American Greetings Inks Deals in China for Strawberry Shortcake

NEW YORK: American Greetings Properties (AGP) and licensing agents Cookie Jar Entertainment and Medialink have signed two major deals for Strawberry Shortcake in China, expanding the brand into the apparel and publishing markets with new licensees.

As the first publishing deal for Strawberry Shortcake in China, AGP will work with Children’s Fun Publishing to create, translate and publish entertainment and learning-oriented storybooks. The new apparel deal with Xiamen Haileyuan Comic and Animation Industry will be available for holiday 2011 and an ancillary toy partnership was secured through K&D toys for puzzles. Children’s Fun Publishing is owned by Egmont, one of Europe’s leading media entertainment companies and the largest publisher of children’s books in Europe. Strawberry Shortcake debuted in 1980 as a line of social expressions, toys, videos, games, crafts and books.

“It is so exciting to welcome these two new licensees into the Strawberry Shortcake family, and being able to sign our first publishing deal for Strawberry in China is truly the icing on the shortcake,” said Carla Silva, the VP of global licensing at American Greetings Properties. “Strawberry Shortcake’s wholesome values and timeless themes of friendship, teamwork and adventure are a perfect fit with these new programs.”