Rise of the brand intensifies with new beauty programs from Japonesque and Ruby Hammer & Millie Kendall

Coolabi has announced further deals for the teen and tween girl’s brand, Scarlett & Crimson, that underline the property’s rapid international expansion. The first is a new global product development program with beauty industry luminaries Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall, which will extend the UK agreement already in place with the duo to take in all global product development of Scarlett & Crimson beauty products. Hammer and Kendall have developed hugely successful Scarlett & Crimson ranges for Boots and Superdrug in the UK market. This extended global relationship has now secured a new licensing program for North America. Lisa Marks Associates (LMA), licensing agency for Scarlett & Crimson in North America, has signed leading beauty company Japonesque to produce a Scarlett & Crimson cosmetics range specifically designed for the US and Canadian markets.

The range, developed in association with Hammer and Kendall, will be the first make-up range in this market with premium formulations and accessible prices geared toward the teen and tween market. Launching in Spring 2011, it will be sold through all beauty retail channels.

Co-owned by Coolabi and creator Ged Backland, the Scarlett & Crimson brand has shown growing appeal among teen and tween girls thanks to its themes of strong individual style, deep friendship and being your own person. The brand is enjoying success in both the UK and North American market where key categories in development include perfume, bath and body, gifting and accessories, stationery and apparel.

Anna Hewitt, Head of Licensing, Coolabi said: “Bringing Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall’s product development success with Scarlett & Crimson to the global market is an incredible step for the brand — and the Japonesque program is a dream start for this global product development deal. The Japonesque range is a genuinely breakthrough make-up program with enormous potential.”

Karen McKay, President, Japonesque, added: "We are immensely proud to be working with Coolabi on this new range. Japonesque is long established in the beauty business and this provides us with the opportunity to extend our capabilities into the products business and simultaneously to expand the age profile of our customer base. We have a lot to deliver for our spring 2011 launch but are relishing the opportunity this provides for our business."

Lisa Marks, President, LMA, commented: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Japonesque in developing this new range. One of Scarlett & Crimson's great strengths is its ability to inspire and empower teens and tweens with a strong sense of individuality and creative style and this new line, combined with our other programs in fashion and related categories, provides an exciting platform for growth in North America."