Children’s IP Ventures into the Edutainment Sector

 So, I'm updating my blog quickly with this exciting news from the HQ of Zuma the Dog. My PR department have been busy with this press release, so please continue reading. I can't wait to see how the animation develops. Can you?

The creators of children IP Zuma the Dog are excited to announce the incorporation of their new joint venture company, Zuma the Dog and Friends Edutainment Ltd. The partnership combines the talents of Transcendent Media Capital Ltd, venture studio who focuses on driving capital to systemic change through media, technology and advocacy driven ventures and Bertish and Company Ltd, creator and owner of award-winning Children’s character IP Zuma the Dog.

Zuma the Dog and Friends Edutainment Ltd will focus on creating children’s media, technology and education content with character Zuma the Dog at the heart of each project. The new entity will kick off with its own animation series, Zuma the Dog and Friends, which provides children with diversity education, where Zuma, an anti-bullying role model adventures with his friends to overcome social challenges to teach empathy, communication and problem-solving skills.

“This is an exciting step forward for Zuma the Dog as a character brand.” Says Samantha Bertish, IP creator. “The hard work starts now, and I can’t wait to get stuck in and contribute to making a positive impact on our children’s futures.”

Peta Milan, CEO of Transcendent Media Capital commented, “Our research shows us that communities without access to diversity tend to be intolerant of it. Highly diverse communities, more often than not, embrace their diversity, so we are working to provide a solution to the challenge of providing communities, and in particular, our young children with greater access to diversity education.” Peta added, “We are also establishing an advisory board of youth, so it will be a company for kids, driven by kids. This is in line with our mission to apply regenerative principles to our venture building practices”.

Building on the popular brand’s philosophy there are 45 episodes planned to go into production early 2022. The series will include characters from Zuma the Dog’s pre-school books as well as new characters developed specifically for the animation. These include dog characters with special needs and diverse backgrounds, tackling subjects that have not yet been attempted in the children’s entertainment sector to date.

“We’ve also had celebrity interest in the animation project already.” Continues Samantha. “And we’re expecting this to really get this project off to a great start”.

 

For licensees who want to collaborate with Zuma the Dog and Friends, please contact Brand Manager Sarah Ann Camp at sarah@weirdlime.co.uk

Can you believe this exciting news? 

Much Love

Zuma 

xx

Small dog helps to rejuvenate the high street

 Ok! So, can anyone tell me what happened to the summer? It like, whooshed by and poof, we landed in autumn and now there's pumpkins outside blocking my path and Christmas adverts on the telly. How is it possible that each year zooms by so fast? Do they have the zoomies, just like I get when Mummy returns home after a big trip out into the world? (actually she tells me she's only been gone for five minutes, but pretty sure she' fibbing coz it feels like forevaaaaaa).

I know it's been a while since my last post. A lot of nothing has been going on while the world has been recovering from the pandemic, but now, lots of plans are being made and I'm excited to announce our latest project. The launch of our new concession shop in collaboration with Pop-Up Horsham. Working closely with Horsham District Council, the Pop-up Horsham initiative brings small brands into the high street who wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity. With a bright, modern interior, the shop creators will bring a luxury feel to their customers shopping experience and, by introducing exciting new brands it aims to increase footfall to rejuvenate our high streets after what has been a devastating blow to many established high street brands over the past years.

Zuma the Dog will be piloting a new way of shopping by incorporating products and tech. To lower the risk of buying large amount of stock it will provide products through a “make on demand” service. Customers can see, feel, and try on products in store and using QR codes provided in store, purchase their products online. These will be manufactured and shipped direct to their door within 48 hours. Zuma the Dog works closely with sustainable British licensees to ensure products are made to its exacting high stands, incorporating all the Zuma the Dog branding its customers love.

Zuma the Dog logo in store window

“We feel passionate about piloting a new style of shopping in the UK marketplace.” Mummy told me. “By looking to the future and enhancing technology we can work in a more sustainable way. Sourcing manufacturers within Britain, cutting our carbon footprint with shorter delivery distances and cutting out the need to invest in costly amounts of stock, warehouse storage costs and reducing waste. I believe this is the way forward for shopping, to combine bricks and mortar with the online experience. And it would be great to see Pop-up initiatives like this roll out across all major high streets in the UK.”

We're,...... I mean. I am very excited to see Mummy's focus of attention has been brought back to me. This opportunity  allows Zuma the Dog to gain its place on the high street and move forward with the demands of its customers. 

Shop front in Horsham

The New Pop-Up Horsham shop opens at West Street on November 2^nd 2021, Zuma the Dog will be available to visit in store for 6 months and we look forward to welcoming you all there.

Much Love

Zuma XX

P.S. Do you like my Halloween costume?

For licensees who want to collaborate with Zuma the Dog on new products for the shop, please contact Brand Manager Sarah Ann Camp at sarah@weirdlime.co.uk

Little Stuffed Zuma Goes Sledging

Winter is over and we had such a blast. Best season ever! 

The one thing we were allowed to do during lockdown was ski, snowboard and sledge. Mummy Zuma the Dog spent at least one day a week on the mountain. She told me it was good for her mentawelf.........or.......something like that anyway. Dunno what an elf would have to do with sking? I'm sure most elves are ramping up for the new season of toy making in Lap Land by now. 

So, one day she decided to take me (little stuffed version of me) along for a ride. I've been feeling a little caged in at our teeny cabin in the woods, so I wanted to see at first paw what the fuss was about. 

Switzerland has what we (my family) call "Big Sky". It always looks big, wide, clean and clear, even on cloudy days. We took the gondola up the mountain. Luckily it was a clear day, just a few fluffy white candy floss clouds in the sky. I could see snow as far as the eye could see. Lots of people milling around, crying out with joy as they clip on their skis or strap on their snow boards and speed off down the piste.

