Christian Retailing

Nelson relaunches 'Hermie' brand Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 30 June 2011 02:54 PM America/New_York
Tommy Nelson is relaunching "Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends" line, with a possible movie in the works.

Nelson has sold more than 5.5 million units of DVDs and board books of the animated caterpillar series. Starting in September, two-episode Hermie DVD packs will be offered for $12.99 and a single-episode video for $9.99—down from the previous $15 price.

Featuring a design with bright, colorful art, new "Little Hermie" board books for toddlers and a new hardcover Level 2 reader (ages 4-8) will be released Oct. 4. A second new hardcover Level 2 reader is set to release next spring.

Laura Minchew, Thomas Nelson vice president and publisher of children's books, told Christian Retailing that the "felt need-based" pricing on the DVDs was a first in the Christian product industry. "We are also in final negotiations with regard to a Hermie movie," she said.

Lucado said that the relaunch is "the beginning of a new era for Hermie." The caterpillar has received a new look, but "Hermie still carries the same hope—the hope that every child will know that God loves and God listens," said Lucado, who will discuss the relaunch at the International Christian Retail Show, to be held July 10-13 in Atlanta.

Click here to watch a video of Lucado discussing the Hermie relaunch.