NEWS
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POKÉMON CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH RETAIL SUCCESS
The Pokémon Company International is celebrating a fantastic 2021 at retail as the year-long activity surrounding its 25th anniversary approaches a conclusion. Exciting pop-ups in world-renowned UK store Selfridges and in Berlin’s iconic KaDeWe have consolidated the strength of its retail activations with high-end department stores, while sales of toys and its trading card game are soaring. Pokémon is currently taking over part of Selfridges’ toy space in three UK stores – its historic Oxford Street flagship in London, Birmingham Bullring and Manchester’s Trafford Centre – for a vibrant pop-up activation running from December 13th until the end of January. Meanwhile, a hugely successful pop-up installation in KaDeWe in the autumn has led to the launch of a permanent Pokémon space in Berlin’s foremost department store. In both stores, special branded areas have been created to promote the Pokémon range while also offering in-store entertainment to provide a fun and immersive experience for fans of all ages. A wide selection of Pokémon toys, licensed merchandise, special 25th anniversary lines and Pokémon trading card game products are available at all locations. Named Best Gaming Licensed Property at the 2021 Licensing Awards, Pokémon has also proved a winner at retail with sales of toys and TCG soaring higher than ever in the UK this year. The brand – the 6th biggest property in the UK – has seen overall toy sales rise by an incredible 91% on 2020 (source: NPD data YTD November 21.) In Germany TCG sales are also up by 81% YTD. Building on this momentum, Jazwares have extended their master toy rights for Pokémon to include new direct distribution territories in the UK and Ireland and GAS from January. The company has exciting new lines coming for 2022, which they will be showcasing at the various major toy fairs in the new year. Next year also sees another first for Pokémon as its World Championships comes to London – the first-ever time the Championships will be held outside North America. The pinnacle of competitive Pokémon play.
NHL SURF AND SKATE SITE LAUNCHES Calhoun Sportswear has launched its NHL Surf and Skate consumer website. This site will feature NHL products from their NHL Surf and Skate brand. The new product range is a category extension of the NHL license that Calhoun has held since 2008. It features premium retro styles reflective of the Calhoun brand experience since 1973. Featured items include specialty finished sweatshirts and t-shirts with premium printing and cresting. These products will be sold by Calhoun’s e-commerce partners and Calhoun’s various e-commerce sites. A retail pop-up shop will be featured in the Calhoun factory’s historicallythemed store located in the heart of the Design District of St Catharines. Although Calhoun is very focused on NHL Products they have worked with some key entertainment and beverage licenses including Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, Simpsons, Rick and Morty, Corona, Anheuser
Busch, Molson Coors, Harry Potter, DC Comics, Bob Ross, General Motors. Calhoun has been located in St Catharines since 1973. The company continues to cut, sew, print, embroider from the 40,000 sq. location and its US warehouse near Buffalo, New York.
KIDSCREEN POSTPONED TO JULY As a result of the ongoing pandemic, Kidscreen Summit 2022, which was set to take place live in Miami from February 14 to 17 has now been postponed to July 18 to 21. The location and venue will remain the same. Kidscreen Summit Virtual will still take place as planned from March 7 to 11 and all attendees registered for the live event will have access to the digital companion event. All existing live event registrations and sponsorships will be transferred to the rescheduled event in July.
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