Jul 5, 2009

Papel Giftware License and Trademark Becomes Available to the Industry

Los Angeles, CA – The licensing agreement between Stanley Papel, owner of the Papel Giftware trademark, and The Encore Group will expire on December 31, 2009. Accordingly, the trademark and numerous Papel Giftware designs will be available for sale or licensing, effective January 1, 2010. The announcement was made this week by owner Stanley Papel.

“Papel Giftware has been a leader in social expression giftware since 1955,” stated Stanley Papel. “The line is currently being sold in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia. More than 250,000,000 mugs carrying the Papel trademark have been sold since its inception.”

Established in 1955 by founder and industry icon, Phil Papel, the company’s roots were on Main Street, Disneyland (Anaheim, California) as a retail shop known as Ruggles China & Gifts. The company quickly grew to a successful retail chain of more than 20 stores in Southern California, and established a wholesale division called Phil Papel Imports. This wholesale division was sold to Russ Berrie in 1987, and in 2000 to Cast Art Industries.

In 2003, the Trademark “Papel Giftware” was repurchased by Papel Designs and is marketed by the The Encore Group in the U.S.A. Though successor companies have moved around the gift industry, the parent company was retained by the Papel family and today concentrates on product development for both domestic and international markets, with shipments to more than 20 countries.

Although the broad scope of product is manufactured overseas in Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand and Indonesia, all design efforts take place in the USA through a network of more than 30 talented artists. Phil’s son, Stanley, joined the company in 1970 and focused on developing the wholesale line in the USA until 1990, when PAPEL DESIGNS® began direct licensing in the U.S.A. and Internationally.

In 2005, the company celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary. The story of the company has been featured in a published magazine story, “The Little Shop on Main Street” by Dave Mason. It is available on download upon request by cnotacting us and requesting the download.

For more information, please visit www.PapelGiftware.com, or contact Stanley Papel directly at PapelDesigns@aol.com.