Warner Bros. is committed to retailers - includes related article on retail sales of Looney Tunes products - Looney Tunes Supplement

Discount Store News, August 21, 1995

That's why the VMCP team works closely with retailers and Looney Tunes licensees to develop retail programs.

To facilitate that effort, Rob Gruen, Senior Vice President, Retail Business Development, WBCP, was brought into the division in November 1994, after having held management positions with major retailers, including Target Stores. Gruen heads up a team of individuals who assist retailers in strategizing, developing, and implementing merchandising and promotional programs on all the Warner Bros. properties, including Looney Tunes.

WBCP is committed to the retail community. No longer just a licensor of product, WBCP is truly evolving into a powerful retail-driven consumer products company. So, although Gruen and his team work together with the licensees, they remain focused on their customer base: retailers.

Everything we do relates to maximizing the business at retail," said Gruen, adding that his group's mission is to fully understand each retailer's business objectives and how Looney Tunes can help achieve those goals.

WBCP Is In Touch With Retailers

To accomplish this, the Retail Business Development Group insures merchants are always aware of what's always going on with Looney Tunes. Informational mailings, phone calls, and personal visits from staff members are all part of how the division communicates with retail partners.

Day in and day out, the retail business development group helps its retail customers. This means cross-merchandising of products and new properties for in-store presentation ideas and merchandising and promotional opportunities.

"We'll tie together various licensees and then sit down with retailers, showing them how to pull together a statement at retail." "We'll also work with them on how to promote it within the framework that works best for their store," he said.

"Retailers like to have something they can count on 365 days a year, and a core property like Looney Tunes gives them that opportunity," Gruen said. "By working with retailers to keep their presentations fresh and product offerings exciting, they can continue to maximize their business for many years," he said.