trends • product • property • style • licensing • brands
Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2014
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JUNE 2014 Vol. 9, No. 2
Features
22 DEALS, DIGITAL, AND DISSEMINATION:
THE THREE ‘D’S OF DOMINATING THE E3 WORLD by Jeff McKinney
24 PRODUCT PRESENTATION: VIDEO GAME LICENSING by Jeff McKinney
26 FLAVORFUL STRATEGY DRIVES FOOD AND BEVERAGE by Jennifer Lynch
28 PRODUCT PRESENTATION: FOOD AND BEVERAGE by Jennifer Lynch
30 TRENDS IN LICENSING 2014 by Nancy Lombardi
32 LICENSING SHOW 2014 compiled by Jennifer Lynch
Departments 12
Observations & Opinions
18
Real Deal
14 20 66
The TICKER
Royaltie$ Marketplace: Chupa Chups Calendar of Events
ON THIS PAGE FROM THE TOP: LMA REPRESENTS PEEPS; PERFETTI VAN MELLE’S CHUPA CHUPS; MEREDITH’S ASSORTMENT OF BRANDS; SELF REPRESENTED BY FREMANTLEMEDIA; ACTIVISION’S SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM; KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN; BRAND CENTRAL REPRESENTS DWELL ON THE COVER: MARVEL’S AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON; DREAMWORKS’ B.O.O. BUREAU OF OTHERWORLDLY OPERATIONS; EPIC RIGHTS FOR KISS; MATTEL’S EVER AFTER HIGH; BIG TENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BIGGEST LOSER; DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE FRED ROGERS GROUP; WARNER BROS.’ BATMAN COVER BY JENNIFER LYNCH
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JUNE 2014 • VOL. 9, NO. 2
Hall of Fame Inductees: Debra Joester and Joanne Loria
ood things happen to good people. Debra Joester and Joanne Loria are good
people so their induction into the Licensing Industry Merchandisers Associa-
tion (LIMA) Hall of Fame comes as no surprise. On behalf of everyone here at aNb Media, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate them.
PUBLISHER ANDY KRINNER ANDY@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER BOB GLASER BOB@ANBMEDIA.COM ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DONNA MOORE DONNA@ANBMEDIA.COM
Debra and Joanne could be inducted into the LIMA Hall of Fame on their business triumphs alone. They are responsible for
CONTROLLER MARY GROGAN MARY@ANBMEDIA.COM
are one of the few agencies that actually bridged the gap between
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NANCY LOMBARDI NANCY@ANBMEDIA.COM
EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM SILVER JIM@ANBMEDIA.COM
some very lucrative licensing programs some of which include Jeep, PepsiCo, Care Bears, Discovery, and Animal Planet. They
entertainment and brand licensing and were successful in both genres. They have adapted and overcome the many obstacles put
EDITOR AT LARGE CHRISTOPHER BYRNE CHRISB@ANBMEDIA.COM
in their path over the years, obstacles that made others pack up their things and walk away from the business altogether. Instead they found ways to by Andy Krinner
give their clients the very best chance to be successful. In licensing, the word “part-
nership” is often used. Debra and Joanne understand that those partnerships, whether
they are with IP owners, licensees, or retailers, are vital to a licensing program’s suc-
cess. They have been true partners on every level.
But that only tells half of their story. Both are active in a variety of charities to which they give both their time and resources. They have been champions of the li-
censing industry as well. Both have served on the LIMA board of directors and Debra
was part of the LIMA contingent that went to India to break new ground for the licensing industry. They understand that giving back to the industry that has given so much to them is very important. They have never shied away from sharing ideas with
others in the industry when called upon to do so. I know this to be true because when I was first told that I would be the publisher of a licensing trade publication I realized
that I needed a crash course in licensing, and Debra and Joanne were on my short list
of people to call. There are few people who know more about this crazy business than they do and they were never too busy to talk about licensing, especially over lunch. Much of what I know about licensing today came from their tutelage. I am proud to call
them my friends and to congratulate them on this momentous occasion.
I wish everyone a prosperous Licensing Show, safe travels, and I hope to see every-
one in Las Vegas.
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EDITOR LAURIE LEAHEY LAURIE@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSISTANT EDITOR JENNIFER LYNCH JENNIFER@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB MASTER ERIK KIECKHAFER ERIK@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB CONTENT MANAGER BRENDAN SANABRIA BRENDAN@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTRIBUTOR JEFF MCKINNEY JEFF@THETOYGUY.COM PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE JOSSLYNNE WELCH LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS, 320 SINATRA DR., HOBOKEN, N.J. 07030 (201) 222–9118 EXT. 13 • JWELCH@LITZKYPR.COM
INTERESTED IN A SUBSCRIPTION? CONTACT SUBSCRIPTIONS@ANBMEDIA.COM
ANB
MEDIA, INC.
229 WEST 28TH STREET, SUITE 401, NEW YORK, NY 10001 PHONE: (646) 763–8710 • FAX: (646) 763–8727 ROYALTIE$ is published three times per year by aNb Media. Copyright 2014 aNb Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. ROYALTIE$ is a registered trademark of aNb Media. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by editors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of ROYALTIE$ management.
www.aNbMedia.com
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A RECAP
OF I NDUSTRY
HEADLINES
• For More News, Visit www.aNbMedia.com
• Sign up to Receive FREE Weekly News Alerts
MATTEL NAMES KILPIN EVP INTERNATIONAL, DICKSON CHIEF BRANDS OFFICER
Mattel, Inc., has named Tim Kilpin as executive vice-president, international. Kilpin will be responsible for advancing Mattel’s already strong international presence, and for leading the company’s growth in emerging markets throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Kilpin has held a variety of leadership roles with Mattel since 2003. Most recently, he served as executive vice-president, global brands team—boys and girls, a role to which he was appointed in 2011. Previously in his career, Kilpin was employed by The Walt Disney Company, where he served as executive vice-president of studio franchise management. He began his career with Mattel in 1984, and subsequently held numerous marketing positions. Kilpin will continue to serve as a member of Mattel’s executive leadership team, reporting to chairman and CEO Bryan Stockton. Mattel also announced the creation of a new, unified marketing and creative division to span the company’s global portfolio of consumer brands. To lead this new global brand team, Mattel has named Richard Dickson as chief brands officer. Dickson will be responsible for growing and strengthening the company’s portfolio including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Thomas & Friends. Dickson will oversee all aspects of marketing strategy, creative execution, product development, and content creation across Mattel’s brands. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of branded businesses at The Jones Group, Inc. Prior to that, Dickson served as general manager and senior vice-president for Barbie at Mattel, overseeing the brand’s revitalization and successful expansion into a variety of new categories including entertainment, digital/online, and retail. Previously in his career, Dickson held senior executive positions with a number of major consumer brands, including Bloomingdales, Estée Lauder, and Gloss.com. Dickson will report directly to Stockton and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.
LICENSING VET STACEY REINER OPENS OWN AGENCY, REMARKABLE BRANDS
Long-term licensing industry expert Stacey Reiner has formed her own full-service New York City-based licensing and branding agency, Remarkable Brands, Inc. Reiner opens the door to Remarkable Brands as the newly-appointed worldwide representative for Lovi & Dovi and UndieBabies lifestyle properties from California-based Inoochi. Each brand features quirky characters with a humorous twist, which will be showcased at Licensing Show. Remarkable Brands will work closely with its clients to help develop their corporate and brand strategies, consumer products campaigns, and effective licensing partnerships. Prior to establishing Remarkable Brands, Reiner spent six years at HIT Entertainment as director of new business development, and before that as vice-president, licensing, HIT Global Brands. Mattel acquired HIT Entertainment in 2012. During her 20-plus years in the licensing business, Reiner has achieved highlevel global results for some of the top children’s brands in the world such as Thomas & Friends, Barney, Angelina Ballerina, and Bob the Builder.
ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE LAUNCHES BRAND LICENSING PROGRAM
Entrepreneur, recognized worldwide for its magazines, online properties, books, events, and resources that fuel today’s innovators, will extend to an even wider breadth of products and services. In a new partnership with The Blake Project, Entrepreneur will premiere at Licensing Show seeking licensing opportunities for the brand.
