Bulldog Licensing Bringing Sizzling Line-up To Las Vegas

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - June 2015

Bulldog Licensing, the company that continues to build on its status as one of the industry’s leading licensing agencies, will be showcasing a strong and diverse portfolio of properties at the Las Vegas Licensing Expo (stand H177).

Shopkins is the phenomenally successful collectible and holder of the girls’ category Toy of The Year Award and the BTHA’s Collectable Toy of the Year. There are 148 characters to collect in each series, which are sold inside adorable little shopping bags. Despite only having been on the market since last year the brand has sparked a craze that has swept the world, fuelled by an online presence that has seen over seventeen million hits on the official Shopkins Youtube channel and hundreds of millions of views across fan content on the site. With master toy partner Flair providing heavyweight marketing support, a rapidly growing licensing programme includes Spearmark (lunchware, tableware, drinkware and lighting), Flair (plush), Topps (collectible and trading cards, sticker products and accessories) VMC (accessories) Aykroyds TDP (nightwear and underwear), Autumn Publishing (publishing), Character World (bedding and beanbags), RMS International (stationery arts and crafts), Pedigree (annuals), DJ Murphy (magazines), Winning Moves (Top Trumps cards), Pyramid (posters) and Whitehouse Leisure (amusement plush).

Garfield is the instantly recognizable cartoon cat featured in over 2,100 newspapers across the globe. The portly feline holds the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated cartoon strips and is responsible for book sales in excess of 200 million copies to date, two feature-length live-action films, and three CGI animated movies – as well as thousands of lines of licensed merchandise. Current licensees include Five Mile Press(publishing and puzzles), Roy Lowe and Sons (socks and tights), Sambro (bags and stationery), Brand International (slippers), Ravette (publishing), Wicked Cool (toys) and J Fox (accessories). Garfield apparel is also a major seller on the high street with the fashion line from Lazy Oaf selling in huge numbers and achieving a well-deserved LIMA nomination, whilst Blues, Poetic Gem, BCI and Brand Alliance are also on board and seeing strong sales across UK retail.

Plants vs. Zombies™ - from PopCap Games, a division of Electronic Arts Inc - requires players to stop an approaching fun-dead horde by using a host of zombie-zapping plants. A combination of strategy and quick thinking is needed, and that plus the games’ mixture of endearing characters, funny surprises, and quality gameplay has proved irresistible to gamers. There are now several games in the chart-topping brand – the original was followed by Plants vs. Zombies 2, which quickly became the most successful mobile game launch in EA’s history, before multiplayer shooter Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare launched for console. Plants vs. Zombies is represented by a host of licensees, including Pedigree for annuals, Smith & Brooks for apparel and Cooneen and BCI for nightwear and underwear, K'Nex for construction toys, Portico for greeting cards, Digital Giving for personalised T-shirts, Character World for homewares, Forbidden Planet for gift product, and Jazwares for plush and toys.

Iconic Images is the company behind the legendary portfolios of renowned photographers such as Terry O,Neill, Baron Wolman and Gered Mankowitz who have captured the biggest names in movies and music over more than six decades – from David Bowie to Frank Sinatra, and Marianne Faithfull to Raquel Welch. Iconic Images has also negotiated image rights with a large number of household names, opening up a unique international licensing opportunity comprising a never-before-seen catalogue that chronicles the birth of celebrity. A number of licensees are already on board the programme with fashion proving a major focus in territories everywhere, whilst Bulldog plans to use the Vegas show as an opportunity to extend the activity across areas including accessories, gift and home.

The LIFE brand benefits from the combination of its iconic logo, made famous by LIFE magazine and its present incarnation – LIFE.com – and striking images from the vast LIFE photographic collection. This seminal brand offers dynamic merchandising opportunities with its millions of incredible images of historical moments with legends such as the Kennedys and Winston Churchill, and world-famous landmarks like the Empire State Building. LIFE has also established a strong presence in a number of categories across Europe. This includes the apparel sector with a Poeticgem range available across UK retail, and with Fipo’s extensive activities throughout continental Europe; the gifting and stationery sector with Portico; wallpaper with SHH; accessories with VMC; beanbags with GHS; calendars and wall art with Pyramid; and greeting cards and postcards with The Art Group. The LIFE brand is part of Time Inc., one of the largest media companies in the world.

The London Taxi Company is the only manufacturer and retailer of the world famous Black Cab, globally recognised as the hackney carriage of choice for use in London and around the world. The brand’s licensing potential has already been realised by a number of partners including Igloo, which is set to publish a range of books featuring the unmistakable black cars and Corgi who have developed a range of collectable products for the brand owner. Bulldog is in advanced discussions with potential partners across fashion apparel, toys, games, accessories, and homewares. The London Taxi Company has a strong history in all of these areas, having previously granted licences as diverse as Disney Pixar for inclusion of their IP in the Cars franchise and Ted Baker for fashion lines.

”Licensing Expo presents a great opportunity for us to talk to potential partners about capitalising on the success and potential of this exciting range of brands,” says Bulldog Licensing Group MD Rob Corney.