MEDIA RELEASE
Brand Activation Firm Involve Expands to Include Brand Licensing, Securing Aimee Kestenberg
Columbus, OH, September 22, 2017--Brand activation firm Involve is excited to announce Involve Licensing, which recently launched under the direction of experienced brand strategist and licensing expert Lesley Levenson and is already servicing clients, including fashion brand Aimee Kestenberg.
Involve is recognized for branding, brand marketing and partnership activation, and this “brand marketing” capability is key in differentiating Involve Licensing from other licensing consultancies. Partnership development expertise, demonstrated in longstanding activations with clients like Gildan and Life Time Fitness, is deeply rooted at Involve. The totality of these efforts center on relationships– a core value Involve carries into brand marketing. So, from digital, PR and advertising to experiential marketing – Involve is connecting all the essential dots for the licensee and licensor, which is massively important in this immensely competitive environment. 
Leading Involve Licensing is Lesley Levenson, who has extensive experience building brands across a range of product categories and distribution channels. Her wealth of technical experience in product development, licensing and marketing comes from her work at companies including Macy’s, J Crew/Clifford & Wills, Mattel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, among others. She brings to Aimee Kestenberg, and Involve’s wider client base, a record of consistent accomplishments in retail, wholesale, eCommerce, direct mail and licensee business operations.
Involve is working with the Aimee Kestenberg brand to continue building it with the consumer by expanding into lifestyle products that the Aimee girl desires. A favorite among celebrities and young women worldwide and known for unique, casual, free-spirited, contemporary designs, Aimee Kestenberg is an industry leader in the world of handbags and accessories. In over 10 countries on three continents, the brand can be found in many retailers, on TV and ecommerce, including Dillard’s, Amazon, QVC, Von Maur, and Lord & Taylor, with a product line that includes handbags, small leather goods, cosmetic bags, luggage and accessories.
“We believe business is personal. It’s about building relationships and going someplace together. This drives our thinking to help brands build relationships with their customers because marketplace results repeatedly prove brands thrive when they relate to their audiences on a human level. The Involve approach helps both the licensor and the licensee. Together, Involve and Involve Licensing are uniquely positioned to better prepare the licensor for how their brand can perform in this constantly changing market. For the licensee, Involve Licensing leverages and engages their new audience. In today’s tough retail environment, having the complete package is essential to success. And Lesley is amazing at brand vision and strategy, and then actualizing successful retail experiences. We are lucky to have her on the team,” said Craig Lerner, president, Involve.
“Being part of Involve, with its brand building and integrated partnership activation expertise, is powerful for the clients we serve because they can now benefit from our licensing vision to the comprehensive way Involve approaches brand in what is a highly competitive and tricky-to-navigate marketplace. It’s imperative today to go beyond brand strategy, merchandising concepts and partnership management to see brands and partnerships all the way through to consumer engagement because that’s how the customer experiences the brand,” said Lesley Levenson, senior consultant, Involve Licensing.
“We are beyond excited to partner with Involve, a company that has a tremendous history of success partnering with brands to maximize their opportunity for growth on a multi-faceted approach. The Aimee Kestenberg brand has successfully expanded into multiple categories over the last 18 months, and the reaction from retailers and end-consumers is telling us that we’re on the right path,” said Aimee Kestenberg Elan, co-founder and creative director, Affordable Luxury Group Inc. “The ‘Aimee girl’, as well as our retail partners, are looking for us to continue expanding the brand’s presence in stores. We have thoroughly enjoyed entering categories that have a lot of history, but with little innovation, and adding the brand’s DNA to quickly capture market-share and excite the customer again.”
About Involve: For information, please visit http://www.getinvolve.com
About Aimee Kestenberg: For information, please visit http://aimeekestenberg.com