Deckers Outdoor Corporation has entered into a license agreement for handbags and small leather goods bearing the Ugg brand in the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Jacobs & Leslie Hsu Designs, a designer and distributor of high-end handbags and small leather goods, will design and market Ugg-branded items, which will be sold through better department stores and independent specialty stores.
The initial term for the license is through June 30, 2008, with additional three-year renewal terms. The agreement was facilitated by Deckers' worldwide licensing agent, BHPC Global Licensing.
Alan Jacobs, CEO of Jacobs & Leslie Hsu Designs, has more than twenty years of experience in retail, export and wholesale. Leslie Hsu, Head Designer, currently has her signature handbag collection exclusively distributed to high-end specialty boutiques.
Douglas Otto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, stated “To further expand our brand's presence in the marketplace, we made the strategic decision to license the UGG name for handbags and small leather goods, as we believe Ugg's position as the premier luxury sheepskin footwear line will translate well into accessories. We believe Alan and Leslie are the ideal partners to carry Ugg's image and reputation for quality into this new market. We plan to continue to leverage the growing popularity of the brand by introducing new footwear collections and look to diversify the product line by selectively pursuing additional licensing agreements. We remain dedicated to capitalizing on the many opportunities that lie ahead”
