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IN CONVERSATION WITH... ABYSSE CORP
The
French connection
Inset: Abysse has a strong entertainment slate, including brands from Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal. Bottom: Emily Aldridge, head of global licensing, Abysse Corp.
With its HQ in Rouen, France and ten other branches around the world, gifting specialist Abysse boasts enviable local market knowledge and retail relationships in all key territories, including the UK. With strong growth being driven by the sales teams and local branches, the acquisition of GB eye earlier this year has also added a further string to its bow. LSB finds out more.
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ike many businesses, the last 12-18 months have been about adapting and adjusting for Abysse Corp. However, despite the challenges, the company has continued on its strong growth path, building on its portfolio of anime, gaming, film, TV and music properties. Solid performances from big anime names such as One Piece, My Hero Academia, Naruto and Dragonball Z have combined with new licences like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. Brands from Warner Bros., Disney and Universal have been key to Abysse’s entertainment slate, while gaming ranges from World of Warcraft and League of Legends have been notable successes. “We are also just making our first steps into the world of esports which I think could be very interesting,” Emily Aldridge, head of global licensing at Abysse tells LSB. “Music is now a focus for the company for the first time due to the vast experience in the area brought to the company by GB eye and we are really looking forward to building on the base that they have established.” Abysse acquired GB eye earlier this year, giving it a strong base in the UK with over 30 years’ worth of experience in the poster and wall art business. Emily continues: “The teams
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2021
have all integrated really well, even with the obstacle of no one being able to meet face to face due to Covid travel restrictions. There have been some changes in roles and product strategy in order to make us the most efficient team possible and I’m really looking forward to seeing how things develop over the next few years, as we have really created a juggernaut of a company.” Abysse had been expecting a consolidated turnover close to €60 million for 2021, but a bumper first half performance has resulted in some revisions, as Emily explains: “We are on track and in fact the new projection is more like €65 million due to an incredible first half performance. The growth has come from huge investment in staff and growing our teams in all areas. This has led to amazing innovations in products, improvements in product quality and new retail doors opened by the teams.” As well as the head office in France’s Rouen, Abysse has ten other branches around the world, with Emily describing the sales teams and local branches as being the “driving force”
