EPIC NEW LINE OF INNOVATIVE TOYS FROM
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER KISS
IN THE WORKS TO ROCK RETAIL IN 2015
Epic Rights Signs Deals with Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy Company and K'NEX Brands To Bring KISS Collectibles and Licensed Products to Fans
Epic Rights Signs Deals with Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy Company and K'NEX
Brands To Bring KISS Collectibles and Licensed Products to Fans
- Following Licensing Expo 2014, Epic Rights, the full service, global
branding, merchandising and rights management company representing the
merchandising, licensing, e-commerce and digital media interests of
legendary rock band KISS, has secured its first raft of licensing agreements with Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy Company
Epic Rights Signs Deals with Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy Company and K'NEX Brands To Bring KISS Collectibles and Licensed Products to Fans
and K'NEX® Brands
for the development of all new toy lines for the iconic brand. The
announcement was made today by Juli Boylan-Riddles, Executive Vice
President, Global Strategic Partnerships & Licensing, Epic Rights.
"There continues to be an incredible demand for anything KISS,
as evidenced by the quality and quantity of licensing partners that the
band and the brand attract, and we look forward to working with Bif Bang Pow!,
Figures Toy and K'NEX to bring all new product to consumers," said
Boylan-Riddles in announcing the latest round of licensing partners for
the timeless and eternally popular band. "KISS' loyal,
passionate fans are a marketing fantasy come true, introducing younger
generations to the indelible music and celebrated antics of one of the
most popular bands of all time, continuing to grow the KISS consumer base and fuel demand for all things KISS."
Among the companies developing innovative toy lines around the fabled band's brand are:
- Bif Bang Pow!, the world-renowned manufacturer of licensed consumer products, will create the first-ever 3 3/4 inch scale KISS action figures. Bif Bang Pow! will also produce KISS stationery products, tin totes, drinkware, license plate frames, nesting dolls and other products as part of its special KISS collectibles line. Slated for release in early 2015, Bif Bang Pow!'s 3¾" scale KISS action figures and collectibles will be distributed exclusively through EE Distribution, a division of Entertainment Earth, Inc. and sold directly to consumers via its website, www.entertainmentearth.com, and other fine specialty retailers.
- Figures Toy Company, specializing in action figures for the collectibles market, is introducing KISS action figures reminiscent of the classic figures first released in 1977-78 by the Mego Toy Company. The figures, each with rooted hair, cloth clothing and 16 points of articulation, will be available in 18-inch, re-released in 12-inch models and, for the first time, will be available in 8-inch figures, too. The Figures Toy Company KISS figures will be distributed through Toys "R" Us, Entertainment Earth, KISS Museum, KISS Army Warehouse, Comic Book & Hobby Stores and Big Bad Toy with a suggested retail price of $24.99 for the 8-inch figures, which is anticipated to be on shelves in 1Q 2015, and $59.99 for the 12-inch figures.
- K'NEX Brands, the world's most innovative construction toy company, has developed KISS buildable figures that provide consumers with the ability to build their own Demon, Starchild, Spaceman and Catman, including costumes, musical instruments and a stage to display the completed KISS band members. K'NEX has also produced a KISS Rock Stage Big Rig Building Set which provides consumers with everything they'll need to take their KISS figures on tour, including two roadie figures and more than 300 pieces to create the ultimate KISS concert stage. The K'NEX KISS licensed products are currently available through www.knex.com and various independent toy retailers.
"As a huge KISS
fan since my early childhood in the 70s, I'm super excited to work with
this legendary band to create a variety of awesome new collectibles,"
says Jason Labowitz, President of Bif Bang Pow! "While we may have been given the opportunity to buy some great KISS products over the years, the Holy Grail of toys for collectors, 3¾" action
figures, were missing - until now. It's an honor to work on a
fan-centric line plan for the action figures, as well as a complimentary
set of new collectible merchandise."
"We never understood why 8 inch KISS
action figures were not produced back in the 1970's when The Mego Toy
Company had already released the 12 inch versions," says Figures Toy
Company CFO Anthony Balasco. "Our first release will have the retro
look from the 1970's, but future releases will cover all time periods
in KISS' remarkable 40plus year musical career."
