Folkmanis entering licensing sector with Sierra Club deal

Emeryville, Calif.— Folkmanis has joined with The Sierra Club to produce a line of licensed puppets. The two-year deal is Folkmanis' first licensing partnership in the company's 29-year history.

The initial line consists of seven designs that include full-size and finger puppets. Some of the characters are a polar bear, grizzly bear and a bear in a sleeping bag, and Elaine Kollias, marketing director with Folkmanis, said that more designs might be added in the future. The collection has retail price points between $16 and $48.

Executives at both Folkmanis and The Sierra Club touted the new partnership.

"For nearly 30 years, we have created the best wildlife puppets in the world," said Judy Folkmanis, Folkmanis co-founder and creative director. "Sierra Club is the ideal choice to launch us into the licensed product area."

"We wanted to introduce quality, educational toy products that appealed to children's fascination with nature and at the same time encourage active play," said Johanna O'Kelley, The Sierra Club's director of licensing. "We are so pleased to be working with an industry leader such as Folkmanis to create these very charismatic wildlife puppets."

Kollias said Folkmanis will introduce the licensed puppets at gift shows and specialty trade shows this summer, and the line is scheduled to ship to retailers by August. Folkmanis is targeting its usual retail base of specialty toy and gift stores, science and nature museums, and zoo and aquarium gift shops. However, the company is branching out with the new line and plans to enter the outdoor, sporting, health and environmental markets. The Sierra Club will also showcase the puppets at its Sierra Summit in September.