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A RECAP
OF I NDUSTRY
HEADLINES
• For More News, Visit www.aNbMedia.com
• Sign up to Receive FREE Weekly News Alerts
CPLG OPENS NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE
DHX Media, Ltd. announced that its European third party licensing business, CPLG, is expanding into North America with a new office in Los Angeles. The new operation will be headed by Ted Larkins, an industry veteran with a strong track record in managing high-profile consumer brands. The U.S. office will leverage properties from the U.S. to the international market and vice versa, as well as offer full-service agency capabilities of licensing, sales, retail development, product approvals, finance, and legal services. CPLG North America will represent a number of high profile brand and sporting rights, including The Michelangelo Collection, Space Invaders, and St. Andrews Links. It will also be the appointed licensing agent for DHX Media’s key entertainment brands, including Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Ella the Elephant, Johnny Test, and the recently acquired Degrassi franchise.
FIRST NBA CAFE
IN THE WORLD
OPENS
IN
MANILA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) opened the first NBA Cafe in the world in late April in Manila, Philippines, at the SM Aura at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. NBA Cafe Manila is a first-of-its-kind NBA destination, featuring a unique dining and entertainment experience that captures the energy and feel of the NBA. Managed and operated locally by Haute Couture F&B Concepts, NBA Cafe Manila features larger-than-life NBA displays, unique memorabilia, and basketball-themed accents and fixtures. It is the first sports bar and restaurant in Manila catering specifically to basketball fans. Its menu is inspired by classic American cuisine, offering a wide selection of dishes.
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS AND LIBERTY GLOBAL TO ACQUIRE ALL3MEDIA
Discovery Communications and Liberty Global formed a 50/50 joint venture to acquire All3Media, a leading international producer and distributor of TV programming, from its founders and the Permira funds. All3Media, the largest independent production group in the UK, has a strong presence in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, and has 26 creative centers in the world’s largest TV producing markets. All3Media has a diversified catalog of more than 8,000 hours of content across numerous genres, with strong production capabilities in drama, comedy, reality, and reality entertainment programming. Discovery Communications and Liberty Global will preserve All3Media’s creative independence and focus on serving its global broadcasting partners. The All3Media group will continue to operate under its own name with its own executive management team, and its existing creative operating model as an independently managed entity. Discovery Communications and Liberty Global’s joint venture will acquire All3Media at an enterprise value of approximately $930 million. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of equity and new non-recourse credit facilities raised at All3Media, resulting in both companies contributing approximately $150 million in cash. Under the equal joint venture structure, Discovery Communications and Liberty Global will not consolidate All3Media in their financial statements. The transaction is expected to close in Q3, pending regulatory approvals.
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BEEKMAN BOYS AND MUCK BOOTS
The Original Muck Boot Company announced the brand’s first fashion collaboration with The Fabulous Beekman Boys. Inspired by the Beekman 1802 lifestyle brand, The Muck B 1802 boot is an equal pairing of both the Beekman 1802 and Muck Boot brands–it’s designed for those seeking style with substance. The 100 percent waterproof boot will feature Muck’s XpressCool liner, which keeps feet cool in warm weather. A lightweight EVA outsole with rubber pods provides optimal traction and support with comfort and flexibility. It will be available in black with red trim and black with grey trim. The deal was brokered by Beekman Boy’s licensing agent Brand Central.
FOX FETES THE SIMPSON’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
In celebration of The Simpson’s 25th anniversary, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has signed a number of new partners for the brand, including MAC Cosmetics. The beauty brand will release a limited-edition color collection featuring Marge Simpson that will launch this September. In addition, Johnny Cupcakes, a faux bakery specializing in graphic T-shirts, is also on board with a new apparel and accessories collection featuring characters from the iconic television show. The focal point of this product line is three specially packaged, oversized “cupcake mix” boxes, each based on a fan-favorite character from franchise. Each box contains three collectible products designed exclusively around the theme of the featured characters: Homer Simpson, Bart Simpson, and Krusty the Clown. These items will not be sold separately and are exclusive to each package. These packages, along with other items, are now available in all Johnny Cupcakes retail shops and online.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND PETSMART
National Geographic has launched a range of pet products featuring hundreds of items for freshwater fish, reptiles, and small pets at PetSmart in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and online. Drawing on National Geographic’s experience in the natural world and PetSmart’s pet expertise, the new habitats, décor, and food products will also include detailed information on natural habitats, behaviors, and diets for specialty pets. Among the items included in the collection are a reptile sanctuary, reptile entrée pellets, reptile bulbs, as well as an Exploration Loft, food, treats, chews, and comfort bedding for small pets. National Geographic’s net proceeds from the products will support the conservation of animals and their environments.
BAG SNOB AND ARTISAN HOUSE
Blogging duo, Bag Snob, has partnered with contemporary handbag manufacturer, Artisan House, to debut their Snob Essentials handbag collection exclusively on HSN, now through through the end of July. Designed by bloggers, Tina Craig and Kelly Cook, the Snob Essentials line will offer frugal fashionistas affordable, fashionable, and functional handbags for every occasion and lifestyle. The collection is comprised of eight stylish designs made from durable, soft, easy-care fabrics, all with the Snobs coveted seal of approval. These include the Treasure, round clutch, tote (pictured), wallet clutch, jewel box, daily bag, backpack, and computer case. The deal was brokered by Bag Snob’s licensing agent Beanstalk.
WICKED COOL TOYS AND SESAME STREET WORKSHOP
Wicked Cool Toys announced a new, multi-year licensing agreement with Sesame Workshop for summer and seasonal toys based on classic Sesame Street legacy characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby, and others. The deal covers North America, and the line is expected to feature items such as balls, hoppers, sand toys, sprinklers, sandboxes, water/sand activity tables, pools, and more. The line is expected to be at retail beginning in late spring 2015.
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PENNY DREADFUL SIGNS LICENSEES
CBS Consumer Products unveiled the first licensing partners for the new Showtime series, Penny Dreadful, which is a psychological thriller set in Victorian London. Titan Books will publish special editions of the classic novels that inspired the Penny Dreadful series. Deluxe hardcover editions of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Oscar Wilde’s A Picture of Dorian Gray will each contain original black and white illustrations by Martin Stiff, Louie de Martinis, and Ian Bass. These deluxe editions are exclusively available through the Showtime store and will launch in bookstores and online retailers in September. Titan Books will also be publishing The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful, which goes behind the scenes to unearth the show’s secrets and dissect every aspect of the production. It will be available for purchase in April 2015 at the Showtime online store. Available now, Bif Bang Pow! introduces a deck of tarot cards inspired by the ones used throughout the series. A deluxe deck of the tarot cards will be sold at San Diego Comic Con, along with character action figures including Ethan Chandler, played by Josh Hartnett in the series, and Vanessa Ives, played by Eva Green. Additional character action figures will be available in late summer. Apparel, jewelry, drinkware, phone cases and episodicthemed merchandise will roll out throughout the season and beyond.
NICKELODEON AND LIMA SKY
Nickelodeon and Lima Sky teamed up for the launch of Doodle Jump SpongeBob SquarePants (pictured), a new global mobile app inspired by the Doodle Jump app. In this 2-D level-based jumper game, players take the role of SpongeBob, jumping up and through Bikini Bottom locales while trying to avoid infamous villains, including Man Ray and Dirty Bubble, swirling whirlpools, diabolical jellyfish, and more. It is now available on iOS and coming soon to Android. Doodle Jump SpongeBob marks Lima Sky’s first co-brand with an animated series for Doodle Jump.
HIT ENTERTAINMENT AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
HIT Entertainment, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc., and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, announced a deal that gives Universal distribution rights to HIT’s vast family content library including Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Kipper, and more. As part of the deal, Universal acquires rights to distribute, sell, and market hundreds of titles from HIT’s extensive content library in the U.S. and Canada across Bluray, DVD, electronic sell-through, and VOD platforms. Universal will begin to distribute and market the HIT Entertainment catalog on October 1. The two companies will work together to distribute new content produced by HIT, including the upcoming Thomas & Friends feature-length special, Tale of the Brave, due out in fall.
MARVEL AND DIAMOND SELECT TOYS
Marvel Entertainment tapped Diamond Select Toys to create a line of deluxe gift sets inspired by Mego’s World’s Greatest Super-Heroes toy line. The reproduction of the 1970s toy line will launch with The Amazing Spider-Man action figure, as he first appeared in 1973, with his original “circle suit” costume. The eight-inch, cloth-costumed action figure will be designed by EMCE Toys. The head and costume will be removable so fans can turn Spider-Man into his alter ego, Peter Parker. It will come packaged in a reproduction window box inside a larger collector case with additional outfits and parts in an adjacent display tray. The case will also contain a miniature booklet outlining the history of the character. Future figures in the Marvel Retro Line are expected to include Captain America, Iron Man, and Wolverine, each packed with alternate outfits and parts.
