By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
MerryMakers has signed a licensing partnership with Josmo Shoe Corp. for a line of Pete The Cat toddler-to-kids shoes.
“We’re thrilled to add Josmo’s team of marketing pros and creatives to the Pete The Cat program!” said Clair Frederick, President of MerryMakers, Inc.
“Initial designs are right on target and convey Pete The Cat’s feel-good vibe while offering quality and value. Kids will love to follow the footsteps of Pete The Cat by dancing, jamming on the guitar, painting, skateboarding, and going to the moon in these shoes.”
Josmo Shoes is an international wholesaler of children’s and men’s footwear. The company is based in New York City and has retailers across the globe including Canada, Central & South America as well as the Caribbean.
Josmo joins an extensive licensing program of Pete The Cat consumer goods that includes:
- The Children’s Apparel Network for an apparel and toy collection currently available at Target.
- Educational Insights with a line of educational and play products.
- Jay Franco whose bedding line will expand to include a full bedding suite.
- Rashti & Rashti whose toddler PJ designs are currently selling in Target and other retailers.
- University Games whose Pete The Cat games and puzzles lead their Briarpatch division.
“The latest designs are bright, innovative and capture what the Pete The Cat stands for: creativity, independence, openness, adventure and grooviness,” said Sammy Esquenazi, owner of Josmo. “We are so excited about this new partnership! We are pushing full speed ahead with plans to deliver product for Q1 2023. It’s going to be awesome!”
Pete the Cat is a fictional cartoon cat that was created by the American artist James Dean. Pete The Cat was originally released as a four book series and has grown to a 50-title, children’s publishing line from HarperCollins. The book series has more than 75 million copies in print since its initial publication in 2010.
Pete The Cat has also been featured in a musically-driven animated series that is available on Amazon Prime video. The animation is produced by Jeff ‘Swampy’ Marsh and features voices by Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and Jacob Tremblay.
Pete The Cat original artwork is exhibited in galleries and collected by avid enthusiasts worldwide.
Merrymakers Inc. is the owner of the Pete the Cat brand. The company primarily manufactures dolls and toys based on children’s books, museum collections, and other character brands for customers around the world.