App based on legendary darts gameshow launches on iOS and Android

Bulldog Licensing, agent for iconic darts gameshow Bullseye, has announced the launch of a brand new Bullseye app on iOS and Android.

The app, developed by award-winning mobile development and consultancy group Island Wall Entertainment, went live on iOS/iTunes in mid- May and Android/Google Play a week later and has been an immediate hit, securing and sustaining a top five placing on both iPhone and iPad from the day of its launch and gaining a 3.7 star rating on Google Play.

The app version of the gameshow combines the fun of dart throwing and showing off your general knowledge over three rounds. As in the TV show, contestants throw darts at different boards to choose question categories, gain points or win prizes. The app also includes the voices and catchphrases of original presenters Jim Bowen and Tony Green as well the original music and game sounds. It is available in one or two-player versions.

For well over a decade Bullseye’s mixture of darts and general knowledge questions was a huge hit with UK audiences. The show featured not just amateur darts players battling it out for a selection of prizes, but some of the biggest names in professional darts throwing for charity. Bullseye ran over the entire ITV network from 1981 to 1995 and regularly pulled in 13 million viewers per episode, with a peak audience of 19.8 million on Boxing Day 1989. ITV has since featured the show in two high-rating one-off specials. Popular demand led to Bullseye reappearing as a series in 2006 on the Sky owned digital television channel Challenge where it is now broadcast regularly and has secured some of the game show channel’s highest ratings.

With the Bullseye licensing campaign, launched in 2013, Bulldog is looking to capitalise on the show’s huge retro appeal and enduring popularity. The licensing programme will target a number of categories including apparel, boardgames and gifting. The official Bullseye page of Facebook, which has over 60,000 fans, will be used to help promote product.
“Bringing this highly visual game to the App Store and Google Play was a licensing target from the start,” says Bulldog MD Rob Corney. “With its extensive experience and strong understanding of the app market, Island Wall has done a great job of capturing the fun and excitement of the show for fans of all ages.”

Shopkins, the red-hot collectible that recently won the girls’ category Toy of The Year Award, has added more licensees to its stellar programme of licensing partners – with Bulldog Licensing signing deals with Roy Lowe, MV and Goliath.

Shopkins are cute little characters that live in Shopville. There are 148 to collect in each series, including limited edition and ultra rare characters, and are sold inside adorable little shopping bags. The range includes playsets which allow fans to interact with their Shopkins in fun, interactive environments. Despite only having been on the market for a few months the brand has sparked a buying frenzy, fuelled by an online presence that has seen over 20 million hits on the official Shopkins Youtube channel as well as over 420 million views on fan videos. Retailers across the UK are struggling to cope with demand and are seeing enormous sales of the new series two characters, making Shopkins the hottest girls’ brand in the territory.

The new deals will see Roy Lowe & Sons produce socks, whilst MV Sports and Leisure will release wheeled goods including bikes and scooters. Goliath joins with a range of boardgames that are already seeing huge sales in the US and will be distributed in the UK by John Adams Leisure Ltd. Retail feedback across the whole range of licensed products has been phenomenal with products launching and immediately topping the sales charts across a wide range of categories.

The new licensees add to an impressive line-up that includes Spearmark (lunchware, tableware, drinkware and lighting), Topps (collectible and trading cards, sticker products and accessories) VMC (headwear, scarves, sunglasses and more) Aykroyds TDP (nightwear and underwear), Autumn Publishing Bonnier (publishing), Character World (bedding, inflatable chairs and beanbags), RMS International (arts and crafts), Pedigree (annuals), DJ Murphy (magazines), Winning Moves (games), Pyramid (posters) and Whitehouse Leisure (amusement plush).

“Shopkins is a huge character brand, the biggest new property in the UK market and a huge opportunity for licensees and retailers alike. Kids can’t get enough of them and this is translating into a massive licensing presence,” says Bulldog Group MD Rob Corney. “We are speaking with every major retail in the UK to build specific packages to continue the brand growth and drive sales and are hugely excited for the future of Shopkins, having seen the 2016 lines at the recent Distoy. The plans behind this brand are amazing and Shopkins fans everywhere are in for a real treat!”

Bulldog Licensing, global agent for It’s A Wild Life, has announced details of two new licensing agreements for the top design property.

Created by leading graphic design agency Form Advertising, It’s a Wild Life brings together fashion, style and humour through a stunning blend of design and photography. The brand combines wildlife with uniquely human characteristics and accessories. With the high quality design that features in all of Form’s work, the result is a truly unique property that is perfectly placed to take advantage of the growing presence of design brands across the globe.

Bulldog has brought on board Pyramid in the UK and Eire for posters, stationery, mugs, wristbands, badges, stickers, keychains, magnets, postcards, coasters and calendars, whilst Spanish sub-agent Edebe Licensing has signed Creaciones Euromoda for bedding, cushions and comforters.

