ATLANTA, Ga. (July 2, 2014) – Fermata Partners, a consumer products licensing agency, today announced the launch of Fermata College, a division focused on representing college and university trademark licensing programs. The Fermata College division launches with two recently announced major university partners, the University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Miami (UM). Representation of both collegiate clients is effective immediately.
“We are honored to be selected by the University of Kentucky and University of Miami to represent their licensing programs. Both universities have very strong consumer products brands and well-established distribution of licensed merchandise,” said Derek Eiler, managing director of Fermata Partners.
Founded in 2011, Fermata Partners has been steadily forming a base of clients across sport, corporate and lifestyle brands to build and advance consumer products licensing programs. The launch of the Fermata College division will allow the company to expand its resources and drive increased value and services for all current and future clients, both collegiate and otherwise.
The University of Kentucky’s licensing program was established in 1984 and is deeply committed to the protection and promotion of all UK trademarks. Sales of UK merchandise generate more than $100 million annually in the retail marketplace, which ranks among the top ten selling U.S. universities.
“We are excited to be the first university to align with Fermata Partners,” said Jason Schlafer, the University of Kentucky’s Senior Associate Athletics Director. “Our licensing program allows our students, alumni and the best fans in college athletics to celebrate their allegiance to UK. We have built a strong foundation over the past two decades, and as we look to the future, our new alliance with Fermata will help the university navigate the retail marketplace with strong brand management principles while ensuring that we deliver more value to UK’s consumers.”
UM’s licensing program was established in the early 1980’s and has generated $15 million in royalty income to fund scholarship programs and other UM projects over the past decade. There are more than 300 licensees producing merchandise for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans to show their allegiance to the University and Hurricane Athletics.
“The University community looks forward to our new partnership with the team at Fermata,” said University of Miami Director of Athletics Blake James. “We have a long history with the leadership team at Fermata and believe that our licensing program will be well-positioned to take advantage of the continued elevation of our athletic teams and the many enhancements we are making across our campus,” James added.
Fermata Partners, based in Atlanta, is a specialized consumer products licensing agency that partners with brands possessing deep affinity in sport, lifestyle, and college to formulate global licensing strategies and deliver practical execution. The firm has assembled a diverse team with deep experience in the collegiate licensing industry as well as licensing for other sports and lifestyle brands. For more information on Fermata Partners, please visit www.fermatapartners.com, or the college division site at www.fermatacollege.com.
 

###