RAINBOW - ACQUIRING NEW BRANDS AND EXPANDING EXISTING ONES

Acquiring new brands and expanding owned ones, Rainbow’s unique talent to grasp trends confirms the group at the forefront of licensing innovation.

Launched in 2004, Winx Club has capitalized on the adventures starring the most stylish fairies ever created. Almost 20 years on, Winx Club keeps developing new style guides that captivate both long-time and new partners.

As the exclusive worldwide licensor for Consumer Product of FATE: The Winx Saga, Rainbow has deployed a multitarget strategy, launching striking collections that contributed to the rebirth of the brand also in the YA target. The Netflix original live action series for YA audiences available in 190 countries has captivated millions, following the licensing expansion agenda of Winx Club and resulting in new partnerships that revive the interest in the endless resources of the saga.

2023 is once more a year of progress full of news on every front. LA based ColourPop Cosmetics has just released the Limited-Edition Winx Club X ColourPop Collection and fashion and apparel multi-territory collabs have Rainbow team up with Spain-based Lefties and teen-specialized Don’t Call Me Jennyfer to boast outfits in the latest Winx anime style. In addition, leading fashion retailer in Turkey Defacto is on board to drop the YA Winx Club FW ’23 collection after a solid long-time partnership for the kids target, and Amscan is coming up with a women’s collection of costumes and accessories inspired by the first season of Winx Club.

On the publishing front, Italy’s giant Mondadori will reissue the Winx original comics, and Mad Cave Studios just unveiled the 2024 upcoming Graphic Novel of Winx for YA and middle grade readers through Maverick & Papercutz.

The brand fan community keeps growing following engaging projects such as 2022’s cosplay contest, sparking for huge web engagement. On a different note, Pinocchio and

Friends has grown quickly, with season one peaking rating charts in Italy, UK, and Latin America. Rainbow is already producing a second season in collaboration with Toonz Media Group and Rai, with the BBC airing the show on its preschool hub CBeebies and premiering season two together with Rai Yoyo next fall. Already covering the main CP categories, the brand is touring shopping malls with live events from Soluna and ZooMarine renewed the hit collaboration started in ’22 for the upcoming seasonal events; master toy partner Giochi Preziosi is adding releases to the toy collection on shelves. A full range of inflatable beach toys will be out for summer ’23.

In publishing, Rainbow’s house Tridimensional keeps growing with the monthly magazine, original gadgets and stickers for the kiosk channel. The property enjoys excellent marketing and brand strategies, and news are on the way – Pinocchio and Friends will start touring kids museums in spring, debuting in Naples and Rome.

Finally on the children’s side, Rainbow’s preschool show Summer & Todd Happy Farmers keeps growing on a core strategy focused on fun education. The marketing partnership with Italy’s Coldiretti - Campagna

Amica – continues with themed initiatives raising awareness about nature and agriculture, while licensing plays a big role also this year with partners such as Ravensburger for puzzles, Salani publishing books, long-time partner Walcor ready to launch Easter eggs and Play by Play, to release the full multisize plush collection with all main characters in spring in Poland, Spain, and Italy. Kiosk publishing looks great too, with gadget magazines, activity, and sticker books published by Tridimensional.

Gorjuss In Italy

In 2023, Italy remains a stronghold for Santoro’s iconic brand Gorjuss, the territory spearheading a host of new signings and developments for the brand within the past year. Gorjuss’ agents Mondo TV S.p.a. continue to industriously garner new deals whilst longstanding partnerships deliver a diverse offering across Italy.

A raft of new Gorjuss licenses have been signed in Italy this year, including Coriex S.r.l., who will launch a rainwear collection this March, followed by beachwear and winter accessories over the course of 2023. Likewise, new licensee Cromo N.B have produced a broad range of greetings cards and wrapping paper to comprise a rich gifting offer, whilst other new signings Multiprint, Emecci and Sbabam S.r.l have commenced development for 2023/2024 releases.

Gorjuss’ existing licensees continue to demonstrate their staunch commitment, developing a far-reaching variety of products over the course of 2022/2023. The past 12 months saw publishing licensee Pon Pon Edizioni produce a variety of titles including the Little Book of Answers series and Gorjuss calendar, alongside a plethora of Zodiac themed booklets, bookmarks and magnets. Likewise, Edizioni Play Press show no signs of slowing, with over 60 Gorjuss editions published so far, and the very exciting new signing of Santoro’s revival brand Tutti Cuti for crosswords, puzzle books and activity books. Apparel continues to be a strong category for Gorjuss, with longstanding licensee Benetton enjoying a fantastic sell-through of the Wild collection for women and girls’ loungewear, underwear and socks. J Brand International delivered excellent numbers on the OVS Halloween range of girls’ tops, with another series in development for Halloween 2023. Spanish licensee Aznar Innova also continues to present a rich offering of loungewear and pyjamas via their Italian distributor ADMAS and Santoro Italia continues to straddle both distribution and licensing to much success for Gorjuss.

Gorjuss remains a major presence in Italy’s kiosk channels with DeAgostini launching their second collectable tins and scented clays campaign in February featuring a travel theme, whilst their 4th mini figure campaign enjoyed success, DeAgostini’s flowpack campaigns having sold in excess of 2.5million pieces to date. Panini S.p.a also continue to remain active in this channel. In confectionery, Balocco’s Easter Egg momentum continues with a new design set for Easter 2023, and Witor’s will launch their first Mirabelle designs for Easter 2023.