What Consumers Will be Looking for in a Post-COVID World
By Alicia Rosa Brand Central Insights Consumers are starting to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. This new vaccinated world will be a testing ground to see if the pandemic-driven trends and habits will stay. At Brand Central Insights we’ve been able to look at the trends from the last year at a bird’s-eye view to see what’s going to stick around for the long haul and what will join the graveyard of TikTok fads. As we get closer to a post-COVID world, consumers will be looking to reclaim the time spent inside and celebrate extravagantly, but won’t want to lose the conveniences, communities, or creative hobbies they discovered in quarantine. E-Commerce & DTC Online shopping and e-commerce habits will likely continue post-COVID, despite the excitement… . . . read more
Travel + Leisure Group Launches Brand Licensing Business
The iconic Travel + Leisure magazine — a must read for travel junkies everywhere — is launching a new brand licensing business creating premium consumer products that leverage the globally known brand. The new venture will be operated by the Travel + Leisure Group, a newly established business line under Travel + Leisure Co., formerly known as Wyndham Destinations. “Travel + Leisure is one of the most iconic names in travel, and as the new stewards of the brand, our goal at Travel + Leisure Group is to thoughtfully develop this brand beyond inspiration and into curated products and services that travelers can feel, touch and experience firsthand,” said Noah Brodsky, president of Travel + Leisure Group and chief brand officer for Travel + Leisure Co. “As we look towards the… . . . read more
First Look At Mattel Toys From Disney/Pixar Flik ‘Luca’
Mattel has released a ‘first look’ at the first action toys to be released in their 2021 product line for Disney and Pixar’s original film “Luca”, coming to Disney+ on June 18. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, “Luca” is a coming of age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto, as they take in all that the Italian summer has to offer, gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. But the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret, as Luca and his friend are in reality sea monsters from another world, just below the water’s surface. Launching on July 1, Mattel is releasing a brand-new action figure line featuring Luca and Alberto— both as young boys… . . . read more
Spin Master Reports Epic Quarter
Spin Master CEO Max Rangel has just had the kind of investor call every CEO dreams of, as the Canadian toyco reported some stunning figures for revenue and profits this week. On May 5, Spin Master reported an impressive 39.3% increase in revenue for Q1 as compared to the same period last year. Gross sales increased 21.6% to US $294.7 million for the quarter, which the company says was primarily driven by higher sales in Preschool & Girls and Outdoor products. “Our performance this quarter clearly demonstrates our commitment to creating exceptional play experiences and engaging children’s entertainment through our three creative centres comprising toys, entertainment and digital games,” said Ronnen Harary, Spin Master’s Co-Founder. “It is very gratifying to see both our strong financial and operating performance this quarter compared… . . . read more
Who’s News: ViacomCBS’s Vidcon Makes 5 Key Appointments
Convention company Vidcon, a division of ViacomCBS, has appointed Nicole Leo to serve as director of creator partnerships, as Vidcon prepares its return to Anaheim with a live convention. Leo is tasked with cultivating relationships with the world’s top video creators, musicians, and celebrities, and also creating new programming for the talent she brings to the company’s events. Leo will also oversee ‘talent relations’ for Vidcon Now, a new subsidiary handling online events that was created after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leo will report to VidCon VP of Operations Colin Hickey, and will be based out of the ViacomCBS offices in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Vidcon, Leo served as director of celebrity and influencer marketing strategy at the communications firm Blended Strategy Group, and prior to that worked… . . . read more
Three Key Executives Join BLM Licensing
ViacomCBS’ Simta Sawhney, Fashion UK’s Hannah Miles and Ravina Mehta Have Joined Saphia Maxamed on the BLM Licensing Initiative. The mission to help Black Lives Matter control its own narrative got a massive boost in the UK as three veteran licensing executives have volunteered to join the Black Lives Matter Licensing Committee, headed by Saphia Maxamed, president of London Entertainment Inc. As first reported by Licensing Source, Simta Sawhney, category director at ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK; Hannah Miles, managing director of Fashion UK; and Ravina Mehta, graphic designer at BB Designs, have joined the BLM Licensing committee to represent the licensing industry and help shape the direction of BLM’s initiatives to promote inclusiveness and implement societal change. “I am thrilled with the support the industry has shown so far,” said Maxamed…. . . . read more