By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Official Parkway and Turnpike merchandise is closer to hitting the shelves and possibly landing under your Christmas tree.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which runs both highways, approved a three- year contract with a Kennebunkport, Maine company to market the iconic logos of the two toll roads to companies that would produce and sell the merchandise.
The cost and risk to the authority for testing the merchandising market? Nothing, said John O’Hern, deputy executive director. The marketing company would receive 50 percent of royalties due to the authority. Other companies that have turned to the company, Synchronicity, include the Wham-O toy company and candy maker Tootsie roll.
Synchronicity would develop the items and the authority has the right to review the items, O’Hern said. The company was the only one to submit a proposal after the authority advertised earlier this year.
An agent would negotiate the use and licensing of the logos on other products and how much a manufacturer would pay. Revenue probably wouldn’t start being earned for two years, and likely would be $100,000 or less, O’Hern said.
