Alex Brands Teams with Cool School’s Crafty Carol
Alex Brands entered into a joint partnership/licensing agreement with family entertainment company, Driver Digital. As part of this license agreement, Driver Digital will feature selected Alex Brands’ craft kits into its Cool School show Crafty Carol on YouTube. These same products will feature a Cool School/Crafty Carol sticker at retail.
Cool School is a top YouTube kids’ channels. Its programs include Crafty Carol and Storytime with Ms. Booksy shows that are a creative mix of live action and animation, and the fully animated, The Adventures of Drew Pendous and His Mighty Pen Ultimate. These programs have already generated more than 2.6 billion watched minutes and more than half a billion views. Geared to kids 3 to 12, Crafty Carol is one of Cool School’s hugely popular shows hosted by a quirky, super fun master crafter who demonstrates how kids can use basic materials to create the arts and crafts of their imaginations.
Using Driver’s experience with creating, producing, and scaling content on the YouTube platform, this partnership will allow Alex Brands to showcase new products in numerous videos showing Crafty Carol with new ALEX DIY items, including new Sweetlings, Happy Little Loom, Knot-a Craft, Grow Crystal Jewelry, Rock Pets and more. Packaging for each of the ALEX DIY products will call-out links to special Crafty Carol streaming videos using ALEX DIY craft kits in episodes of her show. Additionally, Crafty Carol will be making selective personal appearances throughout the year on behalf of the Cool School/Crafty Carol Alex Brands product line.
Play Visions Named Exclusive Distribution Partner for Splashlings
Play Visions announced a strategic partnership with Splashlings, the small collectible characters from toy developers TPF Toys.
In a deal penned with TPF Toys, Play Visions will be the exclusive partner of Splashlings in North America and take the lead on marketing, brand development, and sales and distribution. Splashlings is a line of collectible underwater ocean friends each with a unique personality, that encourages hours of endless play. The deal also gives Play Visions entry into the blind bag collectibles category.
The Splashlings product line features An Ocean Full of Friends, including a special group of mermaids and shells, as well as more than 100 pets, underwater gems, and treasures for kids to collect and play with. A free Splashlings app is available on both Android and iOS devices and allows kids to track their collectibles and watch exclusive webisodes. Splashlings products can be found at Toys“R”Us, Wal-Mart, and specialty stores across North America.
Play Visions Inc. will continue to release new collections in the coming years.
Black+Decker, Wagz in Licensing Deal
Black+Decker announced the addition of Wagz, Inc. as a new partner in its licensing program. Wagz, Inc. will introduce a line of connected pet products, which includes a Smart Dog Collar, a Smart Dog Feeder, and a Smart Dog Door. Wagz, Inc.’s Black+Decker line will complement the brand’s existing products designed specifically for pet owners.
The Black+Decker Smart Dog Collar will be the first product to be introduced to the market in the 2017 holiday season. This smart tracker has been built to monitor the whereabouts and safety of your dog. With precise location tracking, virtual fencing, distance monitoring, pre-recorded messages, and on-demand alerts, the GPS-enabled collar provides dog owners valuable data and insights and invaluable piece of mind.
The Black+Decker Smart Feeder and the Black+Decker Smart Dog Door will be released to market in Q2 2018. These products are all controlled through one Black+Decker app experience for iPhone and Android smartphone users.
New Justice League Writing Instruments to Launch
Caran d’Ache has joined forces with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, to create legendary luxury writing instruments.
In their workshops in Geneva, Caran d’Ache has created three legendary writing instruments inspired by Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman from Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming film Justice League.
Bespoke writing instruments, both roller and fountain, are now available for each of the three key characters and the premium pens reflect the textures and colors of the costumes worn by the DC Super Heroes in the new film. These three amazing writing instruments, each sold separately, come in one of 60 exclusive limited-edition boxes. Each box is numbered: “1 in 60 pieces.” They will be available specialty retailers and carandache.com from November 2017.