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I
Perfetti Van Melle’s Chupa Chups
BY JENNIFER LYNCH
n 1958, the sweets-loving Catalan Enric Bernat had the idea to create a new and universally appealing sweet treat for parents and kids, one that “would be like eating a sweet with a fork.” Up until that time, most kids would constantly pop their pre-chewed candies in and out of their mouths to examine them—a messy combination. But luckily, Bernat successfully turned his idea into a reality in the form of one the first lollipop companies. With a gourmet appearance, unique flavors such as Ice Cream Creme Brule and Melon Soda, and an even tastier interior, Chupa Chups has grown into one of the most popular and recognizable lollipop brands worldwide. That high visibility is due in part to its unique and iconic logo, which was originally designed by the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and since evolved into what we see today. The concept, however, has remained consistent and led to 55-plus years in the confectionery category now with an evergreen brand status. In the 1990s the Italian confectionery group Perfetti Van Melle began licensing the brand before acquiring Chupa Chups in 2006. Today, licensed product focuses on a youthful audience, representing what Chupa Chups terms a “Less Serious” lifestyle. But it also maintains a sweet spot among adults nostalgic for the brand. Both consumer groups have helped Chupa Chups’ licensing grow, particularly in the areas of personal care and apparel, which now represent more than 70 percent of its licensing business. Since its move into licensing, more than 200 partners have come on board to lend a hand to its expansion worldwide, including Pull & Bear (Zara Group), Coty, Sephora, Uniqlo, Unilever, and more. And while lifestyle is a strong focus for the brand, Chupa Chups has also developed a scent marketing strategy, providing guidelines to licensees to create scented products that are authentic to its iconic aromas. For example, Chupa Chups has distilled its best fruit flavors in two ranges of fine fragrances, Pop and Vintage, which are currently in development by undisclosed partners. Similiarly, Chupa Chups capitalizes on its extensive collection of artwork and logos to develop designs for licensees that capture both a colorful pop style as well as a nostalgic, vintage look and feel. Its continued collaborations with Uniqlo is a prime example of this, combining color and unique patterns that incorporate the logo into designs. Its current licensing program has more than 60 licensees worldwide developing 2.5 million licensed products in more than 50 countries. And since the start of 2014, new licensing agents have already been signed in South Korea (Infiniss), Mexico (P&L Global Network), and Australia and New Zealand (Wild Pumpkin). If this is any indication of growth, Chupa Chups fans can certainly expect more on the way in terms of product and collaborations.
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Fast Facts
• The marketing jingle for the lollipops—chupa chupa, chupa chupa Chups (lick, lick, lick your Chups)—was so successful and catchy the company changed its named from Chups to Chupa Chups.
• In the late 1960s, Salvador Dalí designed the Chupa Chups logo on a paper napkin in less than an hour. • Five billion Chupa Chups are consumed every year throughout 150 countries. • One out of every four lollipops sold worldwide is a Chupa Chups.
• If the Chupa Chups produced in a year were placed end to end, they would circle the globe 12 times.
Aspire Brands
Uniqlo
Japanese fast fashion retailer Uniqlo has translated the Chupa Chups brand into a kids’ clothing line that incorporates playful colors and unique Chupa Chups patterns across Tees, long-sleeved shirts, and hooded sweatshirts for girls.
Marabout
Marabout, a division of Hachette publishers, has expanded Les 30 Recettes Culte, a collectible series of mini recipe books, to include Chupa Chups. The series, based on collaborations with popular food and beverage brands, now features 30 original Chupa Chups recipes. Originally launched in French and released last year, it has been translated into several other languages and a new edition is already in development. The new edition is expected to include a special mold to make four unique cake pop recipes inspired by the Chupa Chups flavors.
Aspire Brands signed an international agreement that brings together its Lip Smackers brand and Chupa Chups. The line features a complete range of colorful, flavored lip glosses that feature the authentic taste and aroma of bestselling Chupa Chups flavors. The range is expected to expand to include additional cosmetics and accessories.
King Features
Chupa Chups and King Features signed a co-branding agreement to fuse the iconic lollipops with the classic cartoon starlet Betty Boop across multiple categories, including apparel, fashion accessories, footwear, homeware, smartphone and tablet accessories, party goods, stationery, giftware, apps, and digital games.
Unilever
Chupa Chups has teamed with Unilever to create unique lollipop-shaped packaging for its ice creams, topped off with three real lollipops. It is available in restaurants and hotels in Spain and Portugal.
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T
DEALS, DIGITAL, AND DISSEMINATION: THE THREE ‘D’S DOMINATING THE E3 WORLD
his time last year, the video game industry was gearing up for the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 (PS4). The new game consoles would join Nintendo’s Wii U, which launched in 2012, in the marketplace and officially begin the next generation console war. Microsoft and Sony had a lot to worry about as sales of the Wii U were not living up to expectations. Fortunately, the market is responding well to the PS4 and Xbox One. The NPD Group’s data from March (the most recent data available as of press time) indicated that hardware sales were up 78 percent thanks to PS4 and Xbox One sales, which came in at $395 million. That strong year-over-year growth was attributed to Microsoft and Sony’s new consoles selling more than double that of the previous generation systems (Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively) for the same five-month period the year before. Sony’s PS4 emerged as the Q1 best-selling console with more than seven million units sold since launch. Microsoft says that more than five million Xbox One consoles had been shipped to retailers during the same period. Meanwhile, Nintendo continues to struggle with the Wii U, which had sold 6.17 million units since its launch. Although the Wii U continues to find its place in the next-gen world, sales figures from Microsoft and Sony indicate that the new consoles are selling at a much faster pace than the previous generation did during the same time frame. Publishers are encouraged by these figures and are ready with new games that utilize the new technologies. “The market is responding well to the PS4 and Xbox One, which is great because it was a very difficult transition for a year-and-a-half to two years,” says Liz Buckley, senior vice-president of marketing, Majesco Entertainment. “The market wasn’t really supporting the previous systems while waiting for the new generation to come out.”
DEALS—CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ARE ON THE RISE
Game publishers have not been sitting by and waiting for the next-gen transition. Over the past year, publishers were exploring innovative new deals and broadening their stakes in the mobile game market. D3Publisher partnered with Cartoon Network to copublish the mobile game, Adventure Time: Card Wars. “It was originally a typical licensing deal,” says Bill Anker, vice-president, business development, D3Publisher. “Cartoon Network already has a very big network of fans that they can reach out to, so we worked out a deal where essentially, they co-published the game and committed to a variety of marketing activities.” Majesco is also exploring new partnerships and deals. The game publisher recently partnered with another publisher, Little Orbit, on three licensed properties. Together, the two companies put out games for Mattel’s Barbie and Monster High brands and the Cartoon Network series Young Justice.
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BY JEFF
MCKINNEY
Here is a screen shot from Activision’s Skylanders Trap Team. This latest version of Skylanders allows kids to pull characters from the game.
Disney Infinity now includes Marvel Super Heroes.
Sonic Boom, the first CG series for Sonic, will air on Cartoon Network. It has a wide range of licensing partners.
In addition, entertainment deals continue to thrive in the gaming industry. Ubisoft’s Rabbids franchise successfully made the jump to TV with Rabbids Invasion launching on Nickelodeon. Today, Rabbids is not only a popular video game but is becoming a mainstream entertainment brand with multiple product and TV deals. Similarly, this fall, SEGA will launch an ambitious reboot of the Sonic line with Sonic Boom, a new animated series on Cartoon Network. Boom is a character-driven series starring Sonic and his friends that will have a wide ranging audience thanks to its action and sophisticated humor. Boom will also feature a full licensing program at launch (see page 25 for more information).
DIGITAL—DELIVERING GAMES DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER
The most pervasive deal in the game industry has been the increased shift to digital and direct distribution of games to the consumer. CBS Consumer Products works with game developers to turn its properties into games. Those games are increasingly digitally delivered as opposed to disc-based. “I think we are seeing a continued and almost complete transfer to online and mobile distribution of games from retail distribution,” says Liz Kalodner, executive vice-president and general manager, CBS Consumer Products. That sentiment is echoed within the video game industry. As Pat O’Brien, vice-president, entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA) says, “The percentage of our revenue that comes from digital content, whether that is from downloadable content related to a console game or from mobile, has been growing steadily every year for about five years.” This rapidly increasing digital shift has had a
major impact on retail. More mobile and downloadable games means that retailers are seeing less money in sales of video games, which is what now makes licensing even more vital to retail. Video games have become huge entertainment brands and, in terms of licensing, it doesn’t matter if a game is actually sold at retail. If the game is popular enough, there is still a huge opportunity for retailers to sell related merchandise. “We are starting to see games taken as seriously in the licensing world as feature films,” says Josh Taub, senior vice-president, product management, Activision. “We are seeing the emergence and attachment of kids to video game properties as a primary form of entertainment. We think that trend is going to continue, and it’s working for the licensing partners that we have around the globe.” Publishers are also finding that licensed products are selling year-round and have a life beyond the game’s launch. Publishers are eager to meet that ongoing demand through increasingly robust licensing programs. “Video game players are passionate about their favorite games and we want to provide every opportunity for them to have a pulse point with the brand,” says Tony Key, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Ubisoft. “Licensing has become a huge component of that with apparel, collectibles, books, and more.” Rene Flores, director of licensing, SEGA agrees. “Video games are becoming more pervasive in people’s lives and people are feeling more connected with game properties,” she says. “Licensing allows you the opportunity to extend into new categories as gaming properties become lifestyle brands.”