It's so high up. I couldn't help be in awe of the view as the swinging box danging from the small wire swayed in the breeze as it ascended to the top. People looked ant like from that height. formed in great black lines as they swoosh swoosh through the powder. I'm sure I would look even smaller, but it was fun to imagine myself this size against ickle biddy teeny hoomans. Like Godzilla.........Ha! No! Dogzilla........ No, Zumazilla, gobbling them up one by one and roaring as I stomp through the snow drifts. 

Anyway, just at the top of the gondola is a short tail wiggle to the magic carpet. A hop up onto the magic carpet took me on another ride where I took in more views of children laughing and playing in the snow. Thankfully I was protected by the clear plastic tunnel, but it didn't stop my naughty brother Zuma the Dog throwing little ice balls at his friends narrowly missing me as we made our way further up to the tippy top.  

We grabbed hold of the sledge we took with us with both paws, then. WHOOSH! The wind blew through my fur, flapping my ears and folding them into all sorts of strange shapes as we slip-slided down the piste on the moulded piece of polished plastic. I held on for dear life and took in a large gulp of clean air as my jowls were pinned back, forcing an expression somewhere between a smile and fear as we sped off  gaining speed as we soared down the slope narrowly missing other thrill seekers on the way.

And just like that, we were at the bottom. The excitement was exhilarating and as I bounced around in circles I indicated to Mummy Zuma the Dog I wanted to go again, again. AGAIN!

So......If this is what we do to help with our mentawelf, bring it on.  

What are your techniques for maintaining a good mentawelf? Seems to me it's not difficult to maintain if you continue to have fun, right? Comment below and share with us how you stay in good health. 

Much Love

Zuma 

XX

If you want to take Little Stuffed Zuma on an adventure find him on my website link below. 

Life after Lockdown

 

Letting loose after lockdown. What will you do? Where will you go?

There’s hope on the horizon for all of us now the Rona vaccine is being rolled out everywhere. Lockdown has come to an end and we are all feeling positive for the summer as we start to appear out of hiding, sigh with relief and reboot our lives. The zombie apocalypse is almost done and kudos to everyone who safely got through this unprecedented time. It's been a doozy!

Shopping in Zurich

While we still have a long way to go, we can allow ourselves a glimpse of our post pandemic future. Dream of what we will do? Where we’ll go? Who will we visit first? Family, loved ones, friends, colleagues perhaps?

I am dreaming of heading home to the UK. It’s been a long time since we all saw our family and relatives and all I want is a big hug with Grandad Zuma the Dog and Auntie Zuma the Dog.

Helping out in Pisa

This means more traveling for me and as many of you know I like to travel and if I can’t make it personally, I send my ambassador, Little Stuffed Zuma.

Little stuffed Zuma has visited many places in the world. Some dog friendly some not so. His favourite was the leaning tower of Pisa and the ride through the rain forest of Brazil. He loved seeing the wild animals living in their natural habitat and cute fluffy monkeys swinging in the trees. Some so tiny they would fit in the palm of your hand. With all those wonderful memories of far-flung place Little Stuffed Zuma has many more places he wants to visit, and you can help him do that.

This is the time of year we think about our holidays. Where will you visit? What will you do? Whatever you choose, little stuffed Zuma wants to go with you as your post pandemic / lockdown puppy. He wants to add more landmarks to his world trip photo album and only you can help him do it.

Adopt a Little Stuffed Zuma online today via www.zumathedog.com and take me (him) with you on your post pandemic summer holiday. Photograph him at a famous landmarks and email it, like a postcard to zuma@zumathedog.com or share on social media with #ZumaTheDogOnHoliday. We'll share as many as we can.

I can’t wait to see where I go! This is soo exciting!

 

Much Love

 

Zuma xx

Small Dog's Big Plea............for reviews.

 

 

We’re a few weeks into 2021 and things are quiet for the most part. Lockdown is having a considerable affect on business, like it is for most. We are back to school, back to home office, driving each other mad and beavering away as best we can.

Our home is barely seen under all the snow

Last week brought us a massive snowstorm. The biggest storm I’ve ever seen with the snow line covering almost half of our kitchen window! The whole valley is covered in that white cold fluffy powdery stuff and while we are stuck indoors most of the time, I’m driving Mummy nuts pawing at the door to go out and in and back out of the house to make pretty yellow patterns in the snow and eat as much of it as I can, avoiding the yellow bits, of course.

With my latest book Zuma and the Jack Pack published just weeks before Christmas, we experienced a busy time promoting the book for Christmas sales, which appeared to have paid off. Our first editions of the book arrived at our home, and Mummy got busy signing them for future competitions planned with the children’s press and our celebrity friends. We still have a long way to go with sales, though it does appear the book has so far been a success. Amazon has sold out a couple of times and replenished stock and we’ve received some very encourage reviews.

Reviews are of the upmost importance to a little unknown pooch like me. They help customers find me in Amazon rankings and help with sales. So, while I beg Mummy to dig out a small patch of snow for me to poop in, and if you’ve already read your copy of Zuma and the Jack Pack, please click on the link (left) and write me a review. It’ll be the best thing you do all day.

More books to accompany Zuma and the Jack Pack are in the pipeline. Zuma and the Mysterious Monster is book two in the series and is ready to submit to publishers. Book three currently untitled is coming soon.

 

More products from my brand Zuma the Dog are coming soon and for licensing opportunities to go with the book, please contact Sarah Ann Camp at Weird Lime. sarah@weirlime.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 116 262 0840

 

Until next time. Stay safe.

 

Much Love

 

Zuma XX