Artists let it rideArtists let it ride

Artists working in the licensing business are finding that in tough economic times customers and retailers alike are responding to the differentiated product offering their work can supply. At the 2009 Licensing Internati

April 6, 2018

3 Min Read

Artists working in the licensing business are finding that in tough economic times customers and retailers alike are responding to the differentiated product offering their work can supply. At the 2009 Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas, the artist community again provided its unique perspective that can translate across licensing categories from apparel to home goods. i1_652.jpg

Some of the recent deals included:

  • Paul Frank has signed a multiyear licensing deal with American Greetings to bring the quirky monkey and his friends to greeting cards, gift packaging, stickers and party goods. The line will roll out to retail in September.

  • A wide range of homeware goods based on House-Mouse Designs will be developed through Geolivia, an international company with offices in Hong Kong, China and India.

The home line will include placemats, coasters, tableware gift sets, ceramics, chopping boards, lap trays, aprons, gauntlets, double oven glove, tablecloth, table runners, tableware and melamine and wooden trays. The manufacturer also will create baby and children's products such as baby bottles, rattles, bags, blankets, furniture and curtains.

  • The art of award-winning artist Lyn Gianni was introduced to licensees at the expo by Porterfield's Fine Art Licensing.

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Gianni is best known for her charming paintings of cats and dogs, realistic sea life paintings, inspirational and uplifting captioned images and artwork that represents her Hawaiian origins. One of Gianni's most recent collections that has been drawing interest is her Chubbettes, which gently present plus-sized ladies having fun.

Porterfield's also added Donna Knold to its roster of fine artists. Knold may be best known as an illustrator for children's books but has also created artwork for clients that include Time Warner. i3_205.jpg

Porterfield's is representing both artists' work across licensing categories, from apparel to crafts, needlework to prints, home décor to giftware. Their work can be viewed at www.porterfieldsfineart.com.

  • Three new partners have paired up with Virginia-based property Peace Frogs for gifts and more.

The deals include Westland Giftware for gifts, Kurt Adler for holiday ornaments and Gearmax for backpacks.

Other categories open for licensing are garden, health and beauty, stationery, apparel, kids apparel, pool toys, home décor, flags, food and beverage, books and videos.

  • Sara Prints, a division of SIT, has teamed up with PlanetColor By Todd Parr for a new line of licensed merchandise.

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The licensed product line will include sleepwear for boys and girls, from size 12 months to size 14. The products are expected to launch in spring/fall 2010 and will join a merchandise program that already includes apparel (Jen's Ideas), backpacks (Four Peas), and journals, coloring/activity books and stationery items (Chronicle Books).

In addition, Planet Color by Todd Parr, will soon have a large-scale online media component, thanks to a partnership with digital creative agency Animax Entertainment.

The online playground will feature activities that embody the key Planet Color brand attributes of "having fun with color while being kind to the earth and each other." Animax is already developing a range of games designed to push the edge of technology and engagement.

  • Sunnyray, Breezy and others from the eco-character brand Planetpals launched a new green gang of designs called PeacePal at this year's Licensing International Expo. The PeacePal range, says creator Judith Gorgone, complements the characters of Planetpals with messages for a better world, such as "world peace and love or bust!"

Gorgone's Planetpals has teamed with Woods International for a line of room décor expected to hit specialty retailers and the catalog segment in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. this December.

Other Planetpals licenses include eco-friendly toys from Ceaco, natural bars from Dante Confections and kids music from Digital Sound Productions.

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