Adventure Time: Card Wars, from D3Publisher, is based on a popular episode from the Cartoon Network series.
DISSEMINATION—WE ARE ALL GAMERS
Social and mobile games have created a planet of gamers. Video games used to be a pastime that appealed only to young men, but today people of all ages, genders, and walks of life are playing games. The evolution of casual and mobile games has changed the definition of a gamer. “We have fans from age 5 through age 90, male and female,” says Brennan Townley, director of business development, PopCap Games, a division of EA. “It’s not easy to put a box around a gamer anymore, and I think that’s the best part about it.” People who in the past were not considered gamers now have the chance to play games because they are so much more accessible than they were just five years ago. It’s easier than ever for people to interact with video game properties, which is exposing those properties to a wider audience and extending those properties into new categories that they couldn’t access in the past. While the video game industry’s continued shift toward digital distribution may sound like bad news for retailers, the deals within the industry are creating bigger and better opportunities for retail than ever before. At the same time, the dissemination of video games has created an unprecedented number of gamers, and many of them are clamoring for ways to engage with their favorite brands beyond the games themselves.
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VIDEO GAME LICENSING BY JEFF
MCKINNEY
Strong IP and highly recognizable characters are the current driving force for the video game industry. Whether a game is mobile or console-based, the right IP or character can open the door to an evolving licensing program and turn a game into a lifestyle brand. Following are several companies with properties that have established brand success and a few to keep an eye on.
ACTIVISION
Activision’s Skylanders, now a $2 billion franchise, created the toys-to-life category in 2011 with the debut of Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure. For fourth quarter, Activision’s fourth installment in the franchise, Skylanders Trap Team, will reverse that play pattern by bringing life to toys. Trap Team will include toy “Traps” that will “pull” characters from the game and into the traps, where they can be stored and used as playable characters. Trap Team will also include 50 new toy figures and a newly designed portal, known as the Traptanium Portal (shown here).
CBS CONSUMER PRODUCTS
CBS Consumer Products manages a diverse portfolio of iconic properties, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The entertainment company’s latest licensing initiative includes the introduction of a new mobile game from Ubisoft called CSI: Hidden Crimes. This freeto-play, hidden-object game for iOS devices, has players searching crime scenes for clues. Six episodes are available at launch, with more to be unlocked over the coming months.
NINTENDO
Nintendo remains the home of one of the industries’ most recognizable characters, Mario. While Mario will appear in two more games this year—the just-released Mario Kart 8 and Q4’s Super Smash Bros. for Wii U—Nintendo’s latest property turns the player into the game’s character. In Tomodachi Life, players will create new Mii’s for the game with an unprecedented level of customizability. For the first time, Mii’s will have customizable voices and personalities and will live within the game, even when not being played.
DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Disney Infinity, the No. 1 best-selling new hybrid toy/video game of 2013, according to The NPD Group’s video games retail sales data, already features some of the most iconic Disney and Pixar characters in one game. This fall, Disney Interactive and Marvel Entertainment will introduce Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. This 2.0 edition of the game will include more than 20 new interactive figures from across the Marvel universe with original stories by Marvel comic writers.
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D3PUBLISHER
D3Publisher has partnered with Cartoon Network Enterprises to co-publish the mobile game, Adventure Time: Card Wars. The premium game is based on a popular episode from the comedy series. Fans can experience the mythical land of Card Wars for themselves in a creature-collecting, card-based roleplay game set within the world of Adventure Time. A real-world, trading card game from Cryptozoic Entertainment includes download codes for use within the digital version of the game.
MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT
This year marks the return of Majesco Entertainment’s Cooking Mama property. Following up on April’s Gardening Mama 2 release, Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit, will arrive in October for the Nintendo 3DS. The fifth installment in the franchise’s core series will feature a large assortment of recipe-themed mini-games and intuitive stylus-based activities.
SEGA
Sonic the Hedgehog, the industry’s other most recognizable video game character after Nintendo’s Mario, continues to have a strong licensing program in play for classic Sonic merchandise. Q4 will see a secondary program for Sonic emerge in support of the new animated series on Cartoon Network, Sonic Boom (photo on page 22). Sonic Boom, the first CG series for Sonic, will have 52 episodes and includes a wide range of licensing partners including TOMY (toys), Bioworld (apparel and accessories), Fifth Sun (apparel), Isaac Morris (apparel), Accessory Innovations (bags), and Mad Dog Concepts (sleepwear).
EA
EA’s Titanfall was the top-selling game in March (when it launched), with 925,000 units sold according to The NPD Group. EA’s licensing program for the game was ready at launch with partners including Mad Catz (PC peripherals), Prima Publishing (strategy guides), Jinx (apparel and accessories), Titan (art book), and Trends (posters). EA has numerous partners lined up for the next wave of product due this fall, including Square Enix, Triforce, and a line of construction sets from K’NEX (pictured).
POPCAP GAMES
Following the success of Plants vs. Zombies 2 for mobile and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare for console and PC, PopCap continues to extend the brand from game to lifestyle. The company is expanding its international program with partners in Europe, Latin America, and South East Asia. In North America, PopCap continues to work with key partners including Bioworld and Jazwares. Recent partners added to its roster include Astro Gaming, Skullcandy, Diamond Select Toys, and K’NEX. The Wild West Skirmish set from Plants vs. Zombies 2 is pictured.
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M
Flavorful Strategy Drives Food and Beverage BY JENNIFER LYNCH
any markets endured sagging or stagnant sales during the Great Recession, but grocery proved to be a space where consumers continued to spend. Licensing within the space, however, is a different story. “The basics of licensing still attain, but in order to get your product on the shelf today you essentially have to persuade a retailer to kick someone else’s product off that shelf,” says Bill Cross, president, Broad Street Licensing Group (BSLG). “This isn’t just in terms of supermarkets and slotting fees—it’s everywhere.” The majority of opportunities remain in frozen and prepared foods, but offering new product that’s differentiated from competitors, yet flavorful remains key.
