Design and illustration brand, Snowtap, together with KJG – which manages the consumer products programme – has appointed Renaissance Licensing as the sub-licensing agent for the US market.
The bespoke licensing agency – which is a new arrival on the licensing scene – has been founded by Liz Van Denburg Cohen and Ryan Kernan, both of whom have a raft of experience in the business.
Liz began her licensing career back in 2006 at The Walt Disney Company, before going on to spend time at Beanstalk and Greenlight/BENlabs, where she was key in leading the development of the Steve McQueen and Albert Einstein global product programmes.
Ryan, meanwhile, has over 15 years licensing experience with celebrity and home furnishing brands including Ernest Hemingway and Marlon Brando.
Snowtap believes that it is the ‘perfect’ time to expand the market reach of the brand. KJG has managed the CP programme since 2021 when it secured a deal with The Art File, The greeting cards, based on Snowtap’s natural-world-inspired designs, have been a big success, with over 230,000 cards sold to date and plans well under way on new Christmas cards for 2024.
Since 2021 retail and licensing activity for the distinctive brand has grown in the UK across social stationery, gifts, toys, games and puzzles and calendars, leading to growing interest from other regions. Indeed, Snowtap already has a foothold in the US, where Portico Designs sells Snowtap cards and 2023 calendars to Barnes & Noble.
“We are delighted to have been chosen by Snowtap to represent the brand in the North American market and are excited to bring the team’s distinctive style to new consumers across a range of categories in our home market,” commented Ryan Kernan, founding partner at Renaissance.
Snowtap founders Susy Snow and Gracie Tapner added: “Following the growth of the Snowtap brand in so many licensing categories in the UK, we’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing the brand to the US and Canada. We feel this will be a very exciting new phase for Snowtap and, with the expertise and vast experience of Renaissance behind the brand, a very successful one.”
KJG’s Kirsty Guthrie continued: “Snowtap has enjoyed strong growth since 2021 and, with international interest growing in this enormously appealing brand, this is a perfect time to bring Snowtap to a wider global audience. And where better to start than in one of the world’s biggest markets with the support of two respected licensing figures? We’re delighted to be working with Ryan and Liz and are certain that Renaissance will repeat Snowtap’s UK success in this important market.”
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