BEAVERTON, Ore., October 26, 2004 -- Lego® company's exclusive North American licensee for Bionicle footwear, backpacks and caps, today announced that one of the industry's top-selling and most prized character footwear and backpack brands returns to retail for the first time since 2003 on November 1, 2004.
Just in time for the holidays, Qubic releases the first in a series of new and collectible Bionicle footwear, pack and accessories that arrives at Nordstrom retail stores nationwide, Nordstrom.com, Bionicle.com, Lego.com, GoQubic.com (all products, descriptions and features are highlighted at GoQubic.com, Qubic's newly unveiled Web site where pre-orders are being accepted), as well as children's specialty stores nationwide November 1 for this limited, pre-launch. The reintroduction of BIONICLE footwear and pack lines also coincides with the release of the all-new movie BIONICLE 2: LEGENDS OF METRU NUI, which premiered only on DVD and video October 19th.
With a broader Bionicle character merchandise offering slated for spring 2005, Qubic's pre-holiday release includes:
- Toa Metru Nui Mask Shoe (Suggested Retail $40)
- Metru Nui Whenua Mask Pack (Suggested Retail $30)
- Metru Nui Vakama Mask Pack (Suggested Retail $30)
- Toa Day Pack (Suggested Retail $20)
- Toa Metru Collectibles Mask Two-Pack (Suggested Retail $5)
Qubic's Bionicle children's footwear launches with a series of interchangeable and collectible Bionicle accessory character masks designed to attach to both a series of four new backpacks and shoes, each of which are sold separately. The shoe and pack collection is designed to help expand kids' imaginations while delivering interactive and entertaining toys for their feet and backs.
Bionicle by Qubic footwear is inspired by the popular, imaginary Mata Nui legend. Bionicle is a story for children about good versus evil involving a group of six masked heroes who inhabit an imaginary island (more information on the Bionicle legend is available at www.bionicle.com).
The Bionicle toy franchise is considered one of the first truly interactive action figure toys, featuring interchangeable parts, complete story lines, and role-play activities for children. In its design of innovative footwear and backpacks, Qubic built upon the interactive nature of Bionicle legend by drawing its holiday and spring 2005 line from among 21 new characters in Bionicle's Book 3 Metru Nui features for 2004-2005.
Despite a successful run when the first Bionicle footwear was introduced in 2002-2003, the Bionicle licensee was abandoned after the company manufacturing the product found it an improper fit for its sports brand profile. The Bionicle action figure line later became one of top three in sales in the U.S. in 2003. Qubic secured the license in April 2004.
Qubic, L.L.C., founded in 2004, is the brand licensing division of Tripod, L.L.C. Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Qubic operates a sales, distribution, and supply chain network to execute licensed product opportunities for Tripod, a marketing, design, and engineering firm in the athletic footwear and apparel industry. The Bionicle brand November 2004 re-launch is Qubic's initial foray into the licensed product category. More Metru Nui character footwear, pack and accessory merchandise will arrive in the first quarter of 2005, including new hats, slides (injected sandals), shoes and packs inspired by the new Spring 05 Toas.
