Among licensing-related efforts we noted at the recent Tabletop Show in New York:

• Gibson Overseas is developing a collection of John Deere dinnerware (plate, cups, bowls), breaking with the more promotion-oriented products of the past to introduce one for everyday use, says Gibson’s David Nicklin. The line, which will take its cues from John Deere’s familiar green and yellow colors, will launch in early 2019 with an eye toward expanding Gibson’s distribution to retailers already carrying the brand’s products, including Tractor Supply Co., says Nicklin. “John Deere is one of the few brands people recognize by color so we are incorporating that into the products that we develop,” says Nicklin.
• Fiskars’ Royal Daulton Gordon Ramsay Maze collection is getting an upgrade. The new Maze collection, which takes its name from the chef’s restaurants, features a textured design at a slightly higher price ($200 for a 16-piece set vs. $160 for a more standard version).
• Alessi is bringing fine bone china to children’s dinnerware with licensed designs from Italian designer/architect Alessandro Medini. The nine-piece Proust and Concentrici collections ranging from stainless steel cutlery ($35) to a 13-inch melamine platter ($85), will ship later this year. Meanwhile, Alessi is entering the home fragrance market, using licensed designs from Dutch interior designer Marcel Wanders on products such as candles and diffusers.
• Actor-turned-artist Bronson Pinchot’s Blue Indigo dinnerware collection started a 15-20 store test in March at Costco in the U.S., building on a business that started with the retailer’s Canadian outlets, says Stephen Santulli of licensee Certified International. In Canada last year, Costco sold 90,000 units of the four-piece square bowl sets, says Santulli. The U.S. locations have taken in about 4,000 units for the test, says Santulli.
• Artist Barbara Ignatiev landed separate dinnerware licensing deals with Prima Design and Lee’s Group International. The Prima Collection features floral designs, while Lee’s will have birds and sealife, says Marcy Silverman of The Brand Liaison, which represents Ignatiev.

Contacts:

Alessi, Grace Canlas, National Sales Mgr., 212-431-11310 x1003, grace.canlas@alessi.com

The Brand Liaison, Marcy Silverman, 914-914-282-2053, marcy@thebrandliaison.com

Certified International, Stephen Santulli, 914-741-1332 x102, steve@certifiedinternational.com

Fiskars, Douglas Yuen, Dir. Experience Retail and Visual, 212-542-6995, douglas.yuen@fiskars.com

Gibson Overseas, David Nicklin, VP Marketing and Licensing, 323-832-8900 x1507, davidn@gibsonusa.com.