Kidde’s Red Cross Smoke Detectors Launch at Home Depot

What started as a safety program is expanding into a licensed retail business. Kidde, which has been supplying smoke alarms as part of the American Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign that is aimed at reducing the number of home fire deaths and injuries, is selling the first branded models through about a quarter of Home Depot’s more than 2,200 stores in North America, says Seltzer Licensing Group’s Stuart Seltzer, whose firm is representing the Red Cross. The smoke detectors have been part of the Home Fire Campaign for three years. Home Depot will start online sales later this year. Kidde had about a 25% share of a U.S. smoke alarm market that generated about $400 million in retail sales in 2016, according to the Technavio research firm, and it views licensing as a means for grabbing more share with a more premium product, says Seltzer. The United Technologies Corp. company is one of a roster of Red Cross licensees that also includes Lifestraw (portable filtration products), Hydro-Photon (ultra-violet water purifier), Penn-Pax (outdoor safety kits and 2253 (adult apparel). Home Depot already sells Navajo Inc.’s Red Cross-licensed training sunglasses through its web site along with First Aid Only’s Red Cross family first aid kit.

Contacts:

Seltzer Licensing Group, Stuart Seltzer, Pres., 212-244-5548, stu@seltzerlicensing.com

American Red Cross, Stephen Glockenmeier, VP Preparedness,  Health and Safety Services Product Development, 973-396-1537, Stephen.Glockenmeier@redcross.org

Jensen Meat Launching Sales of Slater’s 50/50 Burgers through Sam’s Club

Jensen Meat Co. is launching sales of Slater’s 50/50 frozen hamburgers on Oct. 15 through 77 Sam’s Club stores in California, Hawaii, Utah and Texas with plans bring the Southern California-based restaurant chain’s brand nationwide by mid-2018. Slater’s 50/50, known for its burgers that are equal parts ground bacon and beef, recently changed hands when founder Scott Slater sold the seven-store chain to former Fatburger franchisee Michael Nakleh. Nakleh plans to open about 12 locations during each of the next five years, says Paul Leonhardt, whose firm Coastal Limited is handling licensing for Slater’s. Slater’s expansion will focus on franchisees with plans for Houston (seven locations), Florida (4) and Hollywood, CA (1) as well as Dallas.

Contacts:

Coastal Limited, Paul Leonhardt, Pres., 619-518-5808, paul@coastallimited.com

Jensen Meat Co., Abel Olivera, CEO, 619-754-6400

Agents

Merchant Factors Corp. is representing Skin Worldwide as the high-end women’s lingerie and loungewear brand seeks to broaden its reach in apparel, says Merchant Factor’s Joshua Solowiejczyk… Striker Entertainment signs to handle brand licensing for WowWee Group’s Fingerlings monkey-like toys that attach to a finger and have a built-in microphone and touch and motion sensors… IMG is representing World Rugby for licensing as it seeks to raise its brand profile in the run up to World Cup competitions in 2019 and 2023. The IMG program will focus on apparel, mobile games and lifestyle products… Endemol Shine Group is expanding licensing for the YouTube property Simon’s Cat in Europe, appointing agents in Germany, Italy, Benelux and South Korea. LizenzWerft will handle licensing in Germany along with License Connection (Benelux), Enpop (South Korea) and Maurizio Distefano (Italy).

Contacts:

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

Merchant Factor Corp.,  Joshua Solowiejczyk, VP Licensing, 646-770-9396, jsolow@merchantfactors.com

The Point 1888, Will Stewart, Managing Dir., +44 7748323322, will.stewart@thepoint1888.com

Skin Worldwide, Susan Beischel, Founder, 917-691-0156

Striker Entertainment, Russell Binder, Partner, 818-225-9355, russell@strikerent.com

WowWee Group, Adam Fairless, Chief Development Officer/Head of Licensing, 958-729-6580,adam@wowwee.com

Patina Vie and Zrike To Launch Licensed Exclusive at Hot Topic, Box Lunch

Patina Vie and Zrike will launch exclusive dinnerware based on the upcoming Disney movie Coco at Box Lunch and Hot Topic stores in early November, says Patina Vie’s Sarah Willett. The 12-piece collection, which also will be sold through Disney Stores later in the year. It was designed by Patina Vie with Zrike handling sourcing and distribution. The companies will split the sales revenue and royalty payments to Disney, says Willet.

Contacts:

Box Lunch, Robert Thomsen, VP General Merchandise Mgr., 626-322-1620, rthomsen@boxlunchgifts.com

Disney Consumer Products, Josh Silverman, EVP Global Licensing, 818-544-0041, josh.silverman@disney.com

Patina Vie, Sarah Willet, Owner, 920-896-2389, patinavie@gmail.com

Zrike Brands, David Zrike, CEO, 201-329-9745

Executives

Natalie Harvey, ex-ITV, appointed Retail and Marketing Director at CPLG Europe… Changes at The Point 1888: Bethan Garton, ex-Acamar Films, named Retail and Brand Dir.; Rebecca Cross, ex-Classic Media, appointed Product Development Mgr.