4b videos viewed on YouTube, and more than 3m fans on Facebook. The new season 5 will enable product development, as Oggy travels into 26 different time periods and meets such famous historical figures as Napoleon, Louis the XIV, the Maharajas and Leonardo da Vinci.

An addendum to Xilam’s style guide has been developed to support this launch.

The company continues to work with licensing agents across the world, including South East Asia’s Empire Licensing, Italy’s Discovery, Active Merchandising in Germany, IMC in Latin America and Dream Theatre in India. The latter represents Oggy & the Cockroaches across all consumer products categories and brand promotions in India, where the series remains one of the leading children’s TV performers in the country, airing on both Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. These licensing partnerships underpin Xilam’s strategic decision to have a stronger and broader international consumer products offering.

Xilam also has two additional brands heading to BLE this year. Zig & Sharko is a slapstick comedy for 6-10 year olds, and season 2 is currently winning ratings in France, Italy, Germany, Russia, and India among many others. Xilam is seeking toy, game, and publishing partners, as well as promotional partners to extend the licensing activity of the brand globally.

Meanwhile, Paprika, a pre-school animated comedy series commissioned

by France Télévisions and Disney Junior (EMEA), consists of 75 x 7’, plus 11 x 2’ episodes currently in production. The show follows the lives of adventurous twins, Olivia and Stan, with the former being creative, efficient and brainy, and the latter a brave daredevil who puts faith in his instinct and his motorised wheelchair. The series is an ideal property for licensing across all key categories, and is set to launch between Q4 2017 and Q1 2018 globally. Xilam is looking for partners to support this launch in 2018.

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Saban returns to BLE with a portfolio of both new and established entertainment brands. Kids’ action property Power Rangers spearheads a presentation slate that will also feature two new licensing propositions; Netflix original series for pre-schoolers, Cirque du Soleil Junior - Luna Petunia, currently streaming seasons one and two, and a new animated comedy for kids and tweens, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.

Saban’s Power Rangers has been a top 10 brand for decades and is currently this year’s No. 1 action figure brand in the UK. This achievement is thanks to valued partners including master global toy partner Bandai, and licensees continue to be attracted to the broader consumer products programme. Saban has now signed almost 50 best-in-class partners in the EMEA region across key categories including apparel, accessories and homewares.

Following the March 2017 release of the Power Rangers feature film with Lionsgate, the 24th season Power Ranges Ninja Steel will premiere in the UK on Freeview channel Pop in September 2017. To drive the brand’s evergreen status, the company will offer access to dedicated Power Rangers content across multiple platforms including digital, on-demand, apps, games, social media and more.

In 2018, Power Rangers will be celebrating 25 years, and to commemorate this milestone the company is preparing a raft of activity including marketing activity, innovative retail activations, licensing collaborations and more.

For the first time at BLE, Saban will present opportunities for its Netflix original series, Cirque du Soleil Junior - Luna Petunia.

Targeting the pre-school audience, the show is inspired by the surprise and wonder of Cirque du Soleil and follows the adventures of Luna Petunia, who can transport herself to the land of Amazia.

Funrise Toys is on board as the master global toy partner and coproduction partner, and will introduce its first range into the UK market this autumn.

Finally, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty will debut at BLE 2017.

Targeting girls aged 4-11, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty will be an animated comedy centered around a kitty named Felicity who gains the powers of a rainbow, a butterfly, and a unicorn. Saban is now seeking partners for accessories, apparel and fashion-focused goods.

Brand Licensing Preview Toy World spoke to Jamie Stevens, executive vice president, worldwide consumer products at Sony Pictures Entertainment, about bringing Peter Rabbit to the big screen for 2018.

Peter Rabbit is an iconic, traditional property – what were the challenges in bringing the characters to the big screen?

