Three licensing veterans have created a new “Putin-Free” campaign to raise funds and help feed desperate refugees in Ukraine.
The founders of Brown, Gordon & Van Raalte have already signed their first deal with The Wildflower Group. TWG is now producing print-on-demand products for purchase on www.putinfree.world and PUTIN-FREE™ X POPWILD (shoppopwild.com).
Founded in 2020, Browne, Gordon & Van Raalte is a consulting group providing analysis, strategic planning and go-to-market solutions for licensors, licensees and service providers.
Peter Van Raalte, Woody Browne and Alan Gordon say the idea was born from their desire to implement a plan of action that will benefit as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. They used their collective experience to create a timely fundraising concept, saying Putin-Free is the siren call for these times.
“Though the creation of the concept came up during the last election cycle, it is even more relevant today,” says Van Raalte. “Watching the devastation, we all wanted to help and realized our best efforts would come from what we know how to do best.”
As the news from Ukraine grows worse each day, the trio fast-tracked the concept into a comprehensive licensing program and presented it to The Wildflower Group (TWG), which has become the program’s initial licensee. TWG manages the full scope of ecommerce operations, builds online storefronts for product lines, and has the ability to print-on-demand domestically, so products can reach the market quickly.
BG&VR is working with TWG to donate a portion of the sale of each item directly to World Central Kitchen. Customers will also have the option to make an additional donation during the purchase process.
World Central Kitchen began serving meals 24 hours a day to fleeing Ukrainians in Southern Poland soon after the invasion started. They have now expanded to serve people across the region in Romania, Moldavia, and Hungary as well. They are also partnering with restaurants inside Ukraine to provide meals to those who remain in the country.
The initial launch will include tees, hoodies, and stickers. The team is also looking to increase donations by licensing the concept across other product groups and additional categories, according to Gordon.
“We will be donating all licensing profits to World Central Kitchen for their help with the people of Ukraine and we’re encouraging each licensee to make a direct donation from the sale of every licensed product as well to similar charities,” Gordon says.
The Wildflower Group (TWG) is an award-winning licensing and ecommerce service provider that works with some of the most well-respected brands in the U.S. to increase awareness through new products, retail platforms and markets. Founded in 2001, TWG has worked with hundreds of companies—including HBO, ESPN, Unilever, General Mills, Fanatics and Disney— to develop and manage comprehensive licensing and retail strategies.
The company offers a full line of licensing and consulting services, including strategic partnership planning, licensing sales and marketing, creative, ecommerce operations, legal and finance support.
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