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.
Der finanzen.at Ratgeber für Aktien!
Wenn Sie mehr über das Thema Aktien erfahren wollen, finden Sie in unserem Ratgeber viele interessante Artikel dazu!
Jetzt informieren!
Wenn Sie mehr über das Thema Aktien erfahren wollen, finden Sie in unserem Ratgeber viele interessante Artikel dazu!
Jetzt informieren!
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. |