Licensing

Real Deal

ASPCA Signs Commonwealth

The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) announced that it has entered an agreement with Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co., Inc. to develop a line of plush toys and accessories. The line will aim to replicate the experience of adopting a shelter pet. The line is tentatively set to launch by the end of 2013.

Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co., Inc. joins a roster of ASPCA licensees including Firestar Diamond, American Greetings Corp., Eyewear Inventions, European Home Design, and Williams-Sonoma’s PBTeen and West Elm brands.

Kidz Bop, Arm & Hammer in Tooth Tunes Deal

Kidz Bop has partnered with Church & Dwight Co., Inc., the maker of Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes to expand into Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes Jr.-branded products. Three new Arm & Hammer Tooth Tunes Jr. toothbrushes will feature popular Kidz Bop songs.

Similar to the Tooth Tunes toothbrushes that launched in July 2012 for tweens, each toothbrush features two minutes of music to encourage longer brushing and ensure that kids achieve the dentist’s recommended brushing time.

Building Q Signs Classic Imports

Building Q announced that it has been named to represent Classic Imports. Building Q is tasked with developing a long-term licensing strategy for Classic, which for more than 20 years has brought an array of novelty, apparel, accessory, and home décor products to more than 2,500 specialty and mass market accounts.

Classic Imports develops, manufactures, and markets hundreds of products in categories as diverse as glass and barware, home décor, fleece apparel, novelties, and impulse items, and, new for 2013, automotive accessories.

Playboy Vodka Launches in Asia and Australia

VuQo Inc., creators of VuQo Vodka, which is coconut-distilled vodka, announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Playboy Enterprises to develop a new vodka available exclusively across select countries in Asia. Broad Street Licensing Group, Playboy’s global licensing agency in spirits, brokered the deal.

Launching in late 2013, Playboy Vodka will be available in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Kellogg’s Co-branded NCAA Apparel

The Joester Loria Group signed J2 Licensing for Kellogg’s co-branded NCAA College and University Apparel. J2 Licensing will develop a co-branded apparel collection utilizing Kellogg’s characters such as Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam in combination with the marks of top national schools. The collection will focus on young men’s and junior’s T-shirts and fleece and boys’ and girls’ T-shirts and fleece. The line will be distributed in college/university bookstores, specialty stores, and sporting goods stores this fall. The Joester Loria Group represents Kellogg’s for licensing.