Apr 26, 2011

Carte Blanche Appoints DOUGLAS As North American Licensee For “Me To You”, Tatty Teddy

KEENE, NH – Tatty Teddy is set to capture hearts across North America with news of a major licensing agreement between bestselling British brand Me to You and US plush toy firm DOUGLAS.

DOUGLAS will produce and distribute the Me to You brand’s loveable Tatty Teddy bears, targeting specialty retail stores throughout the USA and Canada.

The plush gifting range will inject an exciting new look into high-end stores, with a strong everyday offering as well as products for key seasons including Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

Launched in 1995 by Carte Blanche Greetings, Me to You has become one of the UK’s top character brands, with retail sales in excess of $800m a year. The brand’s signature character is Tatty Teddy, a grey bear with a blue nose who communicates love and friendship to fans all over the world.

Richard Edmondson, Commercial Director at CBG, said: “DOUGLAS’s expertise in the premium plush market will be invaluable as we seek to seal the success of Me to You in North America. This is an exciting development and we very much look forward to building a long-term partnership with DOUGLAS.”

Scott Clarke, President of DOUGLAS adds, “Carte Blanche is a strong company with great marketing skills. It is a pleasure to be associated with a company that clearly exhibits integrity and creativity as part of their corporate culture. This is a unique opportunity, as we work together to bring the endearing Tatty Teddy way of social expression to our customers in the US.”

The licensing deal was brokered by Stone America Licensing, which was appointed by Carte Blanche last year with a brief to introduce its bestselling brands to retailers across North America.

About Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd

Founded in 1987, Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd is a global character brand company based in Chichester, West Sussex. Its broad portfolio of brands includes Me to You, My Blue Nose Friends and Violent Veg.

Me to You was created in 1995 and Tatty Teddy – the endearing character behind the brand – became an instant hit.

Over 70 million Me to You plush bears have been sold since 1995. Tatty Teddy appears on a wide range of Me to You products including greeting cards, plush, clothing, jewelry and collectable figurines. My Blue Nose Friends launched in June 2008. The Friends have been released gradually, in sets of four, five or six, which has helped keep interest in the brand alive. There are currently 63 Friends in the collection. Over 9,000 pieces of My Blue Nose Friends 4-inch plush are sold each day. In total, 4 million pieces of plush have been sold, enough to fill all the seats at Wembley Stadium 45 times!

For more information visit www.carteblanchegreetings.com

About Douglas

For nearly 60 years, Douglas Company, a New England family owned business, has been making fine quality stuffed animals, creating innovative designs and promoting imaginative play and emotional connection. Unique gestures, endearing expressions and irresistible softness distinguish Douglas animals and bring them to life for children of all ages. For more information visit: www.douglastoys.com