One area that’s posing the most opportunity for flavor licensing is in the coffee aisle. Entenmann’s, Cinnabon, Bob Marley, Cake Boss, and more are just some of many food and beverage (F&B) brands with their eyes, and names, on java. “Coffee at a macro level is such a dynamic category,” says Patrick McGuire, director of licensing, Focus Brands. “There are multiple times of the day and occasions to drink it, ranges of quality, and all sorts of different marketing angles: fair-trade, additive products such as our International Delights Cinnabon Coffee Creamers, coffee-infused desserts, and more. There’s so much going on that provides a ton of opportunity for different brands representing different promises to deliver something new to a consumer.” According to a new report released by The NPD Group, sales of single-serve coffeemakers are nearing $1 billion, having grown 8 percent in 2013 with the western regions of the U.S. experiencing the strongest growth. The past few years have honed in on licensing in single-cup. In terms of market share within the space, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, creator of the Keurig, continues to hold the biggest chunk of the pie and is often a go-to partner for many, such as Starbucks, Focus Brands’ Cinnabon, and more. This was partly due to Green Mountain’s patent on the only single-serve cup, which ended last year. “The patent was up on Green Mountain’s K-Cup so it’s really opening the market now for others to get into the space,” says Elizabeth Bakacs, vice-president, creative and merchandising at Discovery Communications. “Consumers enjoy and demand the variety that they can make with individual coffees at home. All signs indicate that even more consumers will be purchasing single-cup brewers, so I think the market oppor-
Java Fuels Licensing
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tunity is going to broaden even further.” New players to the space include Discovery’s Cake Boss, which recently signed a deal with Single Cup Coffee to develop a line of eight blends based on Cake Boss’ Italian pastries and desserts including hazelnut biscotti, chocolate cannoli, and more. But Green Mountain remains ahead of the curve in the space and, not just in terms of market share but also innovation. “Green Mountain announced its new cold brewer and new technologies so it’s interesting to watch how it is addressing changes in the landscape,” says Focus Brands’ McGuire. Evident of just how powerful a concept the single-cup brewer has become, F&B giant The Cola-Cola Company raised its stake in Green Mountain last month to become its largest shareholder at 16 percent. The partnership is expected to strengthen their strategic relationship around Keurig Cold, a new cold single-cup brewer developed as a joint venture between the two companies. Cola-Cola representatives were unable to speak as of press time. Trends in what consumers are demanding and eating can also inspire new licensing opportunities. Foods and drinks infused with coconut water or powered with protein are just some examples licensors on top of trends in the space are seizing. The Joester Loria Group’s (TJLG) client PepsiCo extends its SoBe brand with SoBe Frozen Bars from licensee Philly Swirl. New exotic flavors are expected in 2015, while its current offerings— Pacific Coconut and Yumberry Pomegranate—already capitalize on unique flavor combinations that appeal to consumers. Nutrition is becoming increasingly important to consumers as well as the federal government. The USDA’s new Smart Snacks in School program, which goes into effect July 1 and requires schools to adhere to stringent nutritional guidelines by eliminating the sale of “junk food,” is one indicator of the hard line the government is taking to drive healthier eating habits nationwide. It’s something that could further influence consumers’ F&B purchases away from school as well. “Childhood obesity has been a key point of discussion in the U.S. in recent years and the Smart Snacks in School program is a result of recent changes in our society to proactively address these issues,” says Andrea Brent, vice-president of licensing at FremantleMedia, which recently signed a deal for SELF for its first entry into licensed foods. Another concern, leading consumers away from junk food and toward organics, has been the use of pesticides, GMOs, and antibiotics on food products throughout the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Taking out the Junk
Prevention’s 2013 estimates, about 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides active ingredients are used annually on food products prior to hitting retail and of those, more than 20,000 pesticide products are still marketed. This has resulted in a forecast growth for the U.S. organics food market at a compound annual growth rate of about 14 percent between 2013–2018, with 81 percent of American families purchasing organics at least sometimes, according to the U.S. Organics Food Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2018 report. For some licensors, this is viewed as an opportunity. “Our clients are looking at licensing partners with clean ingredient panels and healthy ingredients,” says Ross Misher, CEO of Brand Central. “There is a big push toward non-GMO ingredients and also a movement toward fresh foods that have health benefits.” Brand Central’s client Beekman 1802, based on The Fabulous Beekman Boys airing on the Cooking Channel, already puts an emphasis on the farm-to-table concept with its food products and organics. It is a space that the brand continues to invest in. A purchase of a Beekman 1802 Mortgage Lifter product also gives back 25 percent of its profits to struggling American farms. “We are finding a lot of interest in the brand and what they stand for as the movement toward locally grown and organic continues to become more mainstream,” says Misher. In a similar vein, Global Icons manages the Ironman and IronKids brands, and opportunities for both are significant right now, says Bill McClinton, president of Global Icons. “Ironman and IronKids nutritional products provide the required nutrition to enable consumers to live healthier, active lifestyles.” Global Icons is currently seeking partners for a wide ranges of healthy F&B products including bars and gels, refrigerated complete meals, sports drinks, energy shots, protein drinks, and more. Moreover, kids entertainment brands licensing into the space have become more cautious,
One of the biggest challenges with licensing in the organics and better-for-you space is simply finding partners, since prices remain a factor for consumers, retailers, and licensors. Despite the desire to eat better, prices still often deter consumers from doing so. So what does this mean for licensors? “The cost of organic foods is typically higher than nonorganic and adding a royalty for a license on top can price you right out of the market,” says Fremantle’s Brent. “Manufacturers who offer organic products and have higher cost of goods will need to evaluate their pricing strategy to see if they can absorb the royalty and still offer competitive pricing.” In April, Walmart partnered with Wild Oats to bring the organics brand—and organics in general—to its consumers at lower price points. Target has also announced plans to expand organics in its stores. “Americans generally want low prices, so going into a niche like organics or better-for-you options usually tends to increase your price so only dedicated consumers are going to buy it,” says BSLG’s Cross. “As someone recently said about the Wild Oats/Walmart deal—the true organics purchaser isn’t shopping at Walmart; They are shopping at Whole Foods or their own dedicated organics store or local farmers market. So, sometimes it’s also about recognizing who you’re trying to reach and how best to go about doing it. ” Evidence abounds highlighting the trends in healthy living in the food and beverage category and the impact it’s having on American consumers. So whether its fusing the flavor of a consumer’s favorite sweet treat into coffee or simply staying on top of trends to give consumers a healthier dose of what they want, it’s up to licensors to find a way to secure a spot at retail and remain top of mind.
The Challenge of Being Healthy
Beekman 1802 Mortgage Lifter products give back 25 percent of its profits to struggling American farms.
as more seek health-focused partners. This is visible in partnerships between Sesame Workshop and its long-term partner Earth’s Best as well as Marvel, which is focusing more on “better-for-you” products that embody the same healthful characteristics as its superheroes. Among its latest products, Avengers Assemble Pirate’s Booty puff rice and corn snack food will launch timed to this back-to-school season. But, “The obesity issue is not just limited to kids’ entertainment properties,” says Joanne Loria, co-president of TJLG. “Big CPG companies, such as our clients PepsiCo and Entenmann’s, are always highly vigilant about avoiding any product extensions, not just food and beverage, that could be construed as targeting kids.” Such brands often mix it up by applying their flavor profiles to non-caloric products and focus on kitchenware and lifestyle categories outside the food aisle. TJLG’s client Kellogg’s rich history of iconic art and imagery has led to a collection of colorful, vintage place settings and serving ware with Tabletop Unlimited, launching this fall with multi-channel distribution slated for spring 2015, while “Entenmann’s, already with an established line of branded coffees featuring signature flavors, continues to expand its successful bakeware collection into 2015,” says Loria.
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FOOD BY JENNIFER LYNCH
AND
BEVERAGE
In food and beverage, flavor continues to be the driving force in licensing, but how food and beverages are prepared has also opened up new opportunities, such as in the coffee aisle. Below is a sampling of some of the latest product and partnerships.
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
Early this year, The Coca-Cola Company and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) signed a 10-year agreement to collaborate on the development and introduction of The Coca-Cola Company’s global brand portfolio for use in GMCR’s new Keurig Cold at-home beverage system. GMCR will be The Coca-Cola Company’s exclusive partner for the production and sale of The CocaCola Company-branded single-serve, pod-based cold beverages.
FOCUS BRANDS
With now more than 20 SKUs, Focus Brands and Pillsbury continue to grow their partnership this year with a new bakery-inspired line of refrigerated Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Cinnamon Rolls. The new rolls use higher quality ingredients, including premium dough, signature cream cheese frosting, and Cinnabon’s Makara cinnamon. The product rolled out in April throughout Publix Super Markets and will be available nationwide this month.
THE JOESTER LORIA GROUP
Constellation Brands Beer Division has appointed The Joester Loria Group (TJLG) as its U.S. licensing agent of record to represent its beer brand portfolio, which includes Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, and Victoria beer brands. TJLG will execute a comprehensive licensing program for each brand in the portfolio and develop an integrated licensing and merchandising program designed to appeal to loyal beer enthusiasts and target new consumers with a collection of lifestyle categories.
DISCOVERY CONSUMER PRODUCTS
TLC’s popular Cake Boss franchise expands into new categories including Cake Boss Junior, a line of bakeware and decorating tools designed for kids in partnership with Meyer Corporation, edible cake decorations with Dawn Foods, and a line of K-cup compatible coffees with Single Cup Coffee based on Buddy’s signature desserts. Cake Boss Cakeware, a line of bakeware, serveware, and decorating tools expands with new accessories. Cake Boss products also made their global debut this year with the launch of Cake Boss bakeware in Australia, Italy, and the UK, with an aggressive international rollout planned throughout 2014.
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INVENTURE FOODS
Inventure Foods, Inc., and TGI Friday’s have agreed to terms on a new long-term licensing agreement that will expand TGI Friday’s snack line to new product categories (popcorn, corn snacks, snack mixes, and tortilla chips) and international distribution. The contract extends the licensing partnership through 2024. The new agreement expands TGI Friday’s snack foods into new countries including Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, China, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, the UK, the E.U., Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia. Pictured are two new baked snacks in the line.
GLOBAL ICONS
High Liner Foods, a foodservice industry premier seafood company, created a line of frozen beer-battered fish that utilize Guinness’ signature stout. The frozen fish launched into foodservice this spring.
