files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from Coolabi
London, 25 May 2011. Leading entertainment producer and rights management company Coolabi has appointed The Joester Loria Group, a leading full-service licensing and marketing agency, as the exclusive licensing agent for Poppy Cat for North America.
The Joester Loria Group provides innovative and strategic brand building services and will be launching an integrated licensing and merchandising programme for Poppy Cat and her colourful cast of friends, aiming at an audience of 3-5 year olds, with products inspiring adventure and fantasy play. Key licensing categories planned for North America include toys, games, and apparel.
This autumn, Poppy Cat, the lovable children’s preschool character from the book series created by Lara Jones which has sold in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide, will come to life in an animated TV series airing in the US on Sprout and in Canada on TVO, SCN and Knowledge Network.
Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV in over 50 million American households and its VOD offering is the #1 on demand service for younger children with over one billion views.
The show has just made its international debut on Nick Jr in the UK, and will be quickly followed by a global roll out across Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Far East.
Poppy Cat’s UK and international licensing programmes are also forging ahead. Golden Bear has recently been announced as master toy partner. Additional categories signed include TV tie-in publishing, magazines, sleepwear and underwear, and games and puzzles.
Anna Hewitt, Head of Licensing at Coolabi, says: “The Joester Loria Group has an incredible track record in creating innovative licensing programs for many significant brands in the North American market and we have every confidence that they will secure some fantastic partners for Poppy Cat.”
Debra Joester, President & CEO of The Joester Loria Group adds “The delightful characters and graphic style of the Poppy Cat brand lends itself to multi-category merchandise opportunities and engaging play patterns. We look forward to working with Coolabi and Sprout to market Poppy Cat and bring these fanciful characters from the screen to a full assortment of products designed to encourage imaginative role play.”
About Coolabi
Coolabi specialises in the ownership, development and creative management of high quality children's and family brands and intellectual property. The current portfolio includes Poppy Cat for Nick Jr, Purple Ronnie, Scarlett & Crimson, The Large Family and Dead Gorgeous. In addition Coolabi also licenses rights to selected brands, including Bagpuss, Clangers, and Ivor the Engine. For more information and a background on the company visit
www.coolabi.com .
About The Joester Loria Group
The Joester Loria Group,
www.joesterloriagroup.com , is a full-service licensing and marketing agency providing its clients with a full array of services, including: strategic planning, competitive analysis and implementation of licensing strategy, management of publicity and advertising, and marketing for licensing programs. The Joester Loria Group represents Pepsi-Cola North America including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Aquafina , AMP and SoBe; Discovery Communications including Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Discovery Expedition, the official outdoor lifestyle brand of Discovery Channel, Discovery Fit & Health and key series River Monsters, MythBusters, Shark Week and Deadliest Catch by series producer Original Productions; Pinkalicious, a leading girls’ property based on the NY Times best-selling book series written and illustrated by Victoria Kann; Coolabi’s preschool series, Poppy Cat, airing on Sprout; LazyTown, children’s entertainment brand dedicated to promoting health and well being, airing on Sprout; Annoying Orange, the #1 YouTube sensation; Johnsonville Sausage, premium sausage brand; Baked goods leader, Entenmann's; and top automotive publications from Hachette Filappacchi, Car and Driver and Road & Track and Hearst Corporation leading magazine Popular Mechanics.
