JLG at Licensing Expo 2023

The Joester Loria Group was in Las Vegas last week for the 2023 edition of Licensing Expo, the world’s largest annual trade show dedicated to licensing and brand extensions. The event connects brand owners and licensing agencies with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees, and retailers. 

The Licensing International Excellence Awards, which honor innovation and creativity in the licensing community across 30 categories, were one of the highlights of the show. JLG’s work on the Funko Digital Pop! NFT with Kellogg’s took home the award in the Digital: Apps, Software, Video Games, and NFTs category.

Original Grain and Toyota Racing Development Partner to Create Motorsport-Inspired Watches

Original Grain, the renowned watchmaker known for its craftsmanship and commitment to sustainability, recently introduced a new watch collection in collaboration with Toyota Racing Development (TRD), Toyota’s longstanding factory-backed racing division. The Solar Octane watch collection pulls its vibrant color from the TRD Pro series of trucks, including the newly redesigned Toyota Sequoia and Tundra. As the brand licensing agency for Toyota and Lexus, The Joester Loria Group brokered this partnership on behalf of Toyota. 

The Solar Octane Collection features three unique styles and is available for purchase at www.originalgrain.com, with watches starting at $595. Each watch incorporates design elements from the Tundra TRD Pro, including the subtle digital camo details found throughout the interior and exterior and a solar movement that pays homage to Toyota's new innovative i-FORCE Max hybrid motor. The collaboration is expected to pique the interest of TRD fans, off-roaders, and watch enthusiasts looking for something unique and sustainable to add to their collection.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Happy Meal Launches at McDonald’s Japan

The World of Eric Carle is partnering with McDonald’s Japan to launch the first Very Hungry Caterpillar Happy Meal, featuring a choice of one of six gardening themed toys, which will be available at McDonald’s restaurants nationwide starting May 19 for five weeks. 

The partnership will be promoted with a dedicated TV commercial, in-store point-of-sale, exclusive packaging and a digital/social media campaign. The World of Eric Carle Happy Meal toys will help promote creativity, discovery and play by helping children develop a scientific interest in plants and insects, while the educational cards included with the toys will teach little ones the days of the week in both Japanese and English.

The brand licensing campaign for The World of Eric Carle is managed worldwide by The Joester Loria Group and in Japan through local agent Cosmo Merchandising.