Granada Ventures preps webstore

Granada Ventures, the licensing and merchandising arm of UK commercial broadcaster ITV, is to launch a consumer webstore as part of its plans to ramp up its online activity.

Mel Beer, Granada Ventures’ head of licensing, says the aim is to give the company a consumer site to rival brands such as Jetix and Hit Entertainment. “We want to launch a Granada Ventures website for consumers. We’re looking at one web shop. Everyone’s shopping online these days,” she says.

The company is also negotiating with online retailer Amazon.com to launch a dedicated page for its preschool property Pocoyo. The animated series, which is a coproduction between Granada and Spanish producer Zinkia, is also set to have its own arts and craft range, as well as confectionary.

Julie Quirke, licensing manager at Granada, who looks after Pocoyo, says: “There could be a range of Pocoyo popsicles. Healthy snacks would be in keeping with the moral messages of the show.”

Granada Ventures’ two key properties for the Brand Licensing show and MIPCOM are Cbeebies series Numberjacks, which has ten licenses in place and is expected to be turned into a range of puzzles and cakes at the start of 2008, and Bella Sara, a Scandinavian horse-themed trading card sensation.

The company is in discussions about a range of Bella Sara clothes and a TV series is also planned. ITV cooking format Hell’s Kitchen has also become a big seller, with a range of kitchen knives and saucepans.

Granada Ventures is also set to ink deals with new football clubs. It currently represents the licensing, minus apparel, for Arsenal and Liverpool football clubs and expects to sign up at least two more EPL clubs soon.