The new deals add to an impressive pan-European licensing programme that includes Cabero Group (calendars and diaries) and Bagtrotter (backpacks, shopping bags, luggage, pencil cases and diaries) and CCI Shoes (slippers, rain boots, flip-flops and canvas shoes) in France. In the UK, Bulldog has signed Cooneen for nightwear and underwear, Misirli for hosiery and socks, VMC for accessories, Yoofiti for wall art and Spearmark for a range that includes lunch bags, mugs, travel cups and bottles.

“It’s A Wild Life just keeps on growing,” says Bulldog Licensing Manager, Vicky Hill. “The designs are new and fresh and really stand out on shelf, which is why licensees across Europe are queuing up to get involved with this red hot property.”

Bulldog Licensing has added four more licensees to the licensing programme for Shopkins, the red-hot collectible that recently won the girls category Toy of The Year Award at the New York Toy Fair, adding to its Collectable of the Year award from the BTHA.

Shopkins are cute little characters that live in Shopville. There are 148 to collect in each series, including limited edition and ultra rare characters. They are sold inside adorable little shopping bags and despite only having been on the market for a few months the brand has sparked a craze that has swept the world, fuelled by an online presence that has seen over twenty million hits on the official Shopkins Youtube channel with over 400 million views across fan videos. Retailers across the UK are struggling to satisfy demand and air freighting new product to cope.

The new partners are Sambro for bags and umbrellas; Spearmark for lunchware, tableware, drinkware and lighting; Topps for collectable cards, trading cards, sticker products and accessories; and VMC Accessories for headwear, scarves, gloves, sunglasses and phone/tablet cases & accessories.

This adds to a large existing programme that includes NJ Screenprints (apparel) Aykroyds TDP (nightwear and underwear), Autumn Publishing (publishing), Character World (bedding and beanbags), RMS International (arts and crafts), Pedigree (annuals), DJ Murphy (magazines), Winning Moves (games), Pyramid (posters) and Whitehouse Leisure (amusement plush).

Comments Bulldog Group MD Rob Corney: “Shopkins is hotter than ever – the figures are selling in colossal numbers and branded merchandise is flying off the shelves. This is the biggest new brand in the UK and is taking a huge share of the girls’ market with retailers keen to support a very wide range of product to supply the consumer demand.”

Bulldog Licensing has announced that three new partners have joined the licensing programme for hit design brand It’s a Wild Life.

Created by leading graphic design agency Form Advertising, It’s a Wild Life brings together fashion, style and humour through a stunning blend of design and photography. The brand combines wildlife with uniquely human characteristics and accessories. With the high quality design that features in all of Form’s work, the result is a truly unique property that is perfectly placed to take advantage of the growing presence of design brands across the globe.

Cooneen (nightwear and underwear), Misirli (nightwear, underwear and socks) and CCI Shoes (slippers, rain boots, flip flops and canvas shoes) are the latest licensees to tap into the brand’s selling power. Cooneen and Misirli have signed deals covering the UK and Eire, whilst CCI will cover France through an agreement brokered by French sub-agent MJA

The new deals add to a Europe-wide licensing programme that already includes Cabero for calendars and diaries in Spain and Bagtrotter for backpacks, shopping bags, luggage, pencil cases and diaries in France. In the UK, Bulldog has signed VMC for accessories, Yoofiti for wall art and Spearmark for a range that includes lunch bags, mugs, travel cups and bottles.

“It’s A Wild Life has really hit the mark,” says Bulldog Group MD Rob Corney. “It is a simple concept but a unique and innovative one and the result is a property that works in any market, as its continued success across the continent shows.”

More New Deals Announced For Shopkins

Bulldog Licensing has announced more new deals for Shopkins, the phenomenally successful collectible that secured the girls category Toy of The Year Award in New York to add to its Collectable of the Year award from the BTHA.

Shopkins are cute little characters that live in Shopville. Each series features 148 to collect, including ultra-rare and limited edition characters, and are sold inside adorable little shopping bags. Despite only having been on the market for a few months the brand has sparked a craze that has swept the world, fuelled by an online presence that has seen over twenty million hits on the Shopkins Youtube channel and over 400 million views on fan videos. Retailers across the UK are struggling to satisfy demand and are airlifting in new supplies to cope.

The new deals will see Aykroyds/TDP develop children’s nightwear, underwear and swimwear for UK/Eire, whilst Autumn Publishing/Bonnier will be launching with scented publishing that will hit the shelves in all English-speaking markets. The range will include scented sticker scene books, scented sticker activity books, shopping bag craft kit, scented puzzle books and note books with scented pen, press out model book, scented sticker book and activity box.

The new partners join a host of existing licensees – Bulldog has already secured deals with Character World (bedding, inflatable chairs and beanbags), RMS International (craft stationery), Pedigree (annuals), DJ Murphy (magazines), Winning Moves (games), Pyramid (posters) and Whitehouse Leisure (amusement plush).

“Shopkins is proving to be an absolute phenomenon,” says Bulldog Group MD Rob Corney. “The demand is incredible and the brand is showing huge growth with retailers across the whole market asking us for more product and bespoke promotions. Kids just can’t get enough of them and it’s no surprise that we are securing deals with so many top licensees.”