Meredith Corporation has appointed Hamburg-based V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG as its exclusive licensing agent for SHAPE fitness magazine.

Michael A. Lou, chief executive officer, V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG, envisages several product categories for SHAPE. The company plans to start the program with sports and fitness apparel and equipment. SHAPE’s program will then expand into  diet meals, slimming products and nutritional supplements. Lou sees SHAPE licensing fitness-related services like wellness, yoga and Pilates courses and travels and potential product offerings as well.

Meredith prioritized licensing program development across its key brands and looks forward to continuing to grow its SHAPE licensing program with the help of V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG. The publisher’s licensee for the German SHAPE edition is the leading Hamburg publishing house Bauer Verlag, though the editorial has been outsourced. Lou will foster a close cooperation between SHAPE licensee and the magazine.

V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG is one of the leading independent licensing agents in the German speaking markets with more than a 40-year track record. Along with the recent