THE LICENSING COMPANY
For adult beverage brand Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser BBQ sauce partner, Vita Foods, has relaunched its line of signature sauces with five new flavors, as well as two wing sauces, and fresh new packaging. The line will be available at grocery stores nationwide. The deal was brokered by Anheuser-Busch’s licensing agent The Licensing Company.
FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia tapped chef Calvin Harris, CEO of Benevida Foods, to create the SELF Healthy Kitchen frozen food line, which recently launched in grocery stores nationwide. This marks the first time SELF and Condé Nast introduced a line of packaged foods. “Its food and recipes have always been very popular with SELF readers,” says Andrea brent, vice-president of licensing, FremantleMedia. “With an already established, loyal fan-base of consumers looking for healthy options, the timing seemed perfect to launch SELF Healthy Kitchen.”
BEANSTALK
Perfetti Van Melle appointed Beanstalk as its exclusive licensing agency in Greater China for the iconic lollipop brand, Chupa Chups. Beanstalk will leverage Chupa Chups’ unique heritage and strong emotional connection with sweets lovers to extend the brand to lifestyle categories. The program will target teens, tweens, and the young at heart. Beanstalk is already a partner of Perfetti Van Melle in the U.S., where it has represented its Airheads brand since 2009.
STARBUCKS CORPORATION
Starbucks launched Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, developed by Oprah Winfrey in close collaboration with Teavana’s leading tea teaologist. Oprah’s personal tea passion and the deep expertise of Teavana have resulted in a distinctive blend featuring a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, blended with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos. As part of this new core offering, Starbucks will make a donation for each Teavana Oprah Chai Tea product sold to benefit educational opportunities for youth through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation.
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29
A
Trends in Licensing 2014 s the U.S. economy bounces
dent of Lisa Marks Associates. “Even in this digi-
ping in different places than the
While consumers want “real” and “memorable”
back, consumers are shopping again. However, they are shoppre-recession days and in differ-
ent ways. Consumers continue to look for value. As always, value is defined in many ways and it’s not
always based on price. Many consumers are willing to spend more for an item that has better quality or means something to them.
“People are shopping, but buying patterns have
changed,” says Rebekah Belzer, vice-president of
licensing for Brand Central. “The predominant pattern now is to shop online. That’s where retail is
tal era these brands harken back to a time when things were ‘real’ and ‘memorable.’”
these same shoppers want these brands to present
themselves in non-traditional ways and in non-traditional places. Beanstalk’s president, Allison
fic and large consumer products companies are now placing their major brands in these channels.
“Value shopping has gone mainstream,” says
Andy Topkins, partner at Brandgenuity. “The big
consumer products brands are becoming more comfortable with their products at Dollar General or Family Dollar. It has now been embraced. It’s
understood that these stores are part of the retail
mix and it’s where consumers are shopping.”
AMERICANA
Those interviewed reported a continued trend in
the concept of Americana. It is described as living
a more “authentic” and less-tech focused lifestyle.
It’s about seeking out brands that your parents and
grandparents used.
“Consumers are looking at brands that have
endured for generations,” says Lisa Marks, presi-
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Winners will be announced on June 17.
CELEBRITIES
Celebrity has always played a huge role in licens-
in recent TV ads by YouTube are beauty and fashion
colors inspired by soda brands.
grams have been at the forefront of this Americana movement for the past few years. It includes cele-
brating the redneck lifestyle with Here Comes
most during the recession—with series such as Dirty
a result, many dollar stores have seen increased traf-
Initiatives as a category for this year’s LIMA awards.
Numerous TV series and their licensing pro-
Coca-Cola collaborated with OPI for nail polish
However, there is still a large segment of con-
sumers for whom price is the only driving factor. As
(LIMA) added Location-Based and Experiential
ing. But now those celebrities are no longer coming
Honey Boo Boo, Duck Dynasty, and other such pro-
just a few popular sites that come to mind.
Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association
Ames cites Coca-Cola as an example of this trend.
seeing a lift and there are a lot of new and interest-
ing retail websites.” CafePress, Etsy, and Zulily are
by Nancy Lombardi
gramming. There is also the celebration of the blue collar American male worker—who suffered the Jobs, Gas Monkey Garage, and Deadliest Catch.
Brandgenuity’s Topkins, which represents
A&E, History Channel and recently signed Winnebago, says that series such as Duck Dynasty
and others have given the licensing industry access to outdoor lifestyle retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and Gander Mountain.
LOCATIONS & EXPERIENCES
Another trend cited by many is location-based
entertainment. Visiting an amusement park is an
obvious example but there has been a rise in branded
entertainment such the Cake Boss traveling show
called Buddy on Tour. There is the Discovery Times
Square in New York City with exhibits for just about
any interest. There are also mainstays in the cruise
industry such as the World Poker Tour Cruise, cruis-
ers for various sports teams, as well as Disney-
Nickelodeon-, and Dr. Seuss-themed cruises.
This category has grown so much that the
straight out of Hollywood. They are coming straight
from YouTube and from blogs. Two examples cited gurus Michelle Phan (product line with L’Oreal) and Bethany Mota (feature shop at Aéropostale).
Beanstalk cites its client Bag Snob as an example
of blogger expertise turning into licensed product. The site’s founders, Tina Craig and Kelly Cook,
worked with DKNY for a collection of handbags
and HSN recently released an affordable line of Snob Essentials handbags, says Beanstalk’s Ames.
Young bloggers are being looked at as legiti-
mate experts in their space, according to Ames. She cites Lauren Luke, who does make-up tutorials on YouTube and has worked with Sephora, and shoe
blogger Jane Aldridge, who has launched two collections for Urban Outfitters, as prime examples.
This is the one trend out of all those mentioned
here that is poised for explosive growth.
Millennials are spending their time online and seeking out niche experts in every field imaginable. These “niche” voices now speak to millions and are bound to create a new type of celebrity, new type of expert, and new type of licensing program.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Food and beverage licensing is the one sector
that everyone said grew during the recession and remains a hot trend. For an in-depth look at the food and beverage category, turn to page 26.
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Licensing Show 2014
COMPILED
BY JENNIFER LYNCH
The following companies represent a sampling of what will be on display at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during this year’s Licensing International Expo.
CBS Consumer Products
2013 brought CBS Consumer Products success for Star Trek, with theatrical marketing for Star Trek into Darkness driving overall Star Trek activity and increased sales growth of classic and branded products. CBS has established a strong foundation of successful retail and licensing partnerships. ThinkGeek.com introduced a new line of top-selling Star Trek hoodies, glassware, pajamas, aprons, bathroom décor, and marketing programs, while HER Universe created a design competition that appealed directly to a passionate fanbase of Star Trek fans. In addition, Ecommerce launched localized Star Trek stores in Germany, the UK, Brazil, and Japan (along with a Dexter focused store in Brazil). The long-running CBS series NCIS has become an e-commerce powerhouse driven by “seen on” products, while CBS Consumer Products has continued to enhance its classic portfolio, including The Twilight Zone, Cheers, and Beverly Hills 90210, through the launch of new categories such as online gaming. A series of live events were also introduced in Korea and Taiwan, with new localized formats developed for county fairs in the U.S. CBS will focus on a handful of top licensing initiatives to drive growth in 2014 and beyond, launching merchandising programs for new series Penny Dreadful and Extant and more established dramas such as Under the Dome, Ray Donovan, and Reign. The biggest initiative for the company is yet to come; 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, which will be supported by robust merchandising, retail, and promotional programs.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
In the midst of a landmark year honoring milestone anniversaries, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) celebrates Batman’s 75th anniversary. Batman, and DC Comics superheroes, continues to draw fans of all ages into the aisles. Global licensing partners, including Mattel, LEGO, and Rubie’s Costume Co., will continue to create core product. The Wizard of Oz also sees global licensing support from a number of global cross-category partners this year, in celebration of its 75th anniversary. Mattel, Tonner, Madame Alexander, and more have already started rolling out new product. WBCP’s classic animated properties are back with a slate of new animated content from Warner Bros. Animation, including the all-new animated comedy series Be Cool Scooby-Doo! The Tom and Jerry Show will offer a fresh take on the original series with support from WBCP and an array of global licensing partners around the world. Bugs Bunny is also back in Wabbit—A Looney Tunes Production, an all-new series that will be supported by WBCP and its licensing partners. The finale of The Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (December 2014), from New Line Cinema and Metro-GoldwynMayer Pictures (MGM), is coming soon. Co-master toy partners The Bridge Direct and Vivid Group, among other licensees, already have product for fans awaiting the finale to Bilbo’s epic journey through Middle Earth. Warner Bros. Television’s (WBTV) The Big Bang Theory continues to attract a variety of licensees. WBTV’s Supernatural is expanding its licensing footprint with all new partnerships rolling out in 2014 and beyond.
