Black Paper Party
Black Paper Party is an inclusive seasonal products company that launched in 2020 with holiday gift wrap featuring award-winning illustrations of Black families and trend-relevant patterns. Black Paper Party’s three retail alum execs filled a white space in gifting solutions featuring Black representation with relatable characters that reflect all family types. In 2024, Black Paper Party continued to expand its brand presence at retail with another robust holiday partnership with Walmart. The brand partnered with leading seasonal licensees for a third year to bring an eight-foot, licensed paper and décor section to life in 1,000 Walmart stores and online. The brand also secured two additional holiday licensed programs in Family Pajamas and Party at 3,000 Dollar General stores. These programs rounded out the brand’s impressive 2024 retail partnerships with Macy’s, Target, and Family Dollar. Black Paper Party has been featured in Bloomberg, WWD, Ebony, Essence, The Today Show, and Kelly Clarkson Show, and most recently secured a deal on Shark Tank!
Dr. Seuss – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Dr. Seuss Enterprises is a leading global children’s entertainment company dedicated to promoting literacy, education, self-confidence, and the boundless possibilities of a child’s imagination through the works of Dr. Seuss. Building upon Dr. Seuss’s creative and whimsical world, the company has forged hundreds of licensing deals across virtually every category, expanding its global presence. In 2024, Dr. Seuss Enterprises celebrated numerous top-tier collaborations, including partnerships with buzzworthy retailers like Kith and Parks Project, interactive and engaging offerings like Dr. Seuss x Minecraft, and more—all part of its ongoing mission to bring the wonder of Dr. Seuss to life for new generations.
Moomin – Moomin Characters (Rights & Brands)
The Moomins were created in 1945 by artist Tove Jansson. The Moomin books have been translated into more than 60 languages, charming millions of readers. In 2024, Moomin had 800 licensees worldwide, including RIMOWA, Mattel, Barnes & Noble, and Fiskars Group. The Moomin phenomenon extends to theme parks in Japan and Finland, over 30 global shops and cafés, and a social media following of 3.7 million, engaging with 65 million fans annually. The artwork is featured in exhibitions worldwide and new publishing based on Jansson’s original stories are published each year. New partnerships with Urban Outfitters featuring Moomin products in all 195 U.S. stores, along with collaborations with Artek, Comme des Garçons, and Acne Studios. Additionally, Moomin and the Red Cross continue their partnership to raise funds in 15 countries, addressing global care and safety needs.
Roald Dahl – The Roald Dahl Story Company
Roald Dahl’s stories have sold over 300 million copies and are translated into 68 languages. The brand maintains 90% trust and 97% awareness and ranked as one of the best-selling U.K. authors last year. RDSC diversifies fan engagement through new publishing, immersive experiences, innovative products, and family theatre. Extension fiction like The Twits Next Door featured in ‘Waterstones Best Children’s Fiction’ and Charlie and The Christmas Factory was the 10th Christmas title in Children’s Fiction chart, both in 2024. RDSC also creates unforgettable experiences through partnerships, such as The Twits Afternoon Tea at Marriott County Hall, and transforming rooms at Jumeirah Carlton Tower into Dahl-inspired spaces with licensed products like bedding, dressing gowns, slippers, pyjamas, Roald Dahl Monopoly, and audiobooks.
Strawberry Shortcake – WildBrain
As Strawberry Shortcake celebrated her 45th anniversary in 2024, WildBrain continued to drive fandom for the beloved franchise, bringing her rich heritage to life in fresh ways. Multiple retail partnerships included trend leader Five Below and Walmart, where The Loyal Subjects toy and collectibles launched across 3,900 stores. 2024 also saw innovation in health and beauty with an iconic fragrance from Scentbird and self-care from Celavi, as well as food and beverage with FYE and XO Marshmallow. Strawberry has bloomed even deeper in the fashion space with new collections from A Leading Role, Loungefly, BoxLunch, Sweet Peas Co., Cakeworthy, Skinnydip, DollsKill, and many more. Not forgetting Pipsticks, Blank Tag Co, StickerBeans, Sonix, and more for stationery and accessories. A nostalgic collaboration with Cloudco saw Care Bears x Strawberry Shortcake co-branded capsule collections hit U.S. retail, spanning from apparel and accessories to stickers and gifting.
World of Eric Carle/Very Hungry Caterpillar – Penguin Random House (The Joester Loria Group)
2024 was a year of global expansion for beloved literary brand World of Eric Carle. Powered by The Very Hungry Caterpillar, global sales were driven by publishing, consumer products, live shows, DTRs and collaborations. Multi-media marketing campaigns delivered 2.5 billion impressions. Partnerships included Kellogg’s Fruit Loops and café collaboration with 3 Little Egg in Japan. Experiential offerings include Play Park Eric Carle in Tokyo, nature trails at Bluewater and Marwell Zoo, and dedicated accommodations and experiences at Gulliver’s, U.K. WEC Live Shows sold out in Australia, U.S., U.K., and Japan. The award winning VCH subscription app delivered ongoing new content, driving over 1.6 million downloads. DTRs/Collaborations with Monica+Andy, Loved Baby, Stasher, Nestig, Love Your Melon (U.S.), Graniph, United Arrows (Japan), Ella’s Kitchen, Skinny Dip, and MORI (U.K.) delivered apparel, home and food.
