Stone America Appoints Madame Alexander for StinkyKids® Soft-Bodied Dolls
Madame Alexander to Immediately Expand Current Sold-Out StinkyKids® Line at FAO Schwarz, Nordstrom’s and Nordstroms.com for Summer 2010; Will Ship All Retailers Christmas 2010
NEW YORK, NY March 4, 2010 – Stone America Licensing (www.stoneamerica.com), one of the nation’s leading licensing firms, announced today that Alexander Doll Company (www.alexdoll.com), creator of Madame Alexander Dolls, has been appointed exclusive manufacturer for StinkyKids® (www.stinkykids.com) soft-bodied dolls.
StinkyKids doll line, recently seen in The Toy Book and ToyBook.com as a featured property for 2010, launched in 4th quarter 2009 and sold out at all 110 Nordstrom stores, at Nordstrom.com, and at FAO Schwarz New York. Madame Alexander will not only fill their reorders, but expand the program to additional specialty, mid-tier and mass retailers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Madame Alexander to produce StinkyKids dolls,” said Robert Stone, President of Stone America. “StinkyKids has already proved its success at retail, and with Madame Alexander’s reputation for quality, as well as its excellent retail relationships, we know they are the perfect partner to help us grow this exciting brand, with additional licensed products to include apparel, bedding, social expressions and more.”
StinkyKids are a group of 10 diverse “little stinkers” who learn to make right choices through the mistakes we all make as kids, and who live by the motto “Always Be A Leader Of Good.” They help encourage positive principles in children’s lives in a playful manner that kids love.
“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Madame Alexander to produce my little stinkers,” said Britt Menzies, CEO of SinkyKids LLC. “Together with Stone America, we are building the momentum for the brand that I’ve been working towards. Reaction to the brand, from retailers to consumers, has been nothing but positive. 2010 is going to be an amazing year.”
Stone America is also in negotiations with major publishers to produce the much-anticipated first book, which is now finalized and being requested by retailers.
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About Madame Alexander
The Alexander Doll Company (ADC) was founded 80 years ago by Madame Beatrice Alexander Behrman, the daughter of Russian immigrants. She was raised over her father’s doll hospital—the first in America—and often played with the dolls waiting to be mended. Her love of dolls led this dynamic woman to creating her own line of dolls.
Madame Alexander infused a sense of excitement and wonderment in her fine quality, handcrafted dolls. She initiated a series of firsts in the toy industry: the first doll based on a licensed character (Scarlett from Gone With the Wind), which led to the creation of dolls based on characters from popular motion pictures; the first to bring feature baby dolls to market; the first to create dolls in honor of living people (Queen Elizabeth, the Dionne Quints). Madame Alexander was also the first to introduce the first full figured fashion doll (Cissy) with haute couture outfits.
About StinkyKids®
From the creative mind of Britt Menzies, a mom who was inspired by her daughter’s simple request to paint her as a ballerina, StinkyKids is a brand with a fun, unique and fresh approach that teaches life lessons through its products and books featuring the 10 diverse StinkyKids characters. The name “StinkyKids” comes from the phrase “little stinKers,” which Britt used to describe the innocent behavior of her two kids when they were little.
The StinkyKids characters are little stinKers who learn to make right choices through their childhood mistakes and who live by the motto “Always Be A Leader Of Good.” StinkyKids is an innovative brand that appeals to parents for the values it represents and appeals to kids because the characters are real kids getting into real mischief.
Since inception, StinkyKids donates a percentage of its profits to Books, Bears and Bonnets, Inc., (www.booksbearsbonnets.org), a charity founded in honor of Britt’s aunt who died from uterine cancer. Books, Bears and Bonnets, Inc. delivers gift boxes to children and adults fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
About Stone America Licensing
Stone America Licensing, one of the nation’s premier full-service licensing firms, specializes in enhancing brand equity for some of the world’s leading companies, individuals, trademarks and logos. Stone’s unique approach maximizes brand potential through total licensing and merchandising solutions that turn brand equity into profit centers for its clients, while upholding brand integrity. Stone America has extensive experience in branded trademark extension licensing and has been involved in licensing of many Fortune 100 brands. The company’s current client list includes: Laura Ashley, Bed Head TIGI, Nadia Gellar, Paris Blues, International Truck & Engine, Kampgrounds of America, Under the Canopy, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andy Capp, JLG, University of Oxford, Norman Rockwell, School of Rock, Ne-Yo, Pam Anderson, David & Goliath, Scientific American, Scratch DJ Academy, CON Surfboards, US Speedskating , American Bass Anglers, Mel’s Drive-In, StinkyKids, Me to You, Lexani and the Bold and the Beautiful.
