Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 105)

64 giftfocus hot property Signature Gifts has had a busy 12 months, and the acquisition of licenses for personalised books shows no sign of abating. For 2018, Signature is extremely pleased to be showcasing Marvel licensed personalised books, and to kick things off, two of the biggest characters from the Marvel Universe are now available in their own personalised stories. Firstly, we see the crown prince of Asgard, Thor, as he battles to save his realm from the evil Hela and impending doom in a faithful adaptation of the recent blockbuster movie; Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok. Everybody’s favourite web slinging super hero also makes an appearance in Spider-Man – Beginnings , a story of how Peter Parker and his alter-ego handle the challenges of school life and super villains, all whilst dealing with a cold! Both Marvel books are personalised with the recipient’s name, which will appear throughout the stories, and there’s also space for a name and personal message on the opening page. Available in softback and hardback, these books will be a smash hit amongst Marvel fans, and will be drop-shipped to the customer directly. With additional Marvel titles on the horizon, Signature Gifts will definitely have plenty more to shout about as it heads into spring/summer, and the rest of 2018. For further information, please visit signature-gifts.co.uk Jumbo Games signs Peter Rabbit™ licensing agreement Jumbo Games is delighted to announce that it has signed an agreement with Silvergate Media, the global licensing agent for Peter Rabbit ™ Classic, on behalf of Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), that will see the addition of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved, Peter Rabbit license to its portfolio of high quality children’s and adult puzzles. The manufacturer will be releasing four new classic Peter Rabbit puzzles for children and adult fans of the popular Beatrix Potter books. These will include a 4in1 Puzzles Box set that is Jumbo’s most popular puzzle format for children, as well as a Giant Floor Puzzle aimed at children aged 3+ years. In addition to the beautiful children’s range, the company will also be releasing a 1,000-piece and 500-piece puzzle aimed at adult puzzlers– offering something for every fan. The classic Peter Rabbit puzzles will be available in time for Easter 2018. Lisa Macdonald, Vice President Consumer Products and TV Sales EMEA at Silvergate Media said, “We’re pleased to welcome Jumbo Games on board the classic Peter Rabbit licensing programme. The products will offer fans old and new a great way to enjoy this much- loved brand together and we look forward to seeing the puzzles launch at retail next spring.” For more information visit jumbo.eu Sprinkling a tiny bit of happiness all over the planet A tiny bit of this happiness has been sprinkled over Widdop and Co. which fought off strong competition to become the giftware licensee for ‘The Happy News’, brainchild of Emily Coxhead. Starting life as a newspaper devoted to happy news only, Emily has spread the happiness across social media and beyond to promote her original and uplifting take on life. The launch of a striking new happiness-inspired giftware collection will take place on the Widdop and Co. stand at Spring Fair. The range will include stylish and playful jewellery and accessories, colourful mugs, bang-on-trend bags and an original range of photo frames, all featuring Emily’s heart- warming messages, quirky touches and hand-drawn illustrations. Alicia Davenport, Licensing Director at DRi Licensing, is enthusiastic about the new partnership, commenting, “This uplifting and absolutely on-trend brand connects with audiences of all ages and we’re delighted to welcome Widdop and Co. on board. They boast an enviable reputation in the giftware industry for strong designs and innovation within their range and we’re looking forward to a successful launch at the start of 2018.” Stephen Illingworth, Product Development Director at Widdop and Co. is excited about the opportunity this license entails, commenting, “The Happy News captures the current zeitgeist, connecting with audiences of all ages. The mix of colourful and fresh illustrations and heartfelt text is a dynamic combination and we’re thrilled to be part of the next exciting chapter of Emily’s journey with the launch of her first giftware range”. For further information, please visit widdop.co.uk Signature Gifts’ personalised Marvel Books