FAO Schwarz Owner ThreeSixty Group Buys Sharper Image, Creates Brands Division

ThreeSixty Group, licensor of The Sharper Image brand since 2008, said in a Friday announcement it acquired the brand from Iconix Brand Group. Terms weren't disclosed. ThreeSixty Group said it understands the power of the Sharper Image brand and plans to increase its investments in product development, design and marketing “while exploring expanding into new categories and geographies” to reach the brand’s full potential. ThreeSixty designs, manufactures and distributes consumer products to retailers representing 70,000 retail stores in the U.S. It bought FAO Schwarz in October. The company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands also includes Blue Hat Toy, Black Series, Discovery Kids, Smithsonian and Animal Planet. Along with the Sharper Image acquisition, ThreeSixty established a brands division to support the development and expansion of The Sharper Image, FAO Schwarz and “future” brands in the areas of marketing, new product development and licensee support.