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Students may be surprised to learn that products sporting the UCLA name are not limited to athlet

Students may be amused to learn that the UCLA logo, typically emblazoned on t-shirts and sweatshirts, also shows up on other merchandise such as tricycles, nutcrackers and birdhouses.

The Associated Students of UCLA grants various non-apparel manufacturers – including a bottled water company – the right to create and sell merchandise bearing the UCLA name.

The UCLA logo, comparable to a brand name, is another way of extending the awareness of UCLA, said Cynthia Holmes, director of trademarks and licensing.

“When people think of UCLA, they don’t think of nutcrackers,” Holmes said. “(The licensing) brings UCLA into people’s everyday lives all over the nation.”

Adrenaline Promotions, who produces UCLA-brand tricycles and cycling gear, said having the UCLA brand helps the cycling world express its loyalty to the university.

“From a tricycle standpoint, it could be a gift from a parent or grandparent trying to influence their child’s decision to attend a university,” said John Ambrose, president of Adrenaline Promotions.

Though the association licenses the UCLA name to over 14 companies, many other manufacturers have been rejected over the years.

In the last 10 years, UCLA has been approached by companies interested in creating UCLA-brand condoms, underwear and diapers, Holmes said.

Trademarks and licensing immediately rejected all three ideas, as well as a proposal to create a UCLA-brand toilet seat cover.

“Why would we want to see UCLA on a toilet seat? There’s so much more to UCLA than that aspect,” Holmes said.

More recently, licensing regretfully rejected a proposal from a Santa Monica Company to create a UCLA barbecue, Holmes said.

“It was a beautiful item, worth $1,500, but there’s high liability in it,” Holmes said, noting the potential risk of flammability.

In addition to liability risks, trademarks and licensing also considers product popularity when deciding whether or not to license a manufacturer.

“The type of people in L.A. that could afford a $1,500 barbecue grill might not necessarily want to have “UCLA” on it,” Holmes explained.

Though unusual, UCLA-logo ideas are mostly from start-up companies. Sometimes the university is approached by student entrepreneurs who want to use the logo, Holmes said.

“Every other year we get ‘Girls of UCLA’ calendar proposals,” Holmes said. “It’s usually for a nude calendar or a swimsuit calendar, and we’ve always declined.”

When the company becomes UCLA-approved, the university will receive an 8 percent royalty off the wholesale price of the item.

Companies who manufacture products with the UCLA logo are distributed all over the nation.

Regardless of the various locations, the more unusual items end up being sold locally while the national market still consists of classic headwear and apparel, Holmes said.

Financial problems arise when there’s no market for UCLA-brand items – even in Southern California.

Gemmy Industries, a novelty toy company located in Texas, is suffering because they don’t have a sales representative in California.

The company, which manufacturers eight-foot high inflatable Joe Bruins, is uncertain about renewing its contract with UCLA for another year, said Dave McIntyre, senior product manager for the sports division at Gemmy Industries.

“If people knew they could put a giant eight-foot high Bruin on tailgate parties, they would buy them,” McIntyre added.

Though the UCLA Store doesn’t sell sky-high inflatables, the store recently started carrying UCLA-brand dog bowls and leashes last year.

The UCLA Store selects its products to sell at Ackerman Union based on what’s popular on the market, said Patrick Healey, ASUCLA general merchandise manager.

“The buyers are always presented with different items to evaluate,” Healey said.

But for Adrenaline Promotions, located in Washington State, a sales representative isn’t necessarily needed in Southern California, since the UCLA brand is still popular in Seattle.

Though Ambrose said it’s not likely to find a UCLA-brand tricycle in Seattle, the UCLA-brand products sold in Washington are usually intended for UCLA alumni.

“If you graduated from UCLA, you’re not required to stay in L.A.,” Ambrose said. “We have students from all over the world here.”