Page 8 - Toy & Hobbly Retailer Magazine August-October 2019

LICENSING
LAS VEGAS LICENSING EXPO
Vegas Top Five
The Las Vegas Licensing Expo took place from 04 June to 06 June at Mandalay Bay Convention Centre. Over 5000 exhibiting brands and properties welcomed over 16,000 visitors from more than 65 countries around the world. Here are the top five moments from the show.
1HAVEN GLOBAL TAPPED FOR POKÉMON The Pokémon Company International announced that Australian licensing firm, Haven Global, had been appointed as the exclusive licensing agent for the brand
in Australia and New Zealand. Haven plans to build on the iconic, recognisable nature of the Pokémon brand
built over two decades, and will expand the Pokemon brand in the Australian and New Zealand markets. “The continued growth and success of Pokémon, and their ability to constantly evolve, has been such an impressive and inspirational journey to watch over the past two decades,”
Haven Global MD, Tom Punch said. “We’re so honoured to be trusted by The Pokémon Company International with such an iconic and well-known brand, and look forward to expanding the brand’s presence in our market.”
FUNRISE SECURES LICENSING PARTNERS FOR RAINBOW BUTTERFLY UNICORN KITTY Nickelodeon Australia began broadcasting Funrise’s animated property Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty to Aussie kids in July. The toy business secured licensing partners for the property in Vegas for categories including apparel, accessories, bedding, stationery, party goods and costumes to complement Funrise’s own toy line.
“We are thrilled with the growing popularity of Rainbow Butterfly
Unicorn Kitty,” Funrise 3president of global marketing Randy Shoemaker
said. “Fans have truly embraced
the uniqueness of the
brand and the positive
message that it spreads:
you don’t have to be
just one thing. We are
excited to be working
with these amazing
partners to bring
Rainbow Butterfly
Unicorn Kitty products
to life in trendy and
innovative new ways.”
The toy and licence program is currently being reviewed – watch this space.
DISNEY AND MOOSE ON 2 BOARD FOR BLUEY
Australian TV hit Bluey, is set to become
more visible on a global scale, after BBC
Studios signed broadcast and licensing
deals for the show in Vegas. Disney
came on board as the broadcast partner
in all territories outside of Australia,
New Zealand and Greater China, while
Moose Toys was named as the global
master toy partner for all territories excluding Asia.
Moose will have toys ready for Australian stores by Christmas 2019 while the US market and other regions will have stock in 2020. Toy & Hobby Retailer can share that these toys will be in the plush and plastics/plastic figurines categories. “Bluey reminds us all of our own families, and
it plays out the small but emotionally epic dramas of day- to-day life in surprising, heartfelt and very funny ways that
will engage children and parents alike. We’re excited to introduce Bluey and her family to our audiences across the world on our multiple platforms,” senior VP consumer insights and programming strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, Jane Gould said.
8 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019