CHICAGO, Ill. (CitizenWire) — If you’re wondering who is behind the dynamic U.S. re-launch of Gogo’s Crazy Bones® – the #1 promotional toy of 2009 and 2010 in Europe, South America, Mexico, and key Asian markets – look no further than Brandjolt, LLC (www.brandjolt.com). Chosen by the brand’s worldwide promotional licensor and exclusive producer, PPI Worldwide® (www.ppiworldwide.com), Brandjolt is a promotions and advertising agency whose partners have created highly-successful programs for many of the world’s top brands, including several that covet and cater to the same “families with young children” to whom Gogo’s Crazy Bones appeal most.
“We’re really just getting started,” says Craig O’Keefe, Brandjolt’s Managing Partner and Chief Creative Officer. “We are in the process now of identifying strategically-appropriate categories and brands to partner with Gogo’s Crazy Bones, as well as assessing the creative approaches that helped make the brand immensely popular overseas, to adjust them for the U.S. market.” Gogo’s Crazy Bones is one of the top toy brands worldwide outside the United States, but cultural and language differences often require shifts in creative materials used when a brand is extended into a less established market.
“Of course, part of the strong appeal of the Gogo’s Crazy Bones franchise,” says O’Keefe, “is that its popularity and flexibility can benefit partners in such a broad range of categories, from packaged foods, kids’ apparel, and QSRs to electronics, sports equipment, retailers, and more. Right now, the door is open, so we’re looking at what strategic and creative partnerships will benefit our client’s brand the most.”
According to Isaias Miremberg, PPI’s Director of Promotions, central to PPI’s choice of Brandjolt is O’Keefe’s long history of creating successful promotions and partnerships for top brands that focus on children 6-12 and their parents, including cereals by General Mills, Post, and Ralston; Pop-Tarts and Rice Krispies Treats by Kellogg’s; Keebler cookies and crackers; Kraft Mac & Cheese and DiGiorno Pizza; McDonald’s, Nestle Ice Creams, Colgate and others. “We’re thrilled to find someone with such a history of promotional programs revolving around kids and their parents,” says Miremberg. “Craig’s background, his clear understanding of what we are about, and his vision for what we can achieve make Brandjolt the best choice.”
O’Keefe says Brandjolt also sees great potential in their new partnership. “We know Brandjolt is perfectly suited for what PPI has and how they like to market their products, so we consider ourselves lucky that everything has worked out to bring our two companies together at exactly the right time.”
About Gogo’s Crazy Bones:
At its core, Gogo’s Crazy Bones is a constantly-evolving series of hundreds of small, brightly colored, collectible plastic figures based on the ancient Greek game of “astragals.” Kids love them because they come in so many varieties, are fun to collect or trade with friends, and come with free games. Parents love them because they inspire inventive play in their children, cost little, and almost never break. Each Gogo has a specific name, number, and character, and a different set of characteristics – some quite rare, some glow in the dark, some in special shapes or colors, some glitter, and so on.
Beyond the toy figures themselves, the Gogo’s Crazy Bones franchise includes stickers, game sets, calendars, a “Gogo Mountain” toy stand, a web-based game, collectible tins, and more. The Gogo’s Crazy Bones world keeps expanding, and has been among the top licensed toy properties for the past two years in Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, Australia, Mexico, and Canada.
About PPI Worldwide:
PPI Worldwide is a global marketing solutions agency focused in creating novelty premiums, brand loyalty promotions and collectible toy production. Established in 1986, PPI has since then branched out to offices in Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Spain, Israel and Hong Kong where, for the last several years, they have been one of the most successful promotional and premium companies in its field. PPI currently works with multinational companies such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Danone, Nestle, and others.
About Brandjolt, LLC:
Brandjolt is a privately-owned promotions and advertising agency based near Chicago, Illinois that helps Fortune 1000™ companies amplify the performance of their brands through enhanced B2B and B2C platforms and programs that activate sales forces, enrich trade relationships, and heighten consumer responses. Through highly strategic, targeted programs that activate each brand stakeholder in his/her own terms, Brandjolt increases brand buy-in and demand that invigorates and improves ROI of marketing efforts and penetration into high value markets. More information: www.brandjolt.com .
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