Boxercraft to Manage Russell Athletic Brand for Collegiate Licensing

Apparel licensee Boxercraft will manage Russell Athletic’s collegiate licensing program, beginning in October, as Russell seeks to “re-orient” the company’s strategy to add focus to its retail business, the company’s Matt Murphy said.

Russell Athletic previously handled licensing with “hundreds” of colleges internally. Boxercraft will take over its Bowling Green, KY-based sales group, which includes independent reps and two Russell Athletic senior sales directors, says a company spokesman. Under the agreement, Boxercraft will purchase blanks from Russell parent Fruit of the Loom and produce collegiate- licensed fleece and cotton apparel, performance t-shirts, polo shirts and shorts, the spokesman said. Boxercraft also will have an option to broaden the line, says the spokesman.

As part of the deal, Boxercraft also will assume Russell’s licensing rights for Minor League Baseball. It already has a licensing agreement with the 160-team Minor League Baseball for loungewear and boxers.

Contacts;

Boxercraft, Shelley Foland, CEO, 404-355-9994

Russell Athletic, Matt Murphy, CEO, 270-781-6400

Agents

CAA-GBG is now representing the James Bond brand (previously handled by IMG), as it readies a licensing strategy that is “less focused” on the films as part of an effort to expand in apparel, says CAA-GBG’s Patricia Mercer. CAA-GBG took over licensing management of the brand shortly before Licensing Expo in May and has been working with affiliate Brand Studio on design and style plans that will be available to licensees during the next several weeks, says Mercer. The first products stemming from CAA-GBG’s management will likely arrive by fall 2019 in advance of the planned release of Bond 25 on Nov. 8, 2019. In addition to apparel, CAA-GBG is taking a “different view” regarding toys, but plans to keep the collectibles program intact, says Mercer. Eon Productions and MGM Studios own the James Bond licensing rights …. Firefly Brand Management is representing Miniki Holland B.V.’s “Love Is…” comic strip. The strip was first syndicated by Tribune Media Services in 1970. Rights have been managed by Miniki, which is run by Casali’s son, Stefano… License Connection is handling licensing for Milliamges’ Molang property in Benelux.

Contacts:

CAA-GBG, Patricia Mercer, Firefly Brand Management, 646-786-2424, patrciamercer@caaglobalbrands.com

Eon Productions, Michael Wilson, Co-Producer, +44 20  7493 7953

Firefly Brand Management,Cynthia Modders, CEO, 415-513-5826, cynthia@fireflybrandmanagement.com

License Connection, Daphne Kellerman, founder, +31 20 4043 250, daphene@licenseconnection.com

Milliamges, Laurence Papon, Head of Licensing, +33 1 49 29 49 69

Executives

Jim Fielding, President of Consumer Products and Innovation at 20th Century Fox, appointed to Xcel Brands board, replacing Richard Kirshenbaum, who resigned… Ian Bickley resigns as President of Tapestry’s (formerly Coach) Global Business Development and Strategic Alliances effective Dec. 31… Alex Soto, ex- Spin Master, named Creative Director at Gaumont.

Spin Master Expanding Distribution of Fugglers Dolls

Spin Master is expanding distribution of Fugglers little monster dolls to GameStop and Hot Topic in addition to Target as the company seeks to cash in on its acquisition of the brand earlier this year. Spin Master purchased the 9- and 12-inch dolls and 55 Fugglers characters from an Etsy artist known as Mrs. McGettrick. The Fugglers have a licensing agreement with Bioworld for t-shirts, mugs and hats. Meanwhile, the company is readying a “Pimple Pete game after signing a license with dermatologist Sandra Lee, who is also known by her social media handle “Dr. Pimple Popper.” Spin Master is readying a new “Pimple Pete” game in which players take turns popping Pete’s pimples and seek to avoid setting off the “mega-zit.” Lee has more than three million followers on Instagram, where she posts videos of pimple extractions. Lee’s Dr. Pimple Popper series premiered on TLC on July 11.

Contact:

Spin Master, Jonathan Mursky, Licensing Mgr., 416-364-6002 x2408, jonathanm@spinmaster.com