Violent Veg report bumper crop of deals and partnerships at Brand Licensing London
Latest news from the edgy and rarely politically correct world of Violent Veg (a series of photo-cartoons depicting everyday life from the viewpoint of real fruit and veg) is sure to be a key focus for The Copyrights Group at this year’s Brand Licensing show, Stand No 310, The National Hall, Olympia, 4-5 October 2006.
Highlights will include: news about an exciting initiative with national bone marrow charity, The Anthony Nolan Trust; a global mobile content deal with Crucible Media; a global deal with Solo Syndication; and the launch of the Violent Veg online shop – www.violentveg.com
The Violent Veg partnership with The Anthony Nolan Trust will help raise the profile of the charity and its work, recruiting volunteer donors to its bone marrow register, to its key audience – young men. The licence will allow the charity to produce a range of Violent Veg inspired products that will help hit home the charity’s serious message in a humorous way. The first products to be produced will be a range of pin-badges and magnetic bookmarks made by The Big Badge Company. The badges will be sold through banks and other high street retail chains and outlets.
Further key strategic signings from Brandmaster, the owners and creators of the Violent Veg brand, include the appointment of Crucible Media as licensing agents on a global basis for mobile content. Violent Veg will join Crucible Media’s portfolio of high profile clients, which include Aardman, Chorion, Working Title, Universal and Nokia.
Solo Syndication has also been appointed as syndication agents on a global basis. Founded in 1978, Solo Syndication is the exclusive syndication agent for the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and London Evening Standard, distributing text, photos, puzzles and comic strips to newspapers and magazines both in the UK and abroad and represents properties such as Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, Fred Basset and Modesty Blaise.
Brandmaster has also appointed PrintShop to set up and run the Violent Veg web shop, e-tailing custom-made, one-off items to order, such as apparel, mugs, fridge magnets, etc. In addition, 3rd party licensed product is also sold through the shop and links are established for licensees who are able to retail directly to the consumer online.
John Knight from Brandmaster comments: “The online shop provides a vital link to the ever increasing fan-base as well as giving a platform for product testing, which will be invaluable for licensees.”
Further fresh licensing news from the Violent Veg box includes:
- The Copyrights Group has appointed 360ep as licensing agents for North America.
- After a three-way pitch process, Noble Works Inc. has been appointed licensee for greeting cards in North America. A small but successful independent publisher, Noble Works specialises in edgy and sometimes controversial humour. The range of cards will be launched during January 2007.
- Licensing Essentials has been appointed as licensee for greeting cards, calendars and a wide range of other products for Australia and New Zealand, to be launched in the New Year.
- A deal has been signed with French licensee Siepa to produce a range of car accessories. Due for launch in May 2007, the range will include a variety of sunshades, sun blinds and air fresheners for the European automotive markets.
- Inkognito in Germany has been awarded a licence for postcards and family games.
- Jarrold's has agreed a licence to produce a slimline calendar for 2007 and for 2008.
- Bemrose has agreed a licence to produce Business to Business calendars for the corporate promotional market.
- Hardback Violent Veg joke books from Penguin (UK and rest of world, excluding North America) and Barnes & Noble (North America) were launched earlier this month.
- At the show, the Violent Veg team will be on the Copyrights Group stand on Thursday 5 October, signing copies of the new Violent Veg joke book. The book is part of the three-year deal with Penguin which has also generated a spiral-bound desk calendar and desk diary targeted at the Christmas market.
A gallery of Violent Veg images will be open for viewing opposite the Copyrights stand for licensees and retailers to get a real feel for the extensive range of characters and their broad consumer appeal.
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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, Fungus the Bogeyman, Jacqueline Wilson, Flower Fairies, The Sir Winston Churchill Collection, Marie Claire, MoDA, and Beatrix Potter English Gardens.
Press Enquiries:
For further information, hi-res copies of Violent Veg images or to set up interviews please contact
Hannah Aspey at Energy PR.
Tel: +44 (0)1993 823011
Email: hannah@energypr.co.uk
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
Fax: +44 (0)1295 672 060