Digital media company FlockU, Philadelphia, announced its acquisition by Becker Associates LLC, a global consulting, licensing, strategic marketing, intellectual property and brand management agency headed by CEO Patti Becker.
Together with her husband, Jonathan Becker president of Anjar Co. LLC, the company has licensed more than 800 children’s products, with sales of $2 billion, including classics such as Gumby & Pokey, Barrel of Monkeys, Othello, Nerf Ping Pong, and Battle Dome.
Becker Associates commercializes intellectual property, offering popular brands, patented products, and proprietary concepts for global licensing and distribution.
“The Beckers’ reputation for innovation, integrity, and growth spans generations. They’ve brought to market billions of dollars worth of compelling products that entertain and engage millions of families around the world. We’re excited by how much they have to offer FlockU’s core college audience,” said FlockU’s President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Selander.
Selander was an official in the administration and Gov. Jack Markell. He has long been involved in starting, operating and selling digital companies.
FlockU, a digital media hub, generated tens of millions of views across thousands of articles written by ambassadors on more than 1,100 campuses. FlockU sponsors have included Amazon, TMobile, DIRECTV, BSN, and Match.com.
The acquisition follows Anjar’s 50th New York Toy Fair. The 2018 Toy Fair saw the introduction of new brands to market, new global distribution agreements with major manufacturers and retailers, new TV advertised games, a new European game award, and the induction of Anjar’s founder, James R. Becker into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
“We’re thrilled to offer digital media and new content streams with strong integration opportunities to our licensees and partners. Brands are looking for new content and ways to engage in a genuine way with their customers and become part of the conversations they’re having with each other. That authenticity is a key part of FlockU’s appeal and focus,” said Patti Becker.
“We launched FlockU to connect students across campuses and give people a place to share their honest and unvarnished stories. Great brands then became part of those conversations. Becker and Anjar’s merchandising is an exciting step to combine content with commerce,” said FlockU CEO Josh Verne, who previously built and sold the ecommerce and employee benefit company WorkPays.Me. “I look forward to finding ways to work with them on the next company we build, as well.”
FlockU launched in 2016 as a digital and social hub for college students, owns and operates a platform that allows “Flockers” on 1,110 college campuses to create edgy, unfiltered, personal stories and create and post videos.
FlockU has published over 10,000 text and video stories that have been read several hundred million times, with brand sponsors like Amazon, TMobile, DirecTV, BSN, and Match.com.
