DISCOVERY LAUNCHES SHARK WEEK 2020 CONSUMER PRODUCTS PROGRAM WITH NEW AND RETURNING PARTNERS
Discovery, Inc., today announced its list of merchandising partners for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2020, television’s highly- anticipated summer event, airing Sunday, August 9th – Sunday, August 16th with an exciting lineup of original shark-themed programming. This year’s consumer products program includes new and returning partners across apparel, accessories, toys and publishing categories.
New in 2020, Smathers and Branson, the personalized accessories company, will launch a line of Shark Week themed hand-stitched needlepoint accessories including belts, hats, card wallets, koozies and key fobs in July available at SmathersandBranson.com. The apparel company RSVLTS is joining Shark Week with men’s apparel including short-sleeve button ups, neckties and pocket squares available on RSVLTS.com or through the @rsvlts Instagram in July. Also new, men’s and women’s apparel company The Forecast Agency is debuting an apparel line at the end of July retailing at Urban Outfitters, PacSun and DesertDreamerLA.com.
Proving the enduring success of the Shark Week licensing programming, an extensive list of partners is returning in 2020. In the toy category, Build-A-Bear is back for a third year with their Shark Week collection. Great White Shark is available now and will arrive in stores throughout July, and Saw Shark is the newest online exclusive. Mattel is launching Shark Week-themed UNO in July. Bright Kingdom is returning with a line of shark playsets available at CVS. Plush shark toys by Dandee will be available at Walmart and Ahold. In the publishing category, Meredith is partnering on a shark-themed bookazine, The Ultimate Book of Sharks, for all Shark Week fans which will be available on newsstands or from your favorite retailer in August.
A number of accessories partners are returning for this year’s Shark Week as well. Knockaround Sunglasses is returning for a sixth year, launching its special release shark-themed sunglasses on July 14th on Knockaround.com with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Oceana, a charitable organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale, and Discovery’s charitable partner. Sock Fancy is back for a third year with a line of unisex socks, launching in July on SockFancy.com. Freestyle Watches is back for year two with a new collection of its Classic Shark timepieces available with digital or analog movements launching in July at Freestyleusa.com, Ron Jon’s, Tilly’s, Zumiez and other fine retailers. Freestyle will also be launching a limited series of its signature leash and clip watch straps made to accessorize Apple Smart Watches, launching in July and available exclusively at Freestyleusa.com
“Every year, we look forward to enhancing our viewers’ love for Shark Week by providing them with an appealing and diverse slate of merchandise,” said Carolann Dunn, Vice President, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery, Inc. “Our goal is to allow shark lovers to go beyond watching shark-themed programming by wearing or playing with shark-themed products, and this year’s consumer products programming provides the opportunity to do just that.”
Each year, Shark Week takes fascinated viewers on a week-long journey to the depths of the sea to uncover the secrets of the ocean’s top creature. Found in 220 countries and territories around the globe, Shark Week is a pop culture phenomenon that thrills fans of all ages with dynamic programming around these often-misunderstood sea creatures.
