Browne, Gordon, & Van Raalte, LLC.
WHO WE ARE
Browne, Gordon & Van Raalte (BG&VR) is a management consulting company for consumer products companies providing business development, line planning, licensing information, and industry analysis. BG&VR also offer guidance and expertise to property owners, licensing agencies, and manufacturers on best practices, development, and positioning.BG&VR exclusively targets small to mid-sized consumer products companies and provides expertise acquired with over 100 years of (licensed) business experience.
C. WOODROW “WOODY” BROWNE
MANAGING PARTNER
Woody graduated from Kent State U1niversity with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Marketing and soon after earned an MBA in Marketing from the same institution. Early in his career he managed the lunch-kit business at the Thermos Company. From Thermos he moved to Tonka Toys where he was the Director of Marketing. He then joined Tyco Toys as Director of Marketing and was quickly promoted to Vice President of Marketing.
Woody has extensive background in manufacturing. His career includes working the manufacturing floor, shipping, and customer service. He has experience in package design, product development, focus group research, forecasting and has brought many products from concept to placement at retail. In general, he has seen all aspects of the manufacturing process which give his clients the added benefit of understanding the needs of their issues in bringing product to market.
A three-term Past President of the Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LI) and former LI Board Member, Woody helped to steer the then 6-year old organization out of financial hardship, revamp the industry award program and upgrade the association’s presence at both Toy Fair and the Licensing Show. He has served as a columnist with Brand Marketing Magazine and often speaks and writes on licensing trends and issues.
ALAN GORDON
MANAGING PARTNER
Alan is a Senior Executive with a product/merchandising focus with experience in the Retail, Licensing and Manufacturing sectors of the business.
Most recently Alan was President and co-owner of Comic Images, a manufacturer of licensed plush toys, trading cards and novelty products. At Comic Images, he guided the company into plush toys with an innovative boys-targeted soft-toy line with licensing arrangements for iconic properties including Star Wars, Marvel, Turtles, DC Comics and the WWE. With an operational focus, Alan directed the company’s efforts in Product Development, Sourcing, Merchandising and Sales.
Prior to joining Comic Images Alan was Vice President, Domestic Licensing for Marvel Entertainment. At Marvel, he spearheaded Marvel’s initial entry into the Action Figure, Trading Card and Video Game categories producing a quadrupling of Marvel’s licensing revenues.
Alan began his career at Abraham & Straus where he was a Housewares Buyer. Gordon was recruited into the Toy Industry by Kenner/Parker Toys where he sold the Monopoly Trading Card game to McDonald’s which is universally recognized as the most successful ongoing promotion in the industry.
Alan is a graduate of The Ohio State University (BBA) and the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management (MBA) and resides in the metro New York area.
ALAN GORDON
MANAGING PARTNER
Alan is a Senior Executive with a product/merchandising focus with experience in the Retail, Licensing and Manufacturing sectors of the business.
Most recently Alan was President and co-owner of Comic Images, a manufacturer of licensed plush toys, trading cards and novelty products. At Comic Images, he guided the company into plush toys with an innovative boys-targeted soft-toy line with licensing arrangements for iconic properties including Star Wars, Marvel, Turtles, DC Comics and the WWE. With an operational focus, Alan directed the company’s efforts in Product Development, Sourcing, Merchandising and Sales.
Prior to joining Comic Images Alan was Vice President, Domestic Licensing for Marvel Entertainment. At Marvel, he spearheaded Marvel’s initial entry into the Action Figure, Trading Card and Video Game categories producing a quadrupling of Marvel’s licensing revenues.
Alan began his career at Abraham & Straus where he was a Housewares Buyer. Gordon was recruited into the Toy Industry by Kenner/Parker Toys where he sold the Monopoly Trading Card game to McDonald’s which is universally recognized as the most successful ongoing promotion in the industry.
Alan is a graduate of The Ohio State University (BBA) and the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management (MBA) and resides in the metro New York area.
PETER VAN RAALTE
MANAGING PARTNER
Peter has more than 30 years of industry experience as a leading executive in licensing, retail, and promotions.
Peter was Sr. Vice President for Cablevision’s Madison Square Garden Entertainment division where he was responsible for all in-venue retail stores, and for developing licensing, merchandise, and collectible programs for the New York Rangers, Knicks, And Liberty, Radio City Music Hall, The Christmas Spectacular, and The Rockettes.
Prior to Madison Square Garden, Peter served as Senior Vice President, Business Development for NY-based Joester-Loria Group, where he developed new business opportunities and managed sales of key licensing programs including Jeep and Chrysler brands, animated television properties Little Robots (BBC) and Peppa Pig (Contender).
Prior, Peter served for nine years as Vice-President, Consumer Products, at Scholastic Entertainment where he managed U.S. licensed consumer products sales and related promotions for Scholastic brands and entertainment properties including Clifford The Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus, Animorphs and Maya & Miguel.
Peter was Vice President of Licensing at Turner Home Entertainment prior to his work with Scholastic Entertainment. At Turner, his responsibilities included directing national licensing sales for all Turner Home Entertainment division properties including The Hanna Barbera Animation Library, MGM and Warner Bros. Classic Film Libraries, The Cartoon Network, World Championship Wrestling and CNN.
Peter was elected and served as past Chairman of the Board of LI (Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association) – the licensing industry’s trade organization.