Including Chris James to retire from Danilo and Brett Smith arriving as head of sales.
The Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Danilo has confirmed the retirement of long serving sales chief Chris James – Chris will step down on June 30 after 18 years with the licensee. He will remain on the Danilo board as a full director. Meanwhile, Brett Smith will arrive as head of sales on March 13. Brett joins from Pioneer Europe and has previously also enjoyed stints at Is It Art and Clintons.
Hello Kitty has confirmed a new collaboration with Lazy Oaf. The range launches on June 15 and includes denim skirts and jackets, dresses, oversized tees and shirts, hoodies, jeans and accessories.
Golden Bear has launched its new In the Night Garden Baby range into the nursery sector. Targeting 0-18 month olds, the range include plush toys in pastel colours, as well as themed blanks, rattles and hanging chimes. A multi-sensory Soothe and Glow Igglepiggle plush joins the line later in the year.
DHX Brands has appointed Candy Ho to the newly created position of business development director, Asia. Candy will be responsible for expanding the company’s portfolio of brands in China, Korea, South East Asia and Australia.
The Smiley Company has teamed up with Best Seller Group for a new apparel collection for spring/summer 2017 through its Only stores. The range will include oversized shirt dresses, cropped sleeve crews and scoop neck baggy tees among other lines.
Coolabi has announced that the first series of preschool show Clangers will be available on Netflix US from March 1.
HarperCollins Children’s Books has partnered with Hopster to launch books on the app for the first time. Highlights in the new Book Boat section include Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Michael Bond’s Paddington.
m4e AG has closed the acquisition of a majority interest in the company by Studio 100. Hans Ulrich Stoef will continue in his role as ceo of m4e, with both entities intending to strategically cooperate in the kids and family entertainment fields.
Character World is gearing up for a surge in sales of Pokémon textiles as new content continues to launch across new platforms. The licensee sold out of its Pikachu duvet set in 24 hours last year following the release of Pokémon Go. It is confident that a renewed marketing push for the brand will see a fresh spike in the popularity of its products.
Maurizio Distefano Licensing has revealed that Italy’s Leolandia theme park will expand its successful Masha and the Bear area for the 2017 season, with a number of new features.
The Super Wings property is making in-roads into Benelux, with License Connection coming on board to handle the licensing programme for CJ E&M/Alpha in the territory.
CBeebies’ Sarah & Duck will be brought to life on stage for the first time this spring. Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Circus Birthday will play at Polka Theatre from Thursday, April 6 to Sunday, May 14, with a UK tour launching from Eastbourne Hippodrome on Monday, May 29.
Rubik’s has teamed up with Fantasma Magic to create a range of themed magic sets.
American Greetings Entertainment has enlisted WildBrain to manage the Madballs YouTube channel, creating original content and growing the audience for the brand.
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