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A GLOBAL SENSATION NOW A HIT IN THE US! an d n t r ie s u o c s. 18 0 guage ir s in n a a l w o 0 T h e s h l a t e d i n t o 4 r o g r a m s in d s p r a n ke is tran e licensing n e t f o is ar o o le r s T h e re Peppa h c d s n e a r n t r ie s e f or p 50 cou No. 1 licens tralia, s u e A h , t UK as in in t h e d Spa n a y l It a
• Top rated show airing on Nick Jr. in multiple time slots 7 days per week • Over 25 licensees on board • Launching new categories at retail – Spring 2015 • Major marketing & promotions campaign to support the brand
www.peppapig.com facebook.com/OfficialPeppaPigUS
Visit us at Licensing Expo Booth F161 For Marketing and Licensing opportunities in North America please contact: Joan Grasso, VP Licensing | JGrasso@entonegroup.com
Untitled-5 1 Peppa Royalties FP ad May14.indd 1
5/29/2014 10:51:55 AM 09/05/2014 17:21
Licensing Show 2014
Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) is responsible for all consumer products licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features, and Sprout. The team is also responsible for film and home entertainment promotions as well as corporate alliances. Minions, the spin-off of the Despicable Me franchise centering on the iconic Minion characters introduced in the blockbuster 2010 and 2013 films, is slated to bow July 10, 2015. Thinkway Toys has already signed on to return as the global master toy licensee for Minions, along with other key partners including Hasbro and Hybrid JEM. Jurassic World, the long-awaited next installment of Steven Spielberg’s film series, is scheduled for release June 12, 2015. Hasbro has already signed on as the worldwide master toy licensee on the film, renewing the partnership that the companies have had since the original film in 1993. In addition to the film slate, UP&L has a licensing lineup of television programming for both NBC and Sprout. Anchoring the television program is The Biggest Loser with a group of licensing partners focused on health and wellness. The series has achieved 15 seasons of fan affinity and a strong level of consumer awareness with solid ratings that continue to grow. Other key shows include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Battlestar Galactica, and The Office.
Striker Entertainment
Striker Entertainment will feature several new properties at this year’s Licensing Show including mobile/tablet games Candy Crush Saga from King and MinoMonsters from MinoMonsters, LLC. Striker’s television roster includes AMC’s The Walking Dead, which returns this fall for its fifth season and is currently supported by a roster of more than 50 licensees. In addition, Orphan Black (Temple Street Productions on BBC America), Netflix series Orange is the New Black (Lionsgate), and the pirate-themed drama Black Sails (Michael Bay and Starz) are all high profile projects Striker is growing in consumer products. On the theatrical side, Striker will handle Summit/Lionsgate’s Insurgent, the March 20, 2015, sequel to Divergent and the second in a four film franchise, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 and Part 2, due out November 2014 and 2015, respectively. Additional films for Striker include Ted 2, the summer 2015 Seth MacFarlane-helmed sequel distributed by Universal Pictures; and Chappie, from Neill Blomkamp distributed by Sony. Striker is also handling the relaunch of It’s Happy Bunny from JK Benton Studios. Partners will be announced at Licensing Show.
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Scholastic Media
Scholastic Media is launching a comprehensive licensing initiative for the Goosebumps motion picture based on the Scholastic book series by R.L. Stine. Goosebumps makes its bigscreen debut in August 2015 with the feature film starring Jack Black from Sony Pictures Entertainment. The movie is produced by Scholastic Media president Deborah Forte and Neal H. Moritz. Scholastic Media, working with Sony Pictures Consumer Products as licensing agent for the brand, will develop products across key categories including toys, games, and puzzles; mobile, social, and console gaming; collectibles; gifts and novelties; costumes; social expression and party goods; and apparel. More than 350 million Goosebumps books in 32 languages have been sold worldwide and new titles are planned for release through 2015. A liveaction television series produced by Scholastic Media first debuted in 1995 and is currently a top performer on the Hub Network. It is available through Netflix in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Ireland; digital download on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video; and DVDs from Fox Home Entertainment. Video games, costumes, T-shirts, and more are also available for purchase.
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Licensing Show 2014 HBO Licensing
HBO Global Licensing now has more than 60 licensees on board for Game of Thrones products across categories, with many more in development. Licensees oversee the extension of the Game of Thrones brand into consumer merchandise and have created thousands of unique designs across a broad spectrum of high-quality products that range from soundtracks, apparel, glassware, and books to jew- 4D Cityscape Game of Thrones: Westeros Puzzle elry, action figures, games, and even a Game of Thrones beer. International growth for the brand has also been rapid, with international licensees showing an average 2.5 times uplift on sales through to retail, and retail expanding beyond specialty to grocery, high-end fashion, and direct-to-retail.
Meredith Brand Licensing
Meredith Brand Licensing will highlight eight brands at this year’s Licensing Show. Its national brands reach more than 100 million women at every major life stage, and the company seeks to leverage its portfolio of lifestyle brands to expand on their footprint with more products that speak to what consumers, particularly women, are most passionate about: their homes, their families, and themselves. Better Homes and Gardens is targeted for women who are passionate about home and the life they create there. As a leading lifestyle brand in the U.S., the brand reaches 36 million monthly readers, 9.5 million unique monthly website guests, two million Facebook fans, and a devoted Pinterest following. Parents magazine has been a leading go-to source for informing, inspiring, and entertaining today’s moms. Likewise, covering everything from pregnancy to potty training, Pregnancy has 14 million monthly readers, six million monthly unique website guests, and 1.5 million Facebook followers. Family Circle celebrates today’s family with mom at its center by providing smart, practical solutions to raising happy, healthy families. In its 80th year, Family Circle reaches 17 million monthly readers, plus strong online and social media engagement. AllRecipes.com provides an online source for cooks to accomplish all their cooking goals, no matter the scope or size. It is a leading recipe site with 32 million unique monthly visitors, 19 million downloaded apps, and a new print version reaching 2.75 million readers in its first year. Traditional Home promotes timeless design for modern living through a reinterpretation of the classics, mixing old with new. The brand speaks to the luxury market and those who aspire to the look of luxury through elegance in their surroundings. Eating Well makes wholesome, healthy, easy everyday recipes through a holistic approach that empowers cooking, eating, and living. The brand focuses on quick and easy recipes, food origins, nutrition, and balanced meals. It has a monthly reach of four million readers, 5.7 million monthly unique website visitors, and growing social media engagement. Successful Farming is Meredith’s heritage brand, and one in continuous publication since 1902. It continues to serve the diverse business, production, and information needs of families that make farming and ranching their business. The brand has touch points across print, digital, social media, radio, TV broadcasting, and events. And lastly, Fitness is in the business of helping women make little changes in their lives, including exercise and eating, while shifting the conversation from skinny to healthy.
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For Pets and Their People
© 2014 ASPCA®. All Rights Reserved.
Making a Difference for Animals Since 1866
Alex and Ani • American Eagle • Artists’ Addiction Records • ASPCA Pet Health Insurance • Bradford Exchange ®
Checks in the Mail • Commonwealth Toy and Novelty • David & Goliath • Enertec Enterprises European Home Designs • Evenflo • Firestar Diamond • Gilt • Graphique de France • Juicy Couture Lil Bub • Paws N Claws Eyewear • PBteen • Petking • Puppy Luv Glam • Ralph Lauren Sophia’s Heritage Collection • Studio Fun • Vans • We-Care.com • West Elm • Zara Terez
For more information, contact Helene Gordon, 212-876-7700 ext. 4704 • helene.gordon@aspca.org Untitled-9 1
Visit us at Booth D51 5/29/2014 11:19:06 AM
Licensing Show 2014 Hasbro
At Licensing Show, Hasbro will shine a spotlight on key global franchise brands including Transformers, My Little Pony, Monopoly, Littlest Pet Shop, Nerf, Play-Doh, and Magic: The Gathering. Hasbro continues to drive brand relevance with consumers of all ages via entertainment, publishing, toy, fashion, and digital gaming across multiple retail channels and aisles.
