Katapult, the international guest experience design agency, has announced that it has collaborated with children’s entertainment studio Cloudco Entertainment to develop a new Care Bears family entertainment centre (FEC) concept.
Visitors can explore themed zones and enjoy a delicious Care Bear treat in this ticketed play café experience. This concept caters to the expanding ‘tweens’ market with a cute, sweet, and colourful approach which promotes caring and encourages visitors to share.
Popular brand
Care Bears, which recently turned 40, has millions of fans in over 120 countries. The TV show Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, which airs across numerous channels including its own YouTube channel, has boosted the brand’s popularity since its debut in 2019. In Licence Global’s “The Leading Licensees” 2023 report, industry experts ranked Care Bears as number three of the top new licences signed last year.
Katapult and Cloudco Entertainment are now looking for project partners to licence and deliver the play café experience in key regions.
Phil Higgins, Katapult’s chief creative officer, says: “The new family entertainment centre has been designed to create a memorable, fun, and heartfelt experience where guests can indulge in the most delicious sweet treats. As fans of Care Bears ourselves, we are excited to take this concept to market to interested operators, investors, and real estate owners around the world.”
Charlotte Payne, Cloudco Entertainment’s international licensing director, comments: “We’re delighted to have worked with Katapult to create this ready-to-go family entertainment centre concept, bringing the heartwarming world of Care Bears to life in an immersive and enchanting experience for fans of all ages.”
International success
Care Bears had an outstanding year in 2023, with three new activations opening across Asia. Since November, a pop-up store at Hong Kong’s Langham Place Mall has seen an average of 2,000 daily visitors, with even more on weekends. The location soon exceeded its income target.
Furthermore, café activations in Seoul and Bangkok continue to flourish. The Care Bears-themed Baskin and Robbins store in Seoul is the top performer among 1800 locations in South Korea.
Katapult and Cloudco Entertainment will be sharing more about the opportunity at sector events over the summer. Katapult will exhibit at IAAPA Latin America and Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo (SEA), and Cloudco will be at the Las Vegas Licensing Expo. Both are attending IAAPA Europe in Amsterdam.
Earlier this month, Katapult announced that it has been chosen to transform The World War II Tunnel Experience in Gibraltar. The popular tourist attraction on the Iberian Peninsula shares stories about its strategic importance for the British resistance. Planning started in 2023 to attract new investment and share new stories and experiences.
