Licensee named as key gift and toy partner as brand gears up for 40th anniversary in 2020.
Penguin Ventures has welcomed Rainbow Designs as its key gift and toy licensee for Spot.
The range – which will launch at retail for autumn/winter 2019 ahead of Spot’s 40th anniversary in 2020 – comprises plush, sensory toys, wooden blocks and pull-along toys and was inspired by the new Spot style guide developed by Penguin Ventures earlier this year.
“Penguin Ventures has a long standing and very successful relationship with Rainbow Designs across their portfolio of brands and I am thrilled that they have come on board for Spot,” said Anna Metcalfe, category manager for hardlines at Penguin Ventures. “Rainbow’s products are consistently of excellent quality and highly innovative in design and we are really excited to see the range that they develop in time for Spot’s 40th anniversary in 2020.”
Anthony Temple, md of Rainbow Designs, added: “As the Home of Classic Characters, we are delighted that Spot is returning to the Rainbow Designs stable and to once again be working with Penguin Ventures with this much loved and iconic character.
“Classic characters are in the ascendency and Spot is one of the great evergreen properties of the preschool sector. In the build up to his Anniversary, we have some exciting and fresh new products planned, designed to deliver the best in ‘Adventure and Fun with Spot’.”
In addition a new babywear range from Dennicci will launch in spring 2019 with confirmed listings in two major grocers, while Puffin will be launching a range of tactile lift-the-flap board books for the youngest Spot fans in 2019. There are also plans in development for celebrating the timeless classic Where’s Spot? in 2020 for its 40th anniversary year.
Finally, CDP Kids and Salspot will be bringing a new adaptation of Spot to the stage in Australia. Based on the successful Terra Theatre production, Spot will be brought to life through a series of puppets, stage actors and songs. It will tour over 23 locations in Australia from August 2019 and will look to move to New Zealand in 2020.
FUN WITH SPOT™ Copyright © The Eric and Gillian Hill Family Trust / Salspot Ltd, 2017
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