Detroit Equities, owned by a private equity investor and entrepreneur, Dennis McKinley, has partnered with NXT GEN Brand Marketing in a branding and licensing deal for both All Star Kid and the Original Hot Dog Factory.
McKinley created the All Star Kid brand after the birth of his daughter, Pilar. This experience inspired him to recognize the opportunity that existed for a children’s brand supported by truly modern and culturally relevant music and characters. The project’s first phase launched in 2021 included 2D, two-minute animation shorts on YouTube and is targeted at new-borns to 5-year-olds.
All Star Kid features a lineup of six core characters, each with a distinct name, personality, and “superpower” that helps them grow and flourish. The music and adventures are educational, children learn important basics and more. Parents leave inspired and motivated with an opportunity to teach and play with their children as they watch together.
The toe-tapping, sing on-long nursery rhyme songs are powered by original music and lyrics to childhood music favorites that new-borns to pre-schoolers and their parents are sure to enjoy all over the world.
Licensing veteran and CEO of NXT GEN Brand Marketing, Debi Rosenfeld, will work with the brands on securing an animation partner to expand the current YouTube shorts by creating and distributing new content for streaming that will support the brand for licensing and merchandising launches in the consumer products market.
“With the All Star Kid™ brand, we’ve strived to create characters that are adorable, diverse, and universally relatable,” says McKinley. “Our content is fresher and more engaging, by introducing a new & exciting collection for young children,” he added.
NXT GEN will also represent The Original Hot Dog Factory, which debuted in 2010 and was rebranded and relaunched in 2015. The restaurant and its brand name have become a household name nationally as they have expanded throughout the United States. Plans are to license the Original Hot Dog Factory brand for food products, apparel, housewares, décor, cookbooks and more.
To further grow McKinley’s Original Hot Dog Factory brand, NXT GEN envisions new categories & various food products from licensees, that are featured at retail and in grocery outlets.
The Original Hot Dog Factory has received national exposure as it has been featured on BRAVO’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” numerous times and has received numerous industry & local awards living up to its moniker “America’s Best Hot Dog.”
“I am thrilled to be working with Dennis McKinley and his team to partner on these amazing and fun brands “All Star Kid and The Original Hot Dog Factory,” says Nxt Gen CEO Debi Rosenfeld. “We will be supporting the consumer products program by building and launching a robust merchandising & licensing portfolio with key manufacturers and promotional partners,” she added.
