Follow us on @toynewsonline


NEWS Licensing.biz Power List winners named Peppa Pig, LEGO, V&A and London 2012 crowned as most influential brands of last 12 months


By Samantha Loveday YOU MAY have noticed a rather snazzy supplement with your issue of ToyNews this month – this is the Licensing.biz Power List, your guide to the most influential brands of 2013. Voted for by 200 independent industry judges – including licensors, licensees, retailers and agents among others – the list celebrates properties covering four categories: Character & Entertainment, Art & Design, Brands and Sports.


Each had clear winners – Peppa Pig(eOne) was number one in the Character & Entertainment sector, LEGO was named the number one in Brands, V&A Museum topped the Art & Designs category, while London 2012 Olympic Games took the top spot in Sports. The Power List– put


together by sister title Licensing.biz, published in association with miEvents, and sponsored by MyBrandEmail and Counterpoint Systems – also honours a number of


in association with


properties which have held a strong presence in toy sector over the last 12 months.


These include Barbie and Monster High from Mattel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfrom Nickelodeon,


Tatty Teddy from Carte Blanche, Moshi Monsters from Mind Candy, Disney Princess, Fireman Samand Mike the Knightfrom Hit Entertainment, Tree Fu Tom from FremantleMedia and Batman from Warner Bros.


Gold Sponsor


Gold Sponsor


The full Power Listis also being distributed with selected issues of Music WeekandMCV.


Meroncourt details virtual office initiative


Tech and toy firm looking to represent companies without a base in the UK with new venture By Billy Langsworthy


MERONCOURT HAS revealed all to ToyNews about its virtual office scheme, an initiative which sees the firm act as a UK base for companies without representation in the territory. Steve Walsh (right), sales


director at Meroncourt, believes the company is well equipped to handle all the aspects of an overseas business. “The idea is that people


wanting UK representation that don’t currently have it are able to use us, not only as a distributer, but we can run their business in the UK,” Walsh told ToyNews. “It means Meroncourt can become a sub-division of their company in the UK. We can look after warranty


returns, RMA and even help run direct relationships between manufacturers and major retailers from a convenient base in the UK, without imposing on that relationship between the two of them.” Meroncourt states it will also be able to take care of aspects ranging from technical support to drop shipments. Walsh added: “We can also run technical support from here, and anything that the manufacturer would require to be carried out, we can do because we have the facilities to do that: drop shipment from here, marketing because we do the majority in- house and extended ranges. That’s where if a company doesn’t want to stock product but they


“We handled 70 per cent of it, aside from PR or warranty,” said Walsh. “When we moved into


the toy market, a lot of the procedures we used on the IT side we started to bring over to what we were doing with toys.” Meroncourt hopes the


want to sell them, they can list them on their website and we hold the stock here for them.


“That seems to be one of


the areas that lots of companies are interested in because it means they don’t hold infinity. From their point of view, there’s no cost. All they’re doing is taking the margin off the


top and everything else is handled for them.”


The firm first attempted the initiative prior to moving into the toy space, but since entering the sector, it discovered some toy firms desired exactly what Meroncourt offers. “We tried it in the past when concentrating on PC accessories.


scheme comes into its own next year, and is now looking for new manufacturers to get in touch. Walsh concluded: “At the moment the manufacturers that we’re working with have already been well established in the UK, but we’re looking for new ones and new brands to bring to the UK, it’ll be these people wanting the total management system. Meroncourt: 01462 680060


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74