19.06.2007 11:00:00

Cabbage Patch Kids(R) Turn 25!

It’s hard to believe that nearly 25-years ago the cute and cuddly Cabbage Patch Kids® emerged onto the retail scene and captured the hearts and imaginations of mothers and children worldwide. Now, with well over 112 million ‘Kids™ adopted to date, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) along with Property Owner Original Appalachian Artworks Inc. (OAA) and Master Toy Licensee, Play Along®, a division of JAKKS Pacific™ (NASDAQ: JAKK), are celebrating the magic and wonder of the Cabbage Patch Kids by unveiling plans for an unforgettable 25th birthday celebration that is as unique as the ‘Kids themselves! To gear up for the 25th anniversary celebration in 2008, 4Kids Entertainment -- the licensing and marketing agent behind the Cabbage Patch Kids (as well as the company behind such sensations as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!) -- is embarking on a number of major marketing and promotional initiatives to help further fuel the frenzy and continue to attract a whole new generation of youngsters – and their parents – for years to come. "We are very excited to celebrate 25 years of the Cabbage Patch Kids with an A-list roster of licensing, promotional and retail partners, who will help us usher in another successful 25 years for the brand,” said Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. "For over two decades, Cabbage Patch Kids has stood as one of the most nationally recognized toy brands. We look forward to toasting the property’s success with a licensing program that reflects the wholesome charm of the Cabbage Patch Kids whom we know and love.” Getting the Patch party started is Carvel Ice Cream. Celebration Foods and the Carvel® brand have teamed up with the Cabbage Patch Kids and master toy partner Play Along for the year-long 25th birthday celebration. Launching this spring and continuing through fall 2008, Play Along will introduce exclusive celebration-themed merchandise. Year-long cross promotions will include TV/Print ads, online promos and in-pack sweepstakes. In addition, the Cabbage Patch Kids will add "television star” to their growing résumé when the ever-adorable ‘Kids star in a new GEICO® television spot, scheduled to begin airing this summer. As the Holiday 2007 season draws near, the birthday celebration will continue through a partnership with leading home shopping network QVC, the official venue of the 25th anniversary, which will feature exclusive one-of-a-kind merchandise created by Play Along and special events. Additionally, 4Kids Entertainment is expected to announce details later this year of a national QSR promotion taking place in spring 2008 with a major fast food chain. Other exciting initiatives for the brand include: NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CPK FAMILY This fall, the Cabbage Patch Kids family will get smaller…in size, that is. Play Along’s new Cabbage Patch Kids® Lil’ Sprouts™ bring the adorable uniqueness of Cabbage Patch Kids to a new small doll size! Standing proudly at about 5” tall, each CPK Lil’ Sprout comes with long lustrous hair, trendy fashions and fun matching accessories. And, just like the big ‘Kids, each Lil’ Sprouts is one-of-a-kind with their very own name and birth date. This lil’ addition -- expected to debut this fall at retail -- will also have its own boutique at Toys ‘R Us Times Square in September. ALL-NEW ENTERTAINMENT Brandissimo! – the Emmy nominated family entertainment company known for building connections between brands and young consumers through story, character and play – is expected to release a new set of videos and books designed to capture and celebrate the unique connection between Cabbage Patch Kids and young children. The product will include inspiring stories and developmentally engaging activities and play, through which young children can learn valuable life lessons as they care for their Cabbage Patch Kids. Brandissimo product is scheduled to hit retail in late 2008. BRAND NEW FAMILY DESTINATION The "birthplace” of the Cabbage Patch Kids, BabyLand General® Hospital in Cleveland, GA -- designated as one of the Travel Channel’s Top 10 Toylands -- is a major tourist attraction in a quaint mountain community and a noted family destination in Georgia for decades. And now the Cabbage Patch Kids are getting a brand new home. Construction began last month on a new 70,000 square foot building. Parent company OAA anticipates completion in time to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids licensing program in 2008. Located on 96 acres and surrounded by a panoramic view of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, the new structure will include retail space, offices, a historical archive of the Cabbage Patch Kids and the Southern Appalachian region, a meeting and conference facility, warehouse and offices. The site will also be recognized as the "home place” to 112 million Cabbage Patch Kids and their adoptive parents worldwide. Cabbage Patch Kids creator, Xavier Roberts, said, "It is my dream that people of all ages can enjoy the BabyLand General experience, but most of all I hope they can take home some of the inspiration and motivation this area has given me.” In addition to all of the exciting initiatives currently planned for the Cabbage Patch Kids property, 4Kids will also look to expand the brand with new apparel and accessories deals in 2008. About Original Appalachian Artworks Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. (OAA), founded in 1978 by Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts, is a privately held corporation located in Cleveland, Georgia. Owners of the world famous Cabbage Patch Kids brand and home to BabyLand General Hospital, one of Georgia’s top tourist attractions, OAA also manages a wide range of other projects while continuing to deliver hand-stitched one-of-a-kind, soft-sculpture Cabbage Patch Kids. www.cabbagepatchkids.com About 4Kids Entertainment: Headquartered in New York City with international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global provider of children's entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise licensing; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; product development and Web site development. For further information, please visit the Company's Web sites at www.4KidsEntertainment.com and www.4kids.tv. About Play Along Play Along®, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., is the award-winning toy company behind some of the most recognizable and popular children's toy licenses in the world, including classics like Cabbage Patch Kids® and Care Bears®, as well as new favorites like Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls. In addition to traditional toy lines, Play Along also manufactures and markets Speed Stacks®, the official equipment of the World Sport Stacking Association. Play Along’s products are found at specialty, gift and major mass retailers worldwide. For more information about Play Along’s products, visit www.playalongtoys.com. About JAKKS Pacific, Inc. JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories. The products are sold under various brand names including JAKKS Pacific®, Play Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative Designs International™, Road Champs®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®, Color Workshop®, JPI™ and Plug It In & Play TV Games™. JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com. About Celebration Foods Celebration Foods, a division of FOCUS Brands, Inc., is the marketer, manufacturer and distributor of leading high quality frozen desserts for all occasions, including Carvel ice cream cakes and desserts. Headquartered in Rocky Hill, CT, Celebration Foods is the market leader in the ice cream and ice milk frozen desserts category with a 65% share and distribution now reaching over 43 states in leading supermarkets, supercenters and club stores. For more information on Celebration Foods visit www.celebrationfoods.com. The information contained in this press release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors beyond the Company's control, including general economic conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from toy companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the uncertainty of public response to the Company's properties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations. ©2007 Original Appalachian Artworks Inc., All Rights Reserved.

JETZT DEVISEN-CFDS MIT BIS ZU HEBEL 30 HANDELN
Handeln Sie Devisen-CFDs mit kleinen Spreads. Mit nur 100 € können Sie mit der Wirkung von 3.000 Euro Kapital handeln.
82% der Kleinanlegerkonten verlieren Geld beim CFD-Handel mit diesem Anbieter. Sie sollten überlegen, ob Sie es sich leisten können, das hohe Risiko einzugehen, Ihr Geld zu verlieren.

Nachrichten zu 4Kids Entertainment Inc.mehr Nachrichten

Keine Nachrichten verfügbar.

Analysen zu 4Kids Entertainment Inc.mehr Analysen

Eintrag hinzufügen
Hinweis: Sie möchten dieses Wertpapier günstig handeln? Sparen Sie sich unnötige Gebühren! Bei finanzen.net Brokerage handeln Sie Ihre Wertpapiere für nur 5 Euro Orderprovision* pro Trade? Hier informieren!
Es ist ein Fehler aufgetreten!

Indizes in diesem Artikel

S&P 600 SmallCap 935,46 -0,94%