Initial focus will be on app’s key markets such as Russia and the Philippines.
Leading messaging app Viber – which connects over one billion users around the globe – is looking to make the move into the licensing space.
Viber is aiming to move its sticker characters – Violet, Legcat, Lola, Freddie, Eve and Rocco – into licensed product. The characters are part of Viber’s sticker ecosystem with around 20 billion stickers sent in 2018.
The move comes after Viber conducted user surveys in three of its top markets – Russia, the Philippines and Iraq – with the findings revealing that products featuring the characters would be well received.
For example, in Russia over 83% of users showed willingness to own Viber-branded products such as apparel (40%), stationery (31%) and Pop items (32%).
In the Philippines, the figure was over 85% and in Iraq, over 93%.
“We’re thrilled to announce that for the very first time Viber – a messaging platform with over 1 billion registered users – will be bringing its successful sticker characters to the licensing world,” Matan Kaufman, global product marketing director at Viber told Source. “As one of the worlds biggest messaging platforms, it’s only natural for Viber to make this step.
“Over 20 billion stickers were sent in 2018 and Viber’s characters provide a great way for our users to express themselves and share their feelings.”
Matan continued: “Together with our licensing specialist, Miri Dalitzki, we are looking to enter multiple territories around the world, and we are already in talks with agents in Russia and the Philippines.
“This is such an exciting opportunity for us to give our massively beloved characters presence in people’s lives in more ways.”
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