SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Oct. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cherokee Global Brands (NASDAQ:CHKE), a global marketer of style-focused lifestyle brands, announced today that it has entered into a new license agreement with Walmart Canada effective October 13, 2015. The agreement covers a broad assortment of Tony Hawk® signature apparel, accessory and footwear categories for young men's and boy's sizes 4-20. The fall and back-to-school 2016 launch will be supported by a fully-integrated marketing campaign that includes digital and social media outreach and national PR and promotional events.
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Tony Hawk is the most prominent athlete to bridge action sports with the global consumer market. Hawk has attracted a well-established fan base across multiple social media touch points, including over 6 million Facebook fans, more than 4 million Twitter followers, 2 million Instagram followers and over 40 million YouTube views. Tony supports a younger generation of skaters through his Birdhouse Skateboards team and his work at the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Henry Stupp, Cherokee Global Brand's CEO commented, "This strategic relationship between Walmart and Cherokee Global Brands is a game-changer for us as we forge a new partnership with one of the largest and most innovative retailers in the world. We couldn't be more excited to work with Walmart Canada as they become the latest flagship partner to fully leverage on our 360-degree platform. Walmart will benefit from our innovative design vision of casual streetwear products, our agile sourcing and marketing approaches, and our ability to quickly scale success, and Walmart Canada's customers will enjoy unprecedented access to the full Tony Hawk brand experience."
Tony Hawk commented on the partnership, "I've worked closely with the team at Cherokee Global Brands to create a launch plan appropriate for the number one retailer in Canada. In my many visits to Canada on skate tours, I am consistently humbled by the response that Canadians have given to me, the Tony Hawk brand and skateboarding in general. I will be fully committed to the success of this launch through my social media, marketing, and appearances. It's going to be a great ride!"
Shelly Kiroff, SVP Apparel, Walmart Canada, commented, "We look forward to our first partnership with Cherokee Global Brands and Tony Hawk as we continue to strengthen the quality of our lifestyle and brand assortments. Tony is a globally recognized athlete, the original action sports innovator, and a strong influencer with youth market. We are confident that the debut of the Hawk Brand in Walmart Canada stores and online will be fully embraced by Canadian customers."
About Wal-mart Canada Corp
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 395 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, www.walmart.ca, is visited by 450,000 customers daily. With more than 90,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart has raised and donated more than $230 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.
About Cherokee Global Brands
Cherokee Global Brands is a global marketer and manager of a portfolio of Fashion and Lifestyle brands including Cherokee®, Carole Little®, Tony Hawk® Signature Apparel and Hawk Brands®, Liz Lange®, Everyday California® and Sideout® and ále by Alessandra® across multiple consumer product categories and retail tiers around the world. The Company currently maintains licensing agreements with leading retailers and manufacturers that span over 50 countries in 7,000 retail locations. Its retail and e-commerce platform partnerships include: Target Stores (U.S.), Kohl's (U.S.), Sears Canada (Canada), Walmart (Canada), Argos & Sports Direct (UK and Ireland), RT-Mart (Peoples Republic of China), Pick 'n Pay (South Africa), Falabella (Chile, Peru and Colombia), Arvind Mills (India), Shufersal LTD. (Israel), Comercial Mexicana (Mexico), Nishimatsuya (Japan), Landmark Group's Max Stores (certain Middle East and North Africa countries), Reliance Trends Stores (India) and the TJX Companies (U.S., Canada and Europe).
Statements included within this news release may contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used, the words "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "may," "should," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this press release (including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding potential future business development) involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, the effect of global economic conditions, the financial condition of the apparel and retail industry, adverse changes in licensee or consumer acceptance of products bearing the Company's brands, the ability and/or commitment of the Company's licensees to design, manufacture and market Cherokee, Liz Lange, Completely Me, Tony Hawk and Hawk Brands, Sideout, Everyday California and Carole Little branded products, the Company's dependence on Target for most of the Company's revenues and the Company's dependence on its key management personnel. The risks included here are not exhaustive. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal Year 2015, and in its periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events and developments.
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