The Peter Rabbit movie, which is set for worldwide release in February 2018, is a fantastic modern interpretation of Beatrix Potter’s stories that will bring the beloved world of Peter to life. The film sensitively adapts the characters without taking away from the magic of Potter’s tales, and the all-star cast, including Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, Sam Neill, Daisy Ridley, Elizabeth Debicki, and Margot Robbie, with James Corden lending his voice to Peter Rabbit, help adapt the story from page to the big screen like never before.

Sony Pictures +310 244 6189 | www.sonypictures.com

Who do you see as the core target audience for the movie?

Stand E35 Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) is heading to BLE 2017 with a line-up of film licences featuring both new properties and enduring franchises, all of which include partnerships with top licensees and retailers around the world. The live-action CGI film adaption of Peter Rabbit leads the 2018 presentation slate this year, followed by Hotel Transylvania 3; the newest film in the successful franchise, which now also includes an animated television series on the Disney Channel. Finally, Sony is proud to be releasing the live-action Barbie film, featuring one of the world’s biggest and most iconic brands. SPCP features a strong and diverse brand portfolio that includes classic properties such as Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Men In Black, Charlie’s Angels, Karate Kid, Starship Troopers and Taxi Driver, among many others.

Peter Rabbit already has a strong fan base, but with the new movie being the first live action/CG motion picture, this is a fresh, contemporary story for all audiences. Regardless of whether they are generational or the youngest fans new to the franchise, there will be something endearing and fun that every generation can relate to.

Have you adhered faithfully to the original stories, or have you adapted them for a modern audience?

The animated adventure comedy is a modern interpretation of the Beatrix Potter stories offering a mix of animation and live-action. Some modern twists on the story include the addition of the London Underground to the toy-filled aisles of Harrods.

Those Licensing People 0845 901 1657 | www.thoselicensingpeople.com Stand D115 Formed in 2013, Those Licensing People (TLP), based in North Yorkshire, is a licensing agency which represents both third party property, and IP it has created itself in its own studio. Early in January 2017, TLP was commissioned to assist in the process of developing a new collectible brand based on the published rights of The Worldeez, an educational property with characters based on iconic global architecture, food, and landmarks. Subsequently, and after the published works were first released, the Worldeez collectible toy range hit the shops in the UK, quickly becoming a summer bestseller in the competitive collectibles market.

With over 16,000 followers on market influencer Popjam, and over 3m hits on YouTube channel Toys andMe, Those Licensing People has gone on to be appointed by The License World as master licensing agent on a global basis. With new markets opening up in the Spanish, Chinese, Indian and Australian markets, TLP has been commissioned to develop a raft of licensing from the ground up.

Worldeez will see publishing to come, and a series of webisodes will be released prior to the production of a full series combined with the toy, forming a baseline for substantial licensing business. TLP, which also owns the entertainment-on-demand platform KidsCast, has featured Worldeez in its monthly associated free magazine with exclusive games and competitions.

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Brand Licensing Exhibitors list 0+Media.............................................................................................C120 20th Century Fox Consumer Products.......................................... E30 24H Le Mans....................................................................................... P20 24IP Law Group.................................................................................. F86 4K Media Inc.....................................................................................C130 Aardman Animations........................................................................F15 Activision Blizzard............................................................................. E40 Adam Kids...........................................................................................N40 Adidas-Real Madrid...........................................................................N26 Admiral Sportswear.......................................................................... P51 AGMA Agents and Managers in Creative Industries................C125 Agma Ry.............................................................................................C125 Alchemy Licensing............................................................................ P52 Allsorts Licensing..............................................................................C84 American Greetings Entertainment.............................................. F20 Anima Kitchent..................................................................................B30 Animal Jam....................................................................................... E104 Animaru Ltd............................................................................................J4 APC kids...............................................................................................B54 Arsenal Football Club....................................................................... L25 Art + Science International..............................................................A85 Art Ask Agency s.l............................................................................... P50 Art Brand Studios...............................................................................R35 Ashcroft Designs..................................................................................H5 Asociatia Culturala Visus...............................................................A124 Assaf Frank Photography Licensing................................................H2 Atlantyca Entertainment.................................................................B45 Authentic Brands Group................................................................... A10 Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A........................................................P10 Azerty Galerie.......................................................................................H1 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.......................... F12 Bavaria Media GmbH........................................................................N12 BBC Worldwide Consumer Products............................................. E20 Beano Studios Limited.....................................................................C87 Beanstalk Europe.............................................................................Q100 Benesse Corporation....................................................................... E100 Biplano Licensing SA.........................................................................B58 BJA Design.........................................................................................C150 Blue Zoo Animation Studio..............................................................F14 BM Srl................................................................................................. F105 Bonus Marketing Productions........................................................ F37 Brand Central.....................................................................................Q10 BrandComply.com.............................................................................G30 Brandgenuity LLC.............................................................................. P60 BRANDS AND RIGHTS 360 SL........................................................B30 Brands With Influence......................................................................Q20 Bravado............................................................................................... D80 BroadTeck Co., Ltd.............................................................................C86 Bulldog Licensing Ltd......................................................................... F2 Bulls Licensing...................................................................................C62

By Hartwig Braun............................................................................... J13 CAA-GBG Global Brand Management Group............................ L100 CAPCOM............................................................................................ E115 Caroline Mickler Ltd......................................................................... A60 Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd..........................................................D105 Cartotecnica Sinigaglia....................................................................G55 Celebrities Entertainment GmbH.................................................... E2 Centa IP................................................................................................ B92 Chelsea FC........................................................................................... L20 Chupa Chups, S.A Unipersonal...................................................... M10 City Football Marketing................................................................... K18 Claire Louise........................................................................................ J12 Coolabi Group..................................................................................... E60 Copyrights.......................................................................................... D80 Country Colour....................................................................................J17 CPLG.....................................................................................................C30 Crazy Bell Agency.............................................................................. A45 Creative Licensing Corporation..................................................... F72 CTC Media...........................................................................................B54 Curtis Licensing..................................................................................F10 Cyber Group Studios....................................................................... B118 DELISO SAS - SOPHIE LA GIRAFE.................................................B68 Dependable Solutions, Inc............................................................... P12 DHX Brands........................................................................................C30 DIC 2 Srl.................................................................................................P14 Dicentium Films / Meteoric Entertainment................................A90 Discovery Consumer Products.......................................................C82 Dorna Sports SL.................................................................................. P21 Dracco Company Ltd........................................................................ F38 DRI Licensing Ltd............................................................................... F30 Ducati Motor Holding S.p.a.............................................................N17 Dutexdor.............................................................................................. L22 Dynit srl................................................................................................G75 EDEBE LICENSING............................................................................B30 Edutainment Licensing....................................................................G25 EL OCHO LICENCIAS Y PROMOCIONES, S.L..............................B30 Emoji Company GmbH..................................................................... E70 Endemol Shine Group/UK............................................................... B95

