Manchester, UK-based Business "Star Cutouts" Faces A Bright Future

From the Manchester Evening News:

Star Cutouts faces a bright future

A company that makes life-size cardboard cut-outs of celebrities has launched a range of masks as it looks to expand across the Atlantic.

Star Cutouts, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, holds licences to make masks and life-size figures of famous people including the Manchester United squad, Dr Who characters and Elvis Presley.

It decided to launch its range of £3 masks so it had products at a lower price point for cash-strapped customers. Full-size figures retail at £30.

Big sellers so far have included United favourite Javier Hernandez.

The company has also signed deals for ranges based on Star Wars and Disney characters, which will launch in the new year.

It sells to retailers including Forbidden Planet and party stores, and achieved revenues of £500,000 in the 12 months to March 31, with £700,000 predicted for the current year.

Managing director Ian Ravey said: “The growth has been driven by a combination of investing in new products and licences and expanding into Europe.”

Star Cutouts now sells to distributors and retailers in France, Belgium and Germany, and plans to target Spain and Italy next, where it has high hopes for its products based on Nickelodeon children's TV characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants [and iCarly, and Dora The Explorer].

Mr Ravey said: “We also want to launch in the USA within six to 12 months and plan to open a distribution office in California.

“We are working to renegotiate some of the European or UK licences we currently hold to include America as well.”

The company was founded in 2005 and has 10 staff.

Nickelodeon USA Gives Nick Viewers A First Look Sneak Peek At The Brand New "Big Time Rush" Movie "Big Time Movie"

Below is a streaming video of Nickelodeon USA's brand new "First Look At Big Time Rush's New Movie "Big Time Movie"" sneak peek special which Nickelodeon USA recently aired as part of Nick USA's "The Best Week On TV" programming stunt, where Nickelodeon goes behind the scenes of the new "Big Time Rush" movie called "Big Time Movie" and features the stars and band members of Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush" series and boyband (Kendall Schmidt (Kendall Knight), James Maslow (James Diamond), Carlos Pena (Carlos Garcia), and Logan Henderson (Logan Mitchell)) telling Nickelodeon viewers and fans of the hit Nickelodeon show "Big Time Rush" details and information about the brand new "Big Time Rush" Nickelodeon movie "Big Time Movie" which the cast of "Big Time Rush" are currently working on, including that "Big Time Movie" will be like "James Bond meets Austin Powers", that "Big Time Movie" will feature a lot of stunts and a lot of non-stop action, will feature car chases, high-flying action, "awesome" performances, and about 200 extras, and will be bringing the laughs 'Big Time', and will part spy movie, part comedy, and all about the music, and will also feature the "Big Time Rush" boys recreating the famous scene from The Beatles's "Abbey Road" album sleeve cover where the "Big Time Rush" boys cross a zebra crossing (which is also like the front cover of SpongeBob SquarePants's Sheldon Jim Plankton, Jr.'s "Krabby Road" CD music album). Big Time Rush's "Big Time Movie" will be premiering on Nickelodeon USA in 2012, only on Nick!

Big Time Rush - Big Time Movie Sneak Peek

Nickelodeon USA Gives Viewers A First Look Sneak Peek At Season 3 Of "Victorious"

Below is a streaming video of Nickelodeon USA's brand new "First Look At Season Three Of Victorious" sneak peek special which Nickelodeon USA recently aired as part of Nick USA's "The Best Week On TV" programming stunt, which features Nickelodeon and "Victorious" stars Victoria Justice (Tori Vega), Leon Thomas III (Andre Harris) and Elizabeth Gillies (Jade West) telling Nickelodeon viewers and fans of the hit Nickelodeon show "Victorious" what will be making "Victorious" better than ever in 2012, which includes a ton of new music, all kinds of big action, and the funniest episode ever of "Victorious", which Nickelodeon North America broadcast to advertise that the brand new third season of "Victorious" premieres on Nickelodeon USA in January 2012, only on Nick! The below "Sneak Peek Of Season Three Of Victorious In 2012" video below also features a few scenes of behind the scenes footage of "Victorious":

Victorious Season 3 First Look At 2012 (Official Nickelodeon USA Promo)

Coming in 2012 with Victorious for Nickelodeon is Season 3 of Victorious which includes Tori and Jade doing a Play "Date", lots more physical comedy, Andre and Tori performing at a Chinese restaurant, An episode based on the breakfast club movie which the victorious cast gets detention, Beck and Jade might find some stuff out that causes them to have problems, Trina hitting on Beck and Tori and Jade duetting to show 2 guys not to mess with them.

Nickelodeon UK's Director Of Original Production Confirms Nickelodeon UK Will Start To Premiere Season 2 Of "House of Anubis" In March 2012

UPDATE - Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon UK/HD will now premiere season two of Nickelodeon's hit live-action mystery series "House of Anubis" in April 2012!

Nickelodeon UK's Director of Original Production, David Kangas, has posted (Tweeted) on his official Twitter profile page (@kangas911) confirming that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will start to premiere brand new episodes from the brand new second series (second season) of the hit original Nickelodeon live action teen mystery/drama television show "House of Anubis" in March 2012 (exact air date and airtime to be announced by Nickelodeon UK):

March 2012 4 HOA2 [House of Anubis 2] IN UK

Also, posted by Nickelodeon UK and Ireland on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK):

When does House of Anubis season 2 air in UK? I miss it so much :) #SIBUNA

We will have an update SOON!

And:

when is house of Anubis season 2 coming out in UK?

@NickelodeonUK - Itll b here soon! You shld enter our amazing comp! http://ow.ly/8LtxT

Also:

Is there yet a set day for House of Anubis season 2 to come out in UK yet? I miss it UNREAL amounts:)

@NickelodeonUK - Info coming soon!

Also, Tweeted (posted) by Nickelodeon USA on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonTV):

Can I compare the English version [of House Of Anubis] with the original Dutch version [Het Huis Anubis] I used to watch when I was younger?

@NickelodeonTV - The first season, yes, but we're starting to create some brand new mysteries

Hah aokay, for what age category are you creating those new mysteries? Same as for BTR [Big Time Rush]?

@NickelodeonTV - Yup, made for kids and those young at heart

You can view Nickelodeon USA's latest brand new official "House of Anubis" Season 2 trailer/promo which Nick USA is using to promote Nickelodeon USA (Nickelodeon North America) premiering season two of "House of Anubis" on Monday 9th January 2012 at 7pm ET/PT/7pm Central here on NickALive!'s Nickelodeon design blog, Nickelodeon TV Media.