Voxx Banking on RCA Licensed Security Products to Turn Around Accessories Business

Voxx International is banking on its new licensed RCA brand security and smarthome products to help turn around its struggling consumer electronics accessories business, CEO Patrick Lavelle told analysts as it reported results for Q1 ended May 31. Voxx’s accessories sales fell 25% to $28.7 million in Q1. The company’s accessories will continue to post declining sales in Q2 before a hoped-for second half upsurge as new RCA branded security and smarthome products enter retail. The RCA video doorbell and floodlight/camera will be sold at Home Depot, Lowe’s Canada, Menard’s and other retailers, Lavelle said. Overall, Voxx’s Q1 net loss narrowed to $2.2 million from $4.9 million a year earlier despite revenue declining 12.1% to $100.8 million.

Contact:

Voxx International, Michael Stoehr, Chief Financial Officer, mstoehr@voxxintl.com

Downton Abbey Film Set To Start Production, Stylebook Being Updated

NBCUniversal International is readying an updated style guide for “Downton Abbey” with production of a film based on the TV series slated to begin in September, says NBCUniversal’s Nick Young. The revamped guide will be “influenced” by the TV series and film with “specific assets” from the latter being released later, Young tells us. A release date for the film, which is being produced by Carnival Films, hasn’t been set. Spotlight Licensing has represented the Downton Abbey TV series in the U.S. The 52-epidsode series, which aired on ITV in the UK and on PBS in the U.S., ended in the UK and the U.S. in November 2015 and March 2016, respectively.

Contact:

NBCUniveral, Nick Young, Dir. Brand Management Commercial, +44 203 618 6682, nick.young@nbcuni.com

Five Below to Open Flagship Store in Manhattan

Five Below will open its largest store to date as it breaks into New York’s Manhattan this fall for the first time. The 10,800-sq.-ft. flagship will be located near New York’s Bryant Park and is above the chain’s 8,000-sq.-ft. average size. Five Below plans to open 125 stores in the year ending in February 2019, in expanding to more than 600 locations.

Contact:

Five Below, Joel Anderson, CEO, 215-546-7909

Tomy Launches Lamaze/Incredibles 2 line

Tomy launched its Lamaze/Incredibles 2 line, combing the Lamaze brand with an entertainment property for the first time. The nine-SKU line ranges from two-pack of sippy cups ($8.99) to a shape sorter ($24). While Tomy has had a Lamaze license for 25 years, the new products mark the first time the brand has been combined with another property. The products are initially being sold through the Tomy web site.

Contact:

Tomy, Jennifer Pondel, Dir., 630-573-7313, jpondel@tomy.com