Rocket Launches Stanfords Licensing Programme BRANDORA Editorial Staff - August 2016

 
The Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection offers licensees a rare mix of travel, discovery, history and adventure

Independent licensing company Rocket Licensing has been appointed to manage the licensing campaign for The Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection, owned by Stanfords, the iconic London mapseller, established in 1853.

Stanfords has been the first port of call for explorers and adventurers for over 160 years, with 100’s of famous and historical customers from Sir Ernest Shackleton to Michael Palin. Now, The Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection of some 800 uniquely beautiful and historically significant archive maps, together with the Edward Stanford Signature Logo are being developed into a new style guide for launch in the autumn of this year. This great content combined with a brand that encompasses heritage, credibility and expertise in equal measure present an incredible opportunity for licensees to develop product that will resonate with manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.

Map and travel-themed products continue to have a strong market appeal, which is an obvious driver for taking this famous heritage name to a wider consumer base. Rocket will leverage the extraordinary assets of the Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection, the sense of adventure, discovery and travel that the maps and the Edward Stanford name encapsulates, to develop a strategy that will appeal to travel enthusiasts and adventure fans, as well as gift buyers, tourists and lovers of original and classic brands.

The category areas under consideration include specialist equipment and apparel, accessories such as cufflinks and scarves, stationery, calendars, home textiles, suitcases, bags, travel games, educational toys, apps and such travelers’ gift essentials as mugs, wallets, toiletry bags and — of course — hipflasks. While the aim will be to involve a wide licensee and retail base, it will also be essential that partners have a real affinity with the ideals and spirit the brand represents.

The Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection will have a major presence on the Rocket Licensing stand at BLE, as well as at Stanfords’ own stand, with initial product launches at retail expected to take place in autumn/winter 2017.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Rocket Licensing, who share our boundless enthusiasm for the brand,” said Tony Maher, Managing Director of Edward Stanford Ltd. “Every map in the Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection has a story to tell, and we are very excited to discover the tales licensees will bring to life with them.”

Charlie Donaldson, Joint Managing Director of Rocket Licensing, says: “There are very few brands that capture the extraordinary thrill of discovery and adventure in quite the same way as The Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection. This is a brand whose reputation and historic associations offer licensees a wealth of opportunities that will appeal to consumers young and old — whether actual or armchair adventurers!”