2 minute read
Sonic the Hedgehog
Their products range from apparel, accessories, home, stationery, and gifting, all targeted at Minecraft’s biggest fans.
In 2021, BIG W was home to a number of world firsts for the Minecraft brand. They experienced huge success when Hunter Leisure’s new sports & outdoor products launched in store. Products included a mountain bike, skateboard, scooter and helmet.
With the effects of COVID being felt across the retail landscape throughout 2021, BIG W offered fans a unique cross-category Minecraft digital experience through the October – December 2021 period.
When fans visited the BIG W website to shop Minecraft products, QR codes were hidden amongst the product imagery. Fans simply took out their phones, scanned the QR code and were instantly transported to an exclusive and unique offer where they could download Halloween themed skins for their Minecraft characters.
The range featured product from an array of local partners including LEGO (construction toys); Mattel (action figures, playsets and roleplay); Funko (Pop Vinyl distributed by Ikon Collectibles); Hunter Leisure (sports and outdoors); Harper Collins (publishing); Caprice (apparel, bags, accessories,).
Back to School never looked so good, with Clarks launching their brand new range of school shoes in December 2021. Clarks have incorporated some bolder designs this year while broadening options for fans. The range is available across a number of retailers; Clarks, Shoes and Sox, Myer, The Tribe, and Hannah’s (NZ).
Sonic is experiencing huge success, both on screen and across consumer products.
Thanks to a hugely successful movie in 2020, Sonic’s appeal has exploded in 2021 and into 2022. He is a $1B franchise and continues to be one of the most popular video games of all time.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is set to whirl back onto our screens in April 2022 with the all-star cast returning. Jim Carrey, Ben Schwarz and James Marsden reprise their original roles and Idris Elba joins the cast as Knuckles.
If the movie wasn’t enough, Sonic Prime, a new 3D animated “high octane adventure” Netflix series, is due for release in the second half of 2022. Developed by Man Of Action Entertainment and WildBrain, the 24 episode series will continue to drive Sonic’s fame throughout 2022.
Sonic’s retail presence has expanded considerably in mass and specialty over 2021. In exciting news, key retail partner Best & Less are due to launch an instore gaming event in April 2022, featuring Sonic outerwear and sleepwear ranges. Fans can purchase products and go into the draw to win either an Nintendo Switch and Sonic Mania games.
In a match made in heaven, Sonic has partnered with local Australian company, The Oodie, to produce a range of wearable blankets fit for the nostalgic Sonic fan as well as the younger and new generational fans. The range is scheduled to launch online in time for the April movie release.