H&M Readies Shopkins DTR

H&M will launch a Shopkins direct-to-retail (DTR) program in December featuring t-shirts, leggings and fashion dresses targeting 6-14-year-old girls, says Moose Toys’ Alexandra Ries. Moose has about 300 licensees, including 75 in the U.S. for Shopkins, which generated about $1 billion at retail (about half in core collectibles and half in licensed goods) in 2016. Meanwhile, Moose is readying a licensing program for its new Pikmi Pops with the first products due in late 2018. Pikmi Pops are 35 plush characters sold inside lollipop-like containers. A second wave of 35 characters is due in the spring. Moose also won’t continue it Mineez Despicable Me line of collectibles in 2018, says Ries. “That is not going to be a big focus for us because there was a little bit of franchise fatigue this year,” says Ries. Moose also edging its Grossery Gang collectibles into licensing with licensee Little Bee Books having released “The Grossery Gang: Welcome to Cheap Town” sticker and activity book.

Contact:

Moose Toys, Alexandra Ries, VP U.S. Marketing and Strategy, 214-404-9813, alex.ries@moosetoys.com

Fanatics Signs New Global Licensing Deal with Major League Soccer

Fanatics signed a new global licensing deal with Major League Soccer, giving it exclusive worldwide rights for fan gear apparel, headwear and hard goods across retail and wholesale channels starting in 2019, the companies said. The pact will allow Fanatics, which already operates MLS’s ecommerce business, to develop hot market and name and number products, the companies said. Fanatics and MLS also will seek additional licensees. The agreement is separate from MLS’s pact with Adidas for on-field apparel.

Fanatics also will debut an ecommerce platform in Canada in 2018 and handle in-venue operations for key MLS events, including the MLS All-Star Game. It already operates in-venue retail for the Atlanta United FC, Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Contact:

Fanatics, Brenden McQuillan, VP In-Venue, 484-567-1401 x1401, bmcquillan@fanatics.com

Major League Soccer, Maribeth Towers, Senior VP Consumer Products, 212-450-1200

Blankie Tails Readies Mass Market Products

Blankie Tails will move out of specialty retail for the first time in early 2018, having landed its first licensing deals with Hasbro for My Little Pony and Transformers, says Blankie Tails’ Hattie Grace Peze. The Bristol, PA-based company, which made its name with mermaid-shaped blankets, launched online sales of its first My Little Pony products in October and will move distribution to specialty retailers in December, including Learning Express, says Peze. A Transformers line will follow in January. The mass versions of the licensed blankets will be in solid colors, as opposed to the embroidered multi-color versions sold through specialty retailers; they’ll be priced about $10 less, says Peze. “I don’t think it [the move into mass retailers] is going to be perfect because you want to protect specialty retailers, but you also have to continue to increase sales,” says Peze.

Contact:

Blankie Tails, Hattie Grace Peze, Chief Marketing Officer, 215-310-9433, hattie@blankietails.com