Jacqueline Wilson gears up for another high profile year.
Copyrights’ Jacqueline Wilson licensing programme is geared up for another successful year in 2006. Recent national media profiles have helped raise brand awareness to new levels, market research has positioned the author and her brands as the No.1 driver in the licensed publishing category and the launch of Jacqueline’s new book – Candyfloss – took place earlier this month with a book signing tour across the UK currently in full swing.
The South Bank Show broadcast their documentary on Jacqueline Wilson in early March, and much to the delight of her tweenage fan base it was put out on a Sunday afternoon rather than its usual late evening slot. Melvyn Bragg interviewed Jacqueline about her upbringing in Kingston, her early ambitions to be a writer and her catalogue of work. The show also explored why Jacqueline is such a popular author and featured interviews from the jeweller who makes all her rings! - as well as her illustrator Nick Sharratt, Julia Eccelshare, The Guardian’s children’s book editor, and the child psychologist Nicholas Tucker.
Published the same day, Jacqueline also featured in an article in The Observer, which looked at the 50 most influential people in book publishing. Jacqueline was ranked number 7, two places above J K Rowling.
Copyrights’ two Jacqueline Wilson brands (Best Friends and Totally Tracy!) continue to thrive and both Jacqueline and her illustrator Nick Sharratt continue to be fully involved in the product development and support the programme wherever possible. Jacqueline has already visited licensees in person at Spring Fair where she was very keen to see and discuss how Best Friends and Totally Tracy! product was doing at retail and ideas for new brand applications.
Golden Bear’s character soft dolls, photo frames and gifts, were one of the main highlights for Jacqueline at Spring Fair as the dolls - Gemma, Alice and Tracy - have become particular favourites with the author. Packaged with a complementary item as gift sets, which are now available in Toy R Us, the soft tactile nature of the dolls will extend across the range, and include lifestyle products such as bags and cushions .
Other show highlights included Portmeirion Designs’ new mugs and tableware range, lunch box products from Zak Designs, shrinkle sets from Wizard Toys, a back to school range from In the Bag, Only 4 You’s giftware and friendship strings, Shreds’ bags, aprons and keyrings and T-shirts from Rosie Nieper.
Speaking at the show, Jacqueline commented:
“This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to visit licensees at a trade event and it’s good to be able to make the connection and see how a product launches to a buying audience. It’s been an interesting and productive day and a very rewarding experience seeing so much product coming through to market.”
Further good news for the Jacqueline Wilson brands, and a number of other Copyrights properties, was the recent NPD License Tracker research which revealed that the licensed publishing category was the third biggest area for total licensed spend amongst consumers. The growth of the category which includes books, part-work titles and gift stationery, has been driven in all areas by Jacqueline's successful titles and licensed merchandise, thus making her the No 1 character for boys and girls in this sector, YTD September 2005.
Another research company, K-Wat, released information towards the end of 2005 about children’s Top 10 properties. The results confirmed that Tracy Beaker was voted No 3 and Jacqueline Wilson No 5 for girls aged 7-9 with Tracy Beaker also scoring highly at No 2 for girls aged 10-12.
Jacqueline’s most recent title, Candyfloss, was launched at the beginning of this month with a book signing tour to 12 venues across the country. The story follows a girl called Floss who happily divides her time between divorced parents until her mum decides to move to Australia. Floss decides to stay with her dad and they muddle along together, surviving on chip butties and enjoying visits to the local funfair until disaster strikes and Dad's money troubles catch up with him. The book cover is wonderfully illustrated by Nick Sharratt, in the style of an old fashioned fairground poster with a portrait of Floss taking centre stage.
As Jacqueline launches her most recent novel, the film adaptation of The Story Of Tracy Beaker, has been nominated for a Royal Television Society Award in the best children's drama category.
Looking further ahead into 2006, another highlight for Copyrights’ licensees will be Tracy Beaker’s invitation to attend the Children’s Party at the Palace – one of the special events planned to celebrate The Queen’s 80th birthday. The summer garden party, to be held on the 25 June, will celebrate British children’s literature by inviting children, their parents, grandparents and guardians, along with characters from Britain’s favourite story books, to enjoy a tea party and entertainment show at Buckingham Palace.
Commenting on the year ahead, Nicholas Durbridge, CEO of The Copyrights Group said:
“The year couldn’t have got off to a more encouraging start for the two Jacqueline Wilson brands. Jacqueline continues to attract positive media coverage and industry nominations and accolades. Both her author and brand profile remains high and the launch of her new book and other activity planned for 2006 can only drive consumer awareness even higher.”
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About The Copyrights Group
The Copyrights Group Ltd was established in 1984 and has its headquarters in the UK with offices in Japan and Australia, and works with independent sales agents in the US and Continental Europe. The Copyrights Group is one of the world’s leading independent licensing companies with a portfolio of classic characters, fine art and lifestyle brands including Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear, The Snowman, Jacqueline Wilson, Flower Fairies, The Sir Winston Churchill Collection, Marie Claire, MoDA, and Beatrix Potter English Gardens.
Press Enquiries:
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The Copyrights Group:
Keith Pashley, Marketing Manager
Email: keithpashley@copyrights.co.uk
Kathleen Caper, Marketing Executive
Email: kathleencaper@copyrights.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1295 672 050
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