Saban Brands
With a 20-plus year legacy, Saban’s Power Rangers is licensed to more than 200 partners worldwide across a range of categories including toys, apparel, games, party goods, and more. Power Rangers products can be found in all major markets throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia, India, and South Africa. Bandai continues to serve as the brand’s global master toy licensee with toys from the current season, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, available now in the U.S. and worldwide later this year. The line includes all-new Morphers, Ranger Keys, Megazords, and more from this season. The Ranger Keys, which unlock the powers of all Rangers from the past 20 seasons, are central to the new toy line with 60 different keys to collect. The series currently airs in 150 markets worldwide and is available On Demand and through Netflix, Hulu, Xbox, iTunes, and Amazon Prime. Julius Jr., Saban Brands’ animated preschool series inspired by the Paul Frank brand, debuted in September 2013 and currently broadcasts on Nick Jr. seven days a week in the U.S. Global master toy licensee Fisher-Price will roll out product in the U.S. mid-June at Toys “R” Us, with a full rollout at other key retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, to follow this fall. Products will be distributed globally in 2015. Saban Brands has also partnered with Random House Children’s Books for a publishing deal, with Julius Jr. books hitting shelves beginning this fall in the U.S. The collection will include a full range of color and activity books, leveled readers, storybooks, and novelty books for preschoolers. There will also be a full consumer products line, including apparel and accessories, craft and activities, and roleplay items, with more categories to follow. The series will premiere in international markets this year, including Disney Junior in Italy, TF1 in France, and Network 10 in Australia this spring, followed by Discovery Kids Latin America this summer. Julius Jr. will also expand to additional countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in the near future. Digimon Fusion, the sixth season of the Digimon franchise, launched in September 2013 on Nickelodeon and currently airs on Nicktoons and Vortexx on The CW in the U.S. A consumer products line launched in the U.S. in January and in the UK in spring, with Bandai serving as global master toy licensee. Distribution in additional markets worldwide will follow throughout the year. The full line features toys, trading cards, and digital apps, with more categories to follow later this year. The Digimon Fusion collectible card game was one of the first products to hit the market, which consists of two starter decks as well as a 60-card set sold in booster packs. The Paul Frank brand has seen growth throughout Asia over the past year. In China alone, there are more than 100 Paul Frank stores open, with a goal of expanding to more than 200 by 2015. The brand also introduced new store concepts, which include Paul Frank Kids and Paul Frank Accessories stores, after two successful years targeting the adult demographic. There are also plans to launch Paul Frank Cafes throughout China, as well as a home concept store to include home décor, bedding, and more. Saban Brands will soon be opening a Shanghai office to support its growth throughout Asia.
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5/29/2014 10:53:26 AM
Licensing Show 2014
Brandberry
Last year The Wiggles relaunched with three new cast members (Emma, Simon, and Lachy) and original Wiggle Anthony. The Wiggles series, Ready, Steady, Wiggle, airs daily on Sprout in the U.S., on Treehouse in Canada, and on ABC in Australia and New Zealand. Fifty-two new episodes have been shot and are being delivered. Content deals in other territories are currently being negotiated and plans are underway to exploit the brand in those territories. With master toy partner Wicked Cool Toys, quarterly and seasonal DVD/CD releases, a number of new licensees, and a radio show on Sirius XM, many new projects are in the works.
Knockout Licensing
The Wiggles
Knockout Licensing, formed in 2012 as a joint venture between CopCorp Licensing and TK Brand Group, has quickly established itself as a full-service licensing agency with brands such as Downton Abbey; Boo, The World’s Cutest Dog; and animated preschool series Justin Time. New to the Knockout booth for this year’s Licensing Show are ABC/Lionsgate television drama Nashville; the magical horses of Bella Sara; and the Singer sewing brand.
Bulldog Licensing
Wicked Cool Toys has been appointed the master toy partner for Garfield, in a deal brokered by Bulldog Licensing, Garfield’s U.S. licensing representative on behalf of Paws, Inc. The licensing agreement grants Wicked Cool worldwide rights to develop and market a comprehensive line of figures, plush, vehicles, playsets, roleplay, and seasonal products based on the animated cat. Wicked Cool expects the Garfield product to hit the marketplace for holiday 2014. Garfield licensing is conducted in 111 countries with 24 agents, 400 licensees, and 5,000 products. There have been more than 200 million Garfield books sold worldwide. Its website garners 12 million page views each month and the brand has a strong following with 15 million fans on Facebook. Created by cartoonist Jim Davis in 1978, Garfield is a humorous comic strip centered on the lives of a quick-witted orange cat who loves lasagna, coffee, and his remote control as well as his owner Jon Arbuckle and Odie, a sweet but not so brilliant dog. Bulldog Licensing has also signed on to represent gaming brands Saints Row and Dead Island across the U.S. and Canada, after signing a sub-agency agreement with global representative Game of 2 Halves. Both properties are produced by video game publisher Deep Silver and appeal to a target market of 18- to 34-year-old men, with potential across sectors such as apparel, accessories, books, posters, and collectibles. Saints Row is a video game franchise that follows a gang leader from the streets to the White House and has built up a worldwide fanbase with nearly 1.5 million Facebook fans. Saints Row IV, the latest installment in the series, sold more than 1 million units within just a week of launching last summer. Dead Island consists of two games–Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide–that take the player into a nightmare scenario on a holiday island as vacationers enter a fight for their lives. A new installment, Dead Island Epidemic, is a free-to-play, downloadable PC game.
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Licensing Show 2014
4K Media
Heading into Licensing Show, 4K Media, Inc., announces a series of new developments in the ongoing resurgence of its Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. Freeze will produce a new collection of children’s T-shirts, fashion tops, and hoodies that will target young Yu-Gi-Oh! fans in the U.S. and Canada. Gruppo Cartorama S.R.L. will produce stationery and back-to-school accessories featuring artwork from the Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL animated series for the territories of Italy, San Marin, and Vatican City. On the broadcast front, the animated series continues its global expansion with new airings and expanded broadcast deals in Italy (K2), the UK (KIX!), and Australia (Go Network). The Yu-Gi-Oh! series is currently in its 13th consecutive year of broadcast in the U.S. and most major markets worldwide.
The Licensing Company
In food and beverage, TLC brokered a deal between its client Jelly Belly and Unilever to launch a line of Popsicles in April across retail channels in the U.S. and Canada. Jelly Belly Popsicles are available in three top flavors of Jelly Belly jellybeans including Very Cherry, Blueberry, and Tutti-Fruitti. With a hard outer shell and soft center, Jelly Belly Popsicles mirror the jellybean texture. And beginning this August, Rita’s Italian Ice will feature Jelly Belly Tutti-Fruitti and Berry Blue Italian Ice flavors at all 600 Rita’s locations nationwide. Expanding the line of Welch’s at-home smoothie kits, Nature’s Touch Frozen Fruit, Inc., is set to debut two new Welch’s Fruit and Veggie smoothie kits at Loblaw Companies, Ltd. Canada in July. Welch’s Green Supreme and Welch’s Orange Sunrise smoothie kits are made with fruits and vegetables harvested at their peak of ripeness. The Hershey Company moves into beauty with the Lotta Luv Jolly Rancher Temporary Hair Color Comb, which adds sweet and bright watermelon-scented colored streaks to hair with Jolly Rancherscented temporary hair color. The hair color washes out with shampoo, according to TLC, and launched at Claire’s this spring. The Hershey Company’s new home décor licensee, Sweet Novelty, will also add sweet décor to homes in the form of unique Hershey’s plush pillows, rugs, beanbag chairs, and blankets. For Anheuser-Busch, Concept One Accessories has developed a red, white, and blue pallet to hit Walmart stores for 6-8 weeks this summer at 750 doors. The pallet includes eight unique hats and four separate board shorts featuring the Budweiser brand. Budweiser BBQ sauce partner, Vita Foods, has relaunched its line of signature sauces with five new flavors, as well as two wing sauces, and fresh new packaging. The line will be available at grocery stores nationwide. Budweiser and Alife, a downtown culture clothing purveyor, will launch an exclusive Budweiser capsule collection this fall, featuring menswear, women’s wear, accessories, glassware, and skateboards as part of a specialty fashion collaboration to be sold exclusively at Alife’s stores. Anheuser Busch’s glassware partner, Boelter, is also launching a new multi-pack mason jar box with Lime-A-Rita and Straw-Ber-Rita to be placed alongside core product at more than 1,000 Walmart supercenters this month. For its motor vehicle client Jeep, toy partner MEGA Bloks now offers the Jeep Wrangler Builders Kits, which feature buildable versions of the iconic vehicles, including features such as a fold-down windshield and real rubber tires. The line is available at all major toy retailers. New licensee Brew City has created a new line of Chrysler and Imported from Detroit (IFD) T-shirt designs that infuse vintage Chrysler graphics with modern style and IFD designs. The line in expected