The World's Leading Brand Licensing Consultancy Experiences Extraordinary Growth in 2007

The Beanstalk Group, the world’s leading strategic brand licensing consultancy, today announced that the agency achieved significant growth over the past nine months. In addition to impressive new initiatives for its existing client roster of world-class brands, Beanstalk also welcomed several high-profile new clients.

"Our accomplishments for the first three-quarters of 2007 have been very encouraging," said Ciarán Coyle, Managing Director of The Beanstalk Group, Europe. "We are seeing more and more brand owners realising the power of licensing to increase brand awareness and consumer touch points, inspire loyalty and drive new revenue streams. We will continue to build on this momentum as we further develop our existing clients’ licensing programmes and introduce new products for several recently acquired clients," Coyle said.

New client wins for The Beanstalk Group include:

• The Piaggio Group’s Vespa brand
• Procter & Gamble’s Max Factor
• Pelé Sophie Grigson
• Samsonite
• “Art of Being” by the designer Elizabeth Emanuel
• Dr Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!

New programme initiatives for The Beanstalk Group and their clients include the following:

• Land Rover launched a range of footwear and accessories at GDS and MICAM in 2007 with licensee Bos-Land Fashion. The range, designed by famous Italian design group Alberto del Biondi Industria de Design, will retail through department stores and high-end independents.
• Land Rover will also be launching eyewear at the upcoming Silma show in October. A new apparel collection will be launching in Land Rover stores in South Africa in early 2008, further establishing Land Rover as a leading global lifestyle brand.
• Jack Daniel's celebrates the launch of its barbecue sauce collection by Baxters. The range, which includes four flavours - original, smokey, chilli and honey -- will launch through major retailers including Sainsbury's and Tesco in October 2007.
• Jack Daniel's has also signed a license agreement with cutting edge fashion company Religion/Buddhist Punk. The company will launch a collection of Jack Daniel's men's and women's apparel in Spring 2008. The collection will reflect the rock and roll side of this iconic American brand.
• The Alan Titchmarsh licensing programme welcomes new licensee Bulldog. Renowned for their quality garden tools, Bulldog will be working closely with Alan to develop a functional and beautifully-designed collection of tools for launch in Spring 2008.
• The Harley-Davidson European youth programme goes from strength to strength. Denmark-based home textiles licensee, Contrast, has achieved considerable success with its bedlinen collection launched at Heimtextil in January. They are expanding their collection into apparel and back to school product in Autumn 2007.
• Since last year's Licensing Show, when The Beanstalk Group revealed the new design direction for the Love Hearts brand, the licensing programme has experienced tremendous growth. This Autumn several major new licensees will launch their products, including stationery, bedding and sleepwear. Love Hearts jewellery by CW Sellors recently launched online at www.loveheartsjewellery.com. The collection, which includes silver charms, necklaces, bracelets and cufflinks will also launch through CW Sellors own stores plus independent higher end jewellery stores across the UK.
• Love Hearts has also signed a new license with The Make-Up Factory. The Make-Up Factory will be producing a collection of Love Hearts beauty accessories, including make-up bags, nail files and brushes. These will launch exclusively in Superdrug in October 2007.
• Editions Quo Vadis is the newest addition to the Andy Warhol global licensing programme. As the company that invented the concept of the agenda planning diary in 1952, Quo Vadis will be offering high quality stationery products such as address books, agendas, diaries, memo pads, notebooks, notepads and pencil cases for the Andy Warhol brand in France, Switzerland, Benelux countries, and other French-speaking countries in Africa and the Middle East. Quo Vadis, a company that represents innovation and creativity, promises a range of products that successfully embody the spirit of Andy Warhol.
• The Andy Warhol Foundation, has also signed a licensing agreement with Burton , the legendary snow apparel company, to launch snowboards and a snowboard-inspired collection consisting of outerwear, boots, bindings, thermal, and travel bags all featuring Andy Warhol prints. The Collection is already garnering rave reviews, and promises to be a cult favourite.
• Paris Hilton has signed a license agreement with leading toy maker Simba, who will develop a fashion doll concept range ‘Styled by Paris Hilton'. The range will feature three key occasions: Shopping, Party and Glam Summer. The ‘Styled by Paris Hilton' range aims to hit stores in early 2008.

"Given Beanstalk’s strong performance this year, we are confident that the licensing industry is entering a very promising period," added Coyle. "Many brands that have never considered licensing before are approaching Beanstalk to help them develop strategic brand extension programmes. Licensing is now recognised as a revenue generating component of the marketing mix and a smart option for today’s innovative brand marketers."