The home of great brands
29
Jan, 2021
Guide Dogs joins Bulldog Licensing portfolio

Agency set to build consumer products range for the UK national charity

Joining Bulldog Licensing’s carefully selected portfolio of brands this month, is Guide Dogs – which supports people with sight loss to live actively, independently and well. Bulldog will be creating a consumer products campaign for Guide Dogs, one of the nation’s favourite charities.

Building on the charity’s unrivalled reputation for raising puppies to become life-changing partners, the licensing programme will target dog owners with high-quality pet products, training aids and pet travel accessories. Outside of this core area of dog-specific product lines, the programme will see Bulldog bring to market a wide range of items aimed at dog lovers everywhere ranging from collectable toys and apparel to accessories, homewares, gifting, collectibles and stationery all focused on the amazing dogs, trained by an incredible team of people, to make a life changing difference to visually impaired people throughout the UK.

As well as Raising puppies to become Guide Dog partners, the charity, which was recently named as the 6th most popular UK charity in a YouGov Poll, is also the largest provider of services for children and young people with a vision impairment

Guide Dogs has an unparalleled reputation for canine care and expertise as the world’s largest breeder and trainer of dogs, making it the perfect brand for dog lovers nationwide.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, comments: “Guide Dogs does some incredible work helping people with visual impairment to lead happy, independent lives safely through their incredible dog partnerships, which gives them a special place in the heart of the UK population. We’re excited to start building a range of products for Guide Dog owners and trainers themselves, as well as our nation of dog lovers.”

28
Jan, 2021
Fred & Ginger on board for Popeye

Bulldog Licensing adds leading pet company for the evergreen sailor man

Design-led pet product manufacturer, Fred & Ginger, has signed up to create a range of pet treats and accessories based on heritage animation brand, Popeye. The deal was brokered by leading European agency, Bulldog Licensing, and joins a growing consumer products portfolio in the UK.

Fred & Ginger is set to create a full collection of feeding mats and bowls, pet beds, toys, accessories, collars and leads, along with a range of treats, including Easter eggs and advent calendars, and pet snacks inspired by the world’s favourite strong man, Popeye.

Having recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, Popeye remains a popular brand in the UK and the world, with a social presence of 9.8 million fans. The TV show is broadcasted on Pluto TV (Theatrical Cartoons, YouTube Shorts, additional Popeye Cartoons).

The latest deal joins an expanding licensing programme, with two new deals announced at the end of last year, Ecell and Ideal Home Shopping for tech accessories and crafting lines respectively. Additionally, both Fashion UK and Bro Global have renewed their deals for the iconic character. The offering now spans a range of categories including apparel, accessories, dress-up, and Bulldog plans to further strengthen the portfolio in the near future.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, comments: “We’re thrilled to welcome Fred & Ginger on board. The team has a robust experience in creating excellent licensed ranges for pet owners, and we’re excited to see their new creations for Popeye as the brand continues to delight fans throughout the UK.”

25
Jan, 2021
Bullseye donates Pembrokeshire Murders fee to Victim Support

British game show brand donates fee from recent TV series to charity supporting victims of crime in England and Wales

A recent TV series following the investigation into serial killer, John Cooper, has helped creators of game show, Bullseye, to donate a large sum of money to Victim Support, a UK charity which helps to support victims of crime and help them to feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime.

The three-part ITV miniseries, Pembrokeshire Murders, unveiled how Cooper, who had gone unarrested for many years, was finally bought to justice. Despite early investigations discounting the suspect as perpetrator of the crimes, due to him not fitting the police artist’s impression of the murderer, he was later convicted thanks to investigating officers viewing the footage of his appearance on the iconic British game show.

Cooper had been a previous contestant on the show, and had since significantly changed his haircut, thus escaping arrest initially due to lack of identification. But an eagle-eyed police officer recognised him from the show, leading to his subsequent conviction.

When Bullseye creator and owner, Andrew Wood, and his family, wife, Jane and daughter, Laura, learnt of the connection, they were horrified.  However, when the producers of Pembrokeshire Murders requested permission to use the content in the new drama, they agreed on the understanding that they would charge a significant fee for the clip, all of which they would donate to Victim Support.

Andrew Wood comments: “We were appalled to find that a serial killer had appeared on our show and never wanted to benefit in any way from the footage. But to be able to donate the fee for its use in the ITV series to Victim Support goes some way to helping those who have suffered at the hands of criminals.”

Bullseye remains a favourite among viewers in the UK and further afield and Bulldog Licensing, which manages the rights for the brand has built a successful consumer products programme for the property, spanning categories such as gifting, publishing, apparel and accessories and is in conversations with potential licensees to further expand the offering.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, adds: “We’re pleased that the team at Bullseye were able to create some good from such a terrible situation and offer much-needed support for victims of crime as a result.”