Collecting Fever with „YooHoo & Friends“ at m4e

m4e - November 2013

m4e AG now markets the successful collector’s property “YooHoo & Friends”. The collectible figurines are distributed by Simba Toys in Germany.

Small but powerful! The collectible figurines and plush toys of „YooHoo & Friends“ are on a worldwide road to success – global sales of the plush toys exceed 22 million units since their launch in 2007. Recently, the cuddly plush animals with their big wide eyes, created by Aurora World Ltd., drew attention at a pan-european McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion. In spring 2013, 6,000 restaurants in 40 countries offered Yoohoo and its friends in their kids menu – the response was extremely successful. Now the brand management and media company m4e AG has acquired all licensing rights for the German-speaking territories, planning to develop a broad licensing program.

For Germany, prominent license partners are on board by now: Simba Toys already distributes the small figurines since spring 2013, expanding the line steadily. In spring 2014 the 26 current figurines will be joined by seven more characters. Additionally first play sets are on shelves yet, so are games and puzzles by Noris and Eichhorn. Simba supports this property by a TV campaign. Several activities on the “YooHoo & Friends” website and on facebook increase the demand as well. A total of seven various apps for iPhone and four apps for iPad offer digital fun.

Likewise, Blue Ocean Entertainment believes in the success of this brand. The company already published two “YooHoo & Friends” magazines in 2013, as special edition of the “Total Tierlieb” magazine series. In 2014 further editions will follow, among others including an exclusive collectibe figurine as magazine premium.

The „YooHoo & Friends“ animals are partially based on real-life endangered animals from all over the world, all of them worth to be protected and preserved. With every figurine comes a collector’s card and a booklet with further information on the animal and its habitat, perfect for collecting and trading. The educational concept behind the high entertainment factor of this brand deals with such important aspects as environment and endangered species, while perfectly matching the playing behaviour and needs of kids at the age of 5-7 years.