HarperCollins announces new deals
HarperCollins Publishers has two new merchandising deals with Woodmansterne Publications Ltd and Bluebird Brands.
The deals will result in an extensive new range of Collins Gem-branded greetings cards, stationery, bags, umbrellas and mugs, due to hit the retail market during Autumn/Winter 2010.
Woodmansterne Publications has been licensed to produce greetings cards, gift wrap and tags, note-cards, and invitations featuring words and definitions taken from the iconic Collins English Dictionary. Launching with a range of greeting cards targeting the male market, designs include: ‘nuts’, ‘whopper’, ‘cheers’, ‘macho’, ‘vintage’, and ‘dude’. This range of visually eloquent cards can be used to send a birthday message to all types of men, from young and funky through to mature and traditional.
Julia Woodmansterne, creative director, says: “We are delighted to be partnering HarperCollins with this brand new range. What a chance it has been to try and combine imagery, and the English wit of the double entendre, with word definitions from the Collins English Dictionary – our trusted companion, through school, with crossword puzzles, and resolving those Scrabble arguments.”
Meanwhile, Bluebird Brands is developing a range of stationery, bags, umbrellas and mugs featuring a fun and inventive take on content and branding from the Collins English Dictionary
range.
The Bluebird collection launched at the NEC Autumn Fair, and will be available to consumers from October. “We are very excited about this new Collins Gem range,” says Rachel Needs, brands and licensing director at Bluebird Brands, “we always look to link our products into the personality of a brand and this new line fits into that remit absolutely perfectly. It is something completely different and Collins Gem is such a strong and recognisable brand that these products will really stand out.”
Melanie Beer, head of licensing and content development at HarperCollins, says: “I am delighted to be working with Woodmansterne and Bluebird Brands to develop the Collins dictionary into consumer products, beyond publishing. Merging funky words with trendy designs, these licensees are designing an awesome range of greetings cards, wrap, stationery, mugs, bags and umbrellas – coming soon!”
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