14 May 09

Scarlett & Crimson: buzzing in Barcelona – and beyond!

Art Ask Agency to license property in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey

Scarlett & Crimson may be cool in both the UK and the USA but now the rest of the world is getting very excited about them. The sassy, smart girls who share the closest friendship and all their secrets are fast becoming a target for major names in brand representation worldwide. Now Coolabi, the company that co-owns this exciting and original new property for tween and young teen girls, has appointed the Barcelona-based Art Ask agency to handle the Scarlett & Crimson brand in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The appointment follows only months after Lisa Marks & Associates took the property into North America and Gorian Consumer Products took on representation for both the GAS and Benelux regions, underlining the powerful groundswell of interest among the global licensing community in the brand that the Sunday Times has highlighted as one of the trends that will define 2009.

Appropriately enough for a property whose strength is as much based on images as words, the Art Ask agency has a strong background in both images and licensing: its areas of expertise, based on many years of experience, include licensing of artwork, photography, illustrations, designs and character lines and in particular what it describes as “fresh and innovative licenses” from a number of countries. Scarlett & Crimson, created and co-owned by Ged Backland, a major name in the greetings card world, with a reputation for original and striking ideas, is clearly in good company.

Coolabi’s appointment of Art Ask Agency continues a period of intense activity for the brand: not only has representation now been agreed for a number of key territories but later this year Boots is to stock a Scarlett & Crimson range of gift cosmetics for the UK market developed by beauty industry celebrities Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall and a collection of limited edition women’s vests was launched ahead of fashion week from fashion designer Robert Cary-Williams.  The first two in a 16-title series of books is imminent in the UK and USA from consumer publishing giant Simon and Schuster which feature Scarlett and Crimson’s band, ‘The Darq Starz’.  In support of this Coolabi has commissioned original music development of 6 tracks for delivery in July.   The roll out of the virtual band will be managed over the course of 2009/10.

The Scarlett and Crimson digital experience will launch on July 14^th – created by Kids Industries the website will provide an interactive and fully customisable digital space for tween girls and will feature a Music Maker, social networking area and e-commerce.

Maria Strid of Art Ask Agency says: “We’re ready for the challenge!  Scarlett & Crimson is a property with great potential, a quality design-led license and that we are confident we can take a long way.”

Janet Woodward, Head of Licensing at Coolabi adds: “Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey are all markets with large potential audiences for the unique and stylish brand that is Scarlett & Crimson.  Art Ask Agency has a reputation for taking on exciting and original art, design and character-led properties and identifying licensing opportunities that reflect and enhance their unique qualities for a large audience. They are the ideal choice to bring Scarlett & Crimson to these five markets.”

For further information please contact :

Jane Garner & Sallie Deary

jgarner@kilog.co.uk  /  sdeary@kilog.co.uk

kilogrammedia ltd

Bury Barn

Brent Pelham

Hertfordshire

SG9 0AU

t  + 44 ( 0 ) 1279 778 919

f  + 44 ( 0 ) 1279 778 929