By Gary Symons
TLL Editor-in-Chief
The character-based pickleball lifestyle brand DinkyBalls has a new doubles partner, appointing Ventura Brand Licensing as its representative in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Ventura will serve as a sub-agent under DinkyBalls’ global licensing agency, Westbridge Licensing, setting the stage for the Dinky Dozen to conquer new shores.
Ventura will focus on expanding the brand into apparel, sporting goods, home goods, toys, collectibles, gaming, accessories and other consumer products. The territory includes the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
For the uninitiated, the Dinky Dozen are 12 original characters inspired by the personalities found on pickleball courts everywhere. As the brand’s website puts it: “Every player knows them. Most players are them.” That includes the one who brings a folding chair and a whistle, presumably.
The brand, founded by Lisa and Dustin DeMeritt, has already announced multiple licensing partnerships in North America since launching its program in May. Now it’s preparing for international expansion as pickleball culture prepares to take over the world.
“Since launching our licensing program in May with Westbridge, we have been incredibly excited by the response from the marketplace,” said Dustin DeMeritt, co-founder of DinkyBalls. “When we met both co-founders Natasha and Stephane from Ventura, we knew they were the right partners to help us expand into Europe and hopefully beyond.
“They immediately understood the brand, the humor and the opportunity.”
Natasha Kaur, co-founder of Ventura Brand Licensing, said her team was impressed by the brand, when they met the DinkyBalls team at Licensing Expo.
“When we first saw DinkyBalls at Licensing Expo, we immediately saw the potential for the brand internationally,” Kaur said. “Pickleball is growing rapidly, but what makes DinkyBalls particularly exciting from a licensing perspective is the combination of sport, character, personality and the community developing around it.
“We see a real opportunity to build the brand beyond the court across multiple consumer product categories, partnerships, and experiences, and we’re really looking forward to taking DinkyBalls into EMEA markets.”
Ventura and Westbridge will launch the international licensing program at Brand Licensing Europe, taking place Oct. 6-8 at ExCeL London.
Westbridge Licensing, which also represents Trejo’s Tacos, Carlos Santana, Boast and Santa Monica Beach Club, serves as DinkyBalls’ exclusive global licensing agency.
The brand is headquartered in the United States, with licensing operations extending worldwide.
Any companies interested in licensing opportunities in EMEA or meeting with the DinkyBalls licensing team at BLE can contact Natasha Kaur of Ventura Brand Licensing at licensing@ventura-brands.com.
Companies in North America or other regions outside EMEA can contact Todd Lustgarten with Westbridge Licensing at info@westbridgeinc.com.