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Bright Group International (BGI) has announced that hit Hallmark brand Country Companions is set to enter the world of books, after signing a deal with Egmont Publishing.
Country Companions is already a massive success in the greetings card market and Hallmark enlisted BGI as global publishing agent to ensure a successful transition into the world of books and to expand and extend the brand.
Egmont is planning to publish ten books each year and is focusing on taking the brand into several different sectors – the publications will cover adult gifting, children’s picture books and a baby range.
“We are absolutely delighted to link Egmont with such an iconic brand as Country Companions and have the chance to tell the stories of these much-loved characters,” explains Lara Hancock of Egmont, “this is a fantastic opportunity to bring Ed Hedgehog and his friends to a wider book audience.”
“Country Companions is an incredibly strong brand and we always knew it would translate well to publishing - for us it was a question of deepening the characters through voice and story and opening up their world,” adds BGI MD Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, ' we are incredibly excited that the property is hitting the 'on trend' of nostalgic, wholesome, make do and mend, homemaker/garden maker, conservation, and eco. To have a publisher of Egmont’s calibre on board is fantastic and this gives us great confidence in the property’s ongoing potential - we are looking forward to a long and successful partnership.”
“It's a pleasure to be working with Vicki and the team at Bright and I'm looking forward to seeing some of Egmont’s fantastic ideas reach fruition as we start to build a strong presence in the publishing category for Country Companions,” says David Wootliff, Licensing Director at Hallmark. “Country Companions is one of Hallmark's most established brands - people really love the quintessential British countryside in the summer and this is the essence that comes from all the characters. It emanates fun and adventure, making Country Companions the perfect partner for Egmont Publishing to bring to life in what we believe will be some really fantastic books.”
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