- Faces at the AAFA Image Awards
- Nicole Kidman to Appear in Jimmy Choo Ads
- Lauren Bush Lauren's Good Taste
Jack Weissman, a footwear character-licensing pioneer and long-time Two Ten Footwear Foundation supporter, died Sept. 5 in New York from complications of M.D.S., a blood disease. He was 84.
Weissman founded Marketing Footwear Associates in 1970 and obtained the licensing rights for footwear for Charles Schulz’ Peanuts characters. The company later held shoe licenses for the NFL, Pac-Man, Budweiser and characters from the movie “E.T.” His ventures into the world of character licensing earned Weissman the nickname “Mr. Snoopy.”
In 1974, Weissman founded Butterfly Originals, a firm that licensed children’s accessories. He later launched Plymouth Inc., a school-supplies company.
Weissman began in the footwear industry as the store manager of Chicago-based Kitty Kelly Shoe. He went on to serve as EVP of Ideal Shoe, a division of J.M. Fields.
After selling Marketing Footwear Associates to Mercury International, Weissman founded Marketing Licensing Associates, a licensing agency, with partner Robert Rowan in 1993.
In 1999, Weissman was inducted into the Licensing Hall of Fame, the highest award bestowed by the Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association.
Weissman is survived by his wife, Joyce Mantyla; daughter, Rande Joiner; son, Lee Weissman; and granddaughter, Sara Weissman.
The Jack L. Weissman Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Two Ten in his honor.
ADD A COMMENT
Sign in using your Facebook or Twitter account, or simply type your comment below as a guest by entering your email and name. Your email address will not be shared.