Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
In the last issue of License Europe, we talked with Warner Bros' Jay Young and Bruno Schwabthaler about the innovative new style guide for the Harry Potter franchise. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. named Cards Inc. as the official European master toy licensee for the Harry Potter series. With Toy Fair looming, we talked to Card Inc.'s head of marketing Mark Hillier to find out what we can expect for 2007.
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
The internet is spawning lots of online communities, social networks and other virtual spaces. They are already powerful brand names with a huge a loyal user base but usually spread by word-of-mouth. So how will the licensing industry, built around traditional entertainment brands and bricks-and-mortar retailing, embrace them? Sam Phillips reports.
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
You may have seen them trudging around Brand Licensing. Maybe you've met one at a charity event. Or, perhaps you've seen them performing in a theatrical environment. Costume characters add fun, colour and entertainment to any event. But, as Graham Pomphrey investigates, they are also a very powerful marketing tool.
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
Visitor numbers were up and it has been saluted as the best ever. With a new venue and a new date, Brand Licensing 2006 pulled out all the stops to reflect the demands of an evolving, maturing industry that demands the best from its premier European show.
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
With a reworking of the traditional licensor-licensee-retailer relationship, under the right circumstances, direct-to-retail deals are proving successful on a difficult high street. Here we take a look at what direct-to-retail is, who is doing it and, most importantly, what the benefits are. Graham Pomphrey reports.
Nov 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
When speaking with Jorgen Vig Knudstorp, it's worth bearing in mind how, only recently, LEGO was in crisis. In 2003, the company was falling apart, brick by brick. Sales had dropped by 30% and the company suffered its third loss in five years, despite its fiercely loyal fan base. Fast-forward three years and LEGO has turned its fortunes round. Jorgen became CEO in 2004 and the company hasn't looked back. His is a back-to-basics strategy focussed on the company's core product — the humble, ubiquitous, small and colourful plastic building block. So ubiquitous, in fact, that on average every person on earth has 52 of them.
Woolworths is to open standalone Ladybird shops in the UK, but remains absolutely committed to licensed brands, as Ladybird's Simon Brown told Sam Phillips.
Oct 1, 2006
By:
Sam Phillips
|
Woolworths intends to open its first stand-alone Ladybird shop in the UK before the end of this year and will invest in 92 dedicated Ladybird areas in its larger shops.
Oct 1, 2006
By:
Graham Pomphrey
|
Disney Consumer Products' commitment to the homewares was highlighted at a two day licensee summit it held in Paris in July. License Europe was invited and we found Disney feeling confident about the sector. Graham Pomphrey reflects on whether this is part of a wider trend, or just Disney getting things right again.
Aug 1, 2006
By:
Sam Phillips
|
Industry stalwart, Kelvyn Gardner, has been appointed managing director designate of LIMA UK, with the position expected to be formalised during August. He replaces Andrew Levy, who has been head of the UK arm of the organisation for the last eight years.
