Beatles Lyrics Move Onto Drinkware

Beatles lyrics are finding their way onto drinkware. Travel mug supplier Tervis will field product later this year featuring lyrics from three “well-known” Beatles songs, says Tervis’ Maureen Mason. Mason declined to comment on which songs will be used. The 16-ounce and 24-ounce water bottles and mugs, which ship this summer, contain lyrics from Lennon and McCartney songs and will be among the first licensed products to emerge since Sony/ATV Music Publishing paid the estate of Michael Jackson $750 million last September for the late singer’s stake in a joint venture. Jackson, who died in 2009, purchased the publishing rights to Beatles songs for $47 million in 1984 and formed a joint venture with Sony in 1995. Sony/ATV’s Rod Kotler confirmed the agreement with Tervis and said several other new deals are pending.

Meanwhile, Tervis is launching its first licensed steel double-wall travel mugs late this month. The line will start with 24oz and 30oz Major League Baseball mugs featuring six teams. Other pro sports leagues, colleges and universities will added in June, says Mason. Tervis also is expanding its custom on-demand travel mug program, adding MLB teams and Disney characters. Tervis launched the on-demand business at its North Venice, FL plant last September with the National Football League.

Contacts:

Tervis, Maureen Mason, VP Licensing, 941-441-4635, mmason@tervis.com ; Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Rod Kotler, VP Commercial Music Group Merchandise, 212-833-7484, Rod.Kotler@sonyatv.com

Paula Deen Brand Inching Back at Walmart for Meyer

Four years after Walmart parted with celebrity chef Paula Deen, Meyer Corp. is still seeking to return licensed dinnerware to the retailer’s store shelves. Walmart dropped Paula Deen-branded products in 2013 after the she acknowledged using racial slurs, the allegations of which first surfaced in a lawsuit filed against her by a former employee. Walmart.com is carrying a limited amount of Meyer’s Paula Deen cookware, including a 15-piece set, but it hasn’t brought back dinnerware, a Meyer spokeswoman.

To offset the loss of Walmart, Meyer Corp. increased distribution of Paula Deen dinnerware through regional department store chains including Belk Inc. and Dillard’s.

Meanwhile, Meyer also is developing a new Rachel Ray “Vandam” collection of gray and blue dinnerware designed to match the Food Network star’s “Upstate New York” furniture. Licensee Craftmaster launched the Rachel Ray Home Collection last year.

Contacts:

Meyer Corp., David Trigani, Senior Sales Dir., 214-750-7535, davidt@meyer.com

Joachim Knoedler Adds France Oversight at CPLG

Joachim Knoedler is named Managing Director for the newly created CPLG Central Europe, adding responsibilities for France to his current portfolio as Managing Director for CPLG Germany. Virginie Kleinclaus-Renard, current Managing Director for CPLG France, will leave the company in May.

Meanwhile, Concetta Galani, Commercial Dir. at CPLG France, was promoted to Sales Dir., while Senior Category Mgr. Clementine Goutaine advanced to Retail and Marketing Dir. for France. In Germany, Sales Mgr. Romina Ivanisevic was appointed Commercial Dir., while Brand Mgr. Sven Burscher shifted to Retail and Marketing Dir.

Last August, Northern Europe Managing Dir. Maarten Weck added UK responsibilities in replacing Stephen Gould, who left to head UK and Ireland operations for animation studio Bento Box Entertainment’s Sutikki children’s program division.

Contact:

CPLG, Steve Manners, EVP, +44 20 8563 6111, smanners@cplg.com

TRU Reformulates Asian Business

Toys R Us will merge its 160 stores in Japan with those in Greater China and Southeast Asia as part of a new joint venture with Fung Retail Ltd. Toys R Us will own 85% of the new venture with Fung controlling 15%. The move is part of a broader “streamlining” of the Toys R Us International business, Toys R Us CEO Dave Brandon said in a statement.

Toys R Us has operated the Japan stores on its own, having opened the first of them 1992. Toys R Us has 755 stores in 38 countries, including 250 that are licensed. It has 130 stores in China, a market it entered in 2006. The joint venture’s headquarters will be in Hong Kong, with a regional office in Kawasaki, Japan, and will be headed by Toys R Us Asia Pres. Andre Jeves.

Separately, Toys R Us opened four of its new small format 25,000-square-foot stores in Santa Ana, CA (1) and Tampa, FL (3). Among their features are a “toy lab” where customers can test out products.

Contact:

Toys R Us, Richard Barry, Chief Merchandising Officer, 973-617-5888, Richard.barry@toysrus.com

Agency Business

CPLG will represent Hatchimals for licensing in in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Italy, Iberia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordics… Striker Entertainment is representing Compulsion Games’ “We Happy Few” videogame as the title moves through development. A release date hasn’t been set, but beta versions of it are available through GOG.com and Xbox Game Preview.

Contacts:

CPLG, Steve Manners, EVP, +44 20 8563 6111, smanners@cplg.com; Striker Entertainment, Marc Mostman, Partner, 818-225-9355, marc@strikerent.com; Compulsion Games, Sam Abbot, Chief Operating Officer, 514-507-7522. sam@compulsiongames.com