Entertainment One...........................................................................C50 ETS STUDIOS SRL.............................................................................. E75 Euro Lizenzen.....................................................................................G40 Fantawild Animation Inc............................................................... B115 Fashion UK.......................................................................................... B20 FIFA......................................................................................................M25 Fluid World Ltd...................................................................................A35 france tv distribution........................................................................G27 FremantleMedia................................................................................ E55 Gallimard Jeunesse..........................................................................M20 Games Workshop Group plc............................................................ B32 Gateley LLP........................................................................................A120 GC Properties S.A............................................................................. E105 Giochi Preziosi Group.......................................................................A25 Global Icons Europe Ltd.................................................................N100 Global Merchandising Services Ltd...............................................G74 Globetrade / Beetosee.......................................................................G15 Glory Innovations, Inc...................................................................... A70 Golden Goose...................................................................................... P22 Grani & Partners................................................................................A25 GUARDIAN PRODUCTS AND PROMOTIONS S.L......................B30 Hampshire Cultural Trust...................................................................J3 Hasbro Brand Licensing & Publishing......................................... D40 HCA Creation......................................................................................B86 Historic Royal Palaces Enterprises Ltd......................................... L30 History & Heraldry................................................................................J9 Horipro Inc.......................................................................................... F22 Howard Robinson & Associates........................................................J10 IBML................................................................................................... P100 IHL | INHOLLYWOODLAND........................................................... F76 IMG.......................................................................................................N20 Imperial War Museums (IWM).......................................................R38 IMPS S.A...............................................................................................B50 ITV Studios Global Entertainment................................................C20 Jazwares LLC....................................................................................D125 JCB Consumer Products Ltd............................................................ F50 JELC LTD..............................................................................................Q25 Juventus Football Club....................................................................... L9 Kazachok............................................................................................F110 Keen Advisory......................................................................................F74 King Features...................................................................................... E65 Kitkase Ltd..........................................................................................M35 Kocca.................................................................................................... E25 KOOKHAK SAEMI INC....................................................................F115 KREAM Helsinki..............................................................................C125 KUKUXUMUSU (UNIVERS PALOSECO).....................................B30 Last Lemon.......................................................................................... F80 LCT Creative.........................................................................................H3 Le Tour de France, Dakar & Paris Saint-Germain....................... R16 LEMA Publishing...............................................................................G57 Lemon Ribbon......................................................................................H4 LEONI S.P.A......................................................................................... E80 Level-5 Abby Inc...............................................................................D127 Licensing Expo China.......................................................................G76 Licensing Link Europe Ltd...............................................................B36 Licensing Management International Ltd................................... F85 Licensing.biz.....................................................................................A100 LIMA...................................................................................................R135 Lions Gate Entertainment............................................................... F55 Lisle Licensing....................................................................................C45 Live Nation Merchandise................................................................. B52 LoCoco Licensing Inc.......................................................................... E3 Lonely Dog........................................................................................... P61 Lonely Dog Ludorum.............................................................................................. F67 Luk Internacional & Genius Brands International..................... A65 Luv Galaxy Company Limited........................................................A55 M4E AG................................................................................................. B15 Made in Russia..................................................................................C120 Magic Light Pictures.........................................................................C90 Mandarin Licensing.........................................................................M15 MANU......................................................................................................J2 Markosia Enterprises Ltd...................................................................H7 Masha and the Bear...........................................................................C70 Master Italia........................................................................................N30 Mattel Brands Consumer Products.................................................E10 Maui and Sons.................................................................................... Q14 May The Thoughts Be With You........................................................J14 MAYA STUDIO SL..............................................................................B30 Mediatoon Licensing.......................................................................... E4 Melnitsa Animation Studio.............................................................B54 Mercis................................................................................................... F30 Metrostar and Brand Central..........................................................Q10 MGL Licensing........................................................................................J1 Milan Entertainment SRL................................................................Q12 Monday2Friday.................................................................................M30 Mondo TV............................................................................................D70 Monika Suska Illustrations................................................................. J5

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Moomin...............................................................................................C60 MyMediabox.......................................................................................B66 Napa Agency.....................................................................................C125 National Geographic......................................................................... E30 Natural History Museum................................................................. L35 NBA Properties Inc........................................................................... M17 NECA.................................................................................................... B22 Nelvana International Limited.......................................................B56 Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products................................D10 Nintendo..............................................................................................G78 Nudinits.................................................................................................H9 Nuttery Entertainment AB...............................................................A95 On Entertainment............................................................................. B25 One Animation Pte Ltd..................................................................... B47 OpSec Security.................................................................................. M18 Paramount Pictures.......................................................................... B72 PEA & PROMOPLAST SRL................................................................A50 Penguin Random House.................................................................. F45 PGS Entertainment........................................................................... F66 Pikkuli................................................................................................C125 Pink Key Consulting..........................................................................Q15 Planeta Junior.................................................................................... B15 POSH Original Art................................................................................J18 Pro Scarves..........................................................................................N48 Rachael Hale....................................................................................... B62 Rainbow S.R.L..................................................................................... C10 Rocket Licensing Ltd............................................................................F5 ROI Visual..........................................................................................C100 Rovio Entertainment Ltd.................................................................. B10 Rugby World Cup 2019......................................................................N22 Saban Brands...................................................................................... E15 Sagoo SAS............................................................................................ F58 Sanrio GmbH......................................................................................A20 Santoro Licensing........................................................................ C2 , D5 Sarah Hurley.......................................................................................... J7 Science Museum Group....................................................................L15 SEGA Europe.......................................................................................C35 Sharpe Company...............................................................................C45 Smiley...................................................................................................C40 Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe.......................................D20 Sony Pictures Consumer Products................................................ E35 Spain Licensing Pavilion..................................................................B30 Start Licensing Limited.................................................................... F71 Striker Entertainment LLC............................................................ F100 Studio 100............................................................................................ B15 Studio Pets by Myrna........................................................................C45 Studiocanal........................................................................................ D80 Teddy’s Inc. Ltd.......................................................................................J8 Tempting Brands Netherlands BV..................................................N15 Teo Jasmin........................................................................................... R10 TF1 Licences.......................................................................................N24 The Bookseller......................................................................................J11 The Licensing Source Book Europe...............................................G70 The Light Fund................................................................................... F69 The Partnership.................................................................................N10 The Point. 1888...................................................................................B80 The Pokemon Company International, Inc.................................B35 The Shape Kids.....................................................................................H8 Those Licensing People..................................................................D115 Tinderbox..........................................................................................Q100 Toei Animation Europe.................................................................... F35 Tokidoki, LLc.......................................................................................B60 Toncar................................................................................................... F32 Topps Europe Limited...................................................................... F65 Total Licensing Ltd............................................................................G35 Traditional Japan................................................................................L18 TT&F Licensing Company Ltd........................................................C94 Tulipop............................................................................................... E103 Turner Broadcasting Systems.........................................................D50 TY Inc...................................................................................................E110 Ubisoft EMEA..................................................................................... E50 Universal Brand Development...................................................... D60 V & A Enterprises Ltd......................................................................... K10 Vicki Thomas Associates..................................................................... J6 Vivendi................................................................................................ D80 VIZ Media Europe..............................................................................B90 Vooz....................................................................................................... E90 Walker Books Ltd...............................................................................G20 Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA.....................................D30 White Space Entertainment..........................................................C140 WITHIT WORLD................................................................................B40 Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment...............................B64 WWE..................................................................................................... E45 Xilam.................................................................................................. B110 Ypsilon Licensing...............................................................................G65 Zag Heroes........................................................................................... B25 Zodiak Kids......................................................................................... F40 Zolan Licensing Agency....................................................................G60

The senior managerial merry-go-round is in full swing.

Hornby has announced that chief executive Steve Cooke will be stepping down, once a successor has been found.

Meanwhile retail bigwigs are having a competition to see who can stay in their job for the least amount of time: Mothercare chief commercial officer Andy Harding has left after a mere couple of months in the role, while Hobbycraft CEO John Colley managed a whole eight weeks before deciding to move on. Crikey, I think I have cheese in my fridge which has lasted longer…

Allegedly

Elsewhere Mothercare trading director Fiona MurrayYoung apparently left her role in August (which the retailer kept very quiet indeed), while Llyr Lewis has returned from California to take up the position of VP licensing EMEA at Just Play. Will Abigail is now handling the South East and Anglia region for Marbel and Stewart Middleton will be leaving his role as managing director at Jumbo after two and a half years to join IMC as sales director. He will start in his new role - which is right on the doorstep of his York home - in the middle of this month. We wish them all well in their new roles…

Asda has announced that it is the latest grocer to be cutting around head office jobs - around 300 - with trading functions (i.e. the buying team) likely to be streamlined as part of the move…

Argos has thrown an interesting curveball into the festive retail marketing mix with the launch of its dedicated toy catalogue. A 152-page publication featuring nothing but toys certainly makes a bold statement. I wonder if this new initiative is in any way related to the ongoing trial to phase-out the main Argos catalogue?

If it means we finally get images that you don’t need a magnifying glass to see properly, I can see many suppliers being in favour. The Argos toy catalogue also seems to have caught a few people in the trade unawares; although surely some people knew and were sworn to secrecy?

Because if not, that suggests the whole thing was funded

by Argos themselves - now that really would be an interesting development…

I gather that raw material prices are on the rise in the Far East again. This time, the increases are being attributed to environmental clampdowns in the Northern part of China, with figures as high as 30% being suggested. Many people are about to head off to Hong Kong for the autumn buying trip, so it will be interesting to see how this translates into factory pricing, and what the reaction will be from buyers. I could take a wild guess…

A reminder that visitor registration for Toy Fair has opened. The show is close to selling out, so visitors can look forward to a packed trip with plenty to see in January.

However, the eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted one major name missing from this year’s exhibitor list: Lego. The company told us: “It’s always a prioritisation of how we spend resources, and we have decided to continue our proactive dialogue with our retail customers in future in other ways.” So, no Lego, but several hundred other exhibitors to see, some of whom will now get the chance to meet with buyers in the time freed up by Lego’s absence…

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It’s always nice to see toys making their mark on a wider stage. A new set of stamps recently released by the Royal Mail features a selection of the most iconic British toys from the past 100 years. Like all lists, there will be much discussion about which toys were chosen to grace the stamps and which weren’t: I’ve never come across a list or set of awards yet with which everyone was in complete agreement. Personally, I was surprised not to see Lesney / Matchbox cars featured – surely a lot more kids owned a collection of those than a Merrythought Bear (this being real life and not an episode of Brideshead Revisited)? Nevertheless, the stamps certainly brought back some wonderful memories for me, both from my own childhood and my early days in the toy world. Let’s hope there is a second series in another 100 years’ time, and that there will still be plenty of iconic British toys to choose from…

An episode of Peppa Pig has been withdrawn in Australia after its central message - that spiders are not dangerous and will not hurt you – was judged inappropriate. It may be true for UK audiences, but not so for Australia, where children are taught from a very early age to be aware that a large variety of native spiders are extremely dangerous and can in fact kill them. A good illustration of the kind of cultural differences that can render a programme relevant for one market but not another, and an example of a mistake that is easily made. A far more embarrassing faux pas was made by the makers of the Maya The Bee cartoon, who had to withdraw a recent episode after an eagle-eyed viewer spotted a drawing of a male appendage on a tree in the background of one scene. If nothing else, it should make the playset interesting…

The ongoing situation at Toys R Us has brought the role of credit insurers to the fore once more. Never known to be fans of the toy market, their decision on whether to extend cover has huge ramifications for the whole toy community. All the focus has been on Toys R Us recently, but other retailers are only too aware that problems with one account can lead to others in the same market experiencing a far greater level of scrutiny. Credit insurers are also said to be inserting some hugely questionable clauses into deals: for example, I recently heard that if insurers are owed money and suppliers send in new stock for cash, then the credit insurers have first call on that cash. Nasty…

Another company that hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last month is Ryan Air. As many UK visitors to Nuremberg rely on the airline to get to Germany for the show, collective breaths are no doubt being held, pending the release of information about which flights will be cancelled in the coming months. If you see a large convoy of British cars heading for the continent straight from Toy Fair, you’ll know that the ‘Toy Trade special’ from Stansted was amongst those that were culled.

FOR LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE VISIT US AT BLE STAND C35 OR CONTACT: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Jason Rice Director of Brand Licensing Email: jason.rice@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4568 www.sonicthehedgehog.com/uk

@Sonic

Toby Rayfield Senior Licensing Manager Email: toby.rayfield@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4494 @sonic_hedgehog

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Kay Ferneyhough Retail & Trade Marketing Manager Email: kay.ferneyhough@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4407 /sonic ©SEGA