TLC launches new style consultancy service

November 2006

Award-winning* global licensing agency, The Licensing Company announces the launch of its new consultancy service for brand owners.

TLC Consultancy has been set up in response to the changing needs of brand owners. The creation of a separate team within TLC allows it to offer a tailored service which is designed to the specific needs of each client, from the brand owners who simply want to understand the extension potential for their brands, to those who feel their licensing programme requires a health check.

Unlike traditional consultancies, TLC's service will operate at the heart of the business enabling it to draw upon expert advice from those who actually implement and manage licensing programmes for our clients. This can be on any aspect of brand extension or licensing, from legal to creative, sales to manufacture, royalties to retail and licensee relationships.

Brand owners can now have the flexibility to engage TLC on a project basis to kick-start their brand extension programme or to retain them on a royalty basis to manage their programme on-going. Past TLC clients who have used the consultancy service include Duracell, Britax, IBM, Jigsaw, Oasis and FHM.

TLC Consultancy is managed by ex-Ipsos MORI Research Director, Peter Hasler, who oversees the in-depth analysis and development of the brand extension strategies for each new client. Peter will work closely with TLC's co-managing directors, Angela Farrugia and Melvin Thomas on strategy and product concept development. The TLC team of experts in legal/intellectual property, creative, sales and manufacture are then be made available as required.

"We believe that brand-owners will choose to work with the new consultancy service to investigate brand extension as a strategic tool to grow their business, to expand their presence into new products, retailers or territories. We can help them to assess how viable it might be for their brand(s) and to get a sense of the potential income generation," says Peter Hasler, Head of Consultancy at TLC.

So why should a brand-owner choose to use TLC Consultancy Services over any of its competitors? There are a number of compelling reasons.

"Over the last ten years, TLC has built up a proven track record in implementing successful brand extensions for some of the best brands in the world. Positioning TLC Consultancy at the heart of the organization ensures clients benefit from advice provided by individuals who deliver hugely successful brand licensing programmes. We have literally thousands of relationships with retailers, manufacturers and distributors worldwide - validating our recommendations,"

"As a result, we can offer clear and success based advice that will help make informed decisions about the potential of a brand," says Melvin Thomas, TLC co-managing director

"As the market-leader, we're looking to broaden our offer and give new and existing clients the most innovative solutions possible to their brand and retail issues. This new consultancy service is a natural evolution which will enable TLC's unique and highly successful approach to reach many more brands at the evaluation stage," concludes Thomas.

For further information, please contact Peter Hasler at TLC on 0207 368 4353 or at peter@thelicensingcompany.com.

Editor's notes

Over the last ten years, The Licensing Company (TLC) has been creating long-term strategic brand extension programmes for some of the world's top brands. Current world-class clients within the TLC brand portfolio include Michelin®, Cosmopolitan®, Jeep®, Courvoisier® cognac, Jim Beam® and Perrier®.

TLC boasts over 2,000 live licensee contracts, more than $1 billion in annual retail sales, 32,000 product lines and access to over 80% of the world's consumer marketplace via its four international offices in London, Paris, Tokyo and New York.

* Winner of 9 LIMA Awards 2004-2007 including European Licensing Agency of the Year