CopCorp Licensing and TK Brand Group have announced the formation of Knockout Licensing, a full-service licensing agency for big-name brands. The new agency is a joint venture, with Carole Postal, president of CopCorp, and Tamra Knepfer, president of TK Brand Group, serving as co-presidents. CopCorp and TK Brand Group will continue to maintain independent agencies and support their respective clients.
“CopCorp has been a very successful agency over the past 16 years, and when thinking about the future, we knew we had to make a bold move to grow and go head-to-head with larger agencies for some of the best new properties to represent,” says Postal. “Joining up with Tamra to form Knockout expands our expertise to a deeper knowledge of the entertainment and children’s market, as well as new media, which are key areas of growth for us.”
Knockout Licensing’s first announced client for global licensing is Boo: The World’s Cutest Dog. Knockout has already secured several large domestic licensees for Boo: Chronicle Books will publish its second Boo book this summer and has plans for a 2013 calendar; Gund has plushes at retail and additional items are in development. Knockout is currently in discussions for further domestic contracts and potential partners overseas.
“When I first met Carole, I could tell that we had similar goals and work ethic yet complimentary skills and professional networks that, when combined, would make us a more powerful force in the licensing industry,” says Knepfer.
Knockout will be launching its full roster of client properties (including Boo) at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., June 12-14.