1234-5678 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2003 from CNN.com CHICAGO (Reuters) - In a bid to expand beyond fast food, McDonald's Corp. said Thursday that it will license its brand around the world in a range of children's products, including clothes, toys, interactive videos and books. The licensing plan, dubbed "McKids," had been hinted at for months by McDonald's top marketing executives, who had said they were seeking new ways to capitalize on the largest fast-food company's brand, which is among the best-recognized around the world. The plan includes licensing agreements with companies such as Creative Designs, Hasbro Inc. (HAS: down $0.16 to $22.23, Research, Estimates) and Mattel Inc. (MAT: unchanged at $19.86, Research, Estimates), among others, McDonald's said. McKids licensing comes on the heels of McDonald's launch in September of its first-ever global advertising campaign, "I'm Lovin' It." The campaign is the company's first to tie worldwide television advertising to a unified theme. "The business potential for McKids is tremendous," Larry Light, the company's global chief marketing officer, said in a prepared statement. "It will unify all our retail licensed products under one brand, with one brand look and one brand vision." McKids will be introduced in the spring of 2004 in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Australia, Korea and Taiwan, with additional countries to follow, the Oak Brook, Ill., company said. In recent months, McDonald's has seen its U.S. business turn around, with sales posting improvement for seven straight months. Shares of McDonald's (MCD: down $0.10 to $26.14, Research, Estimates) were little changed Thursday morning on the New York Stock Exchange. (They must have come up with this idea when they made all that extra money off their delicious McCheesesteak <shudders>) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2003 Bet all the clothes will be XL's at least... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted November 13, 2003 Every kid's fantasy come true, having an Army of Evil Fry Guy action figures taking on their GI Joes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted November 13, 2003 Every kid's fantasy come true, having an Army of Evil Fry Guy action figures taking on their GI Joes! Shit I had that war going on in '87...but with mcnugget figures... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 14, 2003 Here's how far back I go. Back in the day when McDonalds used Styrofoam containers for their burgers I'd poke a straw in them and have tanks, ready for combat... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted November 14, 2003 Every kid's fantasy come true, having an Army of Evil Fry Guy action figures taking on their GI Joes! Shit I had that war going on in '87...but with mcnugget figures... LMAO...the mcnugget toys rocked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