"K'NEX
is known for both its innovation and for inspiring creativity in kids
around the world," said Michael Araten, President and CEO of K'NEX and
The Rodon Group®. "We are very excited to be introducing the next
generation of KISS fans to the wonder and excitement of building their own rock band and the magical environment of the KISS concert stage. It's an excellent representation of what loyal KISS fans and our steadfast builders expect and new consumers want-amazing value, interactivity, and building fun!"
About KISS
KISS
remains one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and
roll. As one of America's top gold-record champions, KISS has released
44 albums and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. Decades of
record-breaking tours around the globe have included high-profile
appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City,
the Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan, special guest appearance on the 2009 American Idol finale
that boasted 30 million viewers and a 2010 Dr. Pepper Super Bowl
commercial and advertising campaign in support of their Hottest Show On
Earth tour. KISS is currently featured in major advertising and
marketing campaigns for John Varvatos and Google Play. This April KISS
launches their inaugural Arena Football League Season with the LA KISS
Football team, bringing professional football back to Los Angeles. This
summer AMC will begin airing a new reality series in prime time about
the LA KISS first season. The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation
after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army
to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the
band's unbreakable bond with its fans. This year KISS will be
celebrating two major milestones, their induction into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame as well as the band's 40th Anniversary. For more
information: www.KissOnline.com
About Epic Rights
Epic
Rights is a full service global branding, licensing and rights
management company dedicated to building celebrities and entertainment
About Bif Bang Pow!
Bif Bang Pow!™ (bifbangpow.com) produces first-rate collectibles for such popular properties as Star Trek™, Dexter®, The Big Bang Theory™, Saturday
Night Live™, The Awesomes™, Mike Tyson Mysteries™, Adventure Time™,
Regular Show™, Penny Dreadful™, The Venture Bros.™, The Six Million
Dollar Man™, Flash Gordon™, KISS™, Battlestar Galactica™, NCIS™, and The Twilight Zone™. Founder
Jason Lenzi is a seasoned television producer and the ultimate fan of
cultish pop culture. So when he created his company in 2005, he took the
fan's perspective. His idea was to bring items to the marketplace that
he himself would want to own. Cultivated from TV, movies, books, comics,
music, and more, Bif Bang Pow!'s mission is to provide high-quality
action figures, toys, and collectibles to the massive cult audience (and
kids of all ages) that wishes these toys were already in their
collection.
About Figures Toy Company
Figures
Toy Company was started back in 1989 by Anthony Balasco who sold
collectible toys through print catalogs, print ads and direct selling at
collectible toy shows. In 1998, Anthony partnered with Steve Sandberg
and obtained the licensees to manufacture Replica Wrestling Belts.
Figures Toy Company now manufactures WWE, WCW, ECW Replica Wrestling
Belts, 8 inch Retro Type action figures and continues to work on product
directly aimed at the collectible consumer. Please visit www.figurestoycompany.com for more details.
About K'NEX Brands
Founded
in 1992, K'NEX Brands, the world's most innovative construction toy
company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the
world's leading integrated construction systems for children, and is
America's STEM building solution. Winner of over 250 international
awards and recognitions, K'NEX, America's Building Toy® company, is focused on Building Worlds Kids Love®
and encourages youngsters to "imagine, build and play." From the
living room to the classroom, K'NEX has building toys specially designed
for every age group and skill level. The K'NEX family of brands
includes K'NEX Building Sets, K'NEX Thrill Rides, K'NEX Education®,
Lincoln Logs®, Tinkertoy®, NASCAR®, Angry Birds™, Mario Kart Wii™, Mario Kart 7™, Super Mario™, PacMan™, Titanfall™, Family Guy™, Plants vs. Zombies™, and more. Since 1992, The Rodon Group®,
a subsidiary of K'NEX Brands, L.P., has manufactured over 31 billion
parts for the K'NEX building toy system.Join us as we help build the
leaders of tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.knex.com or www.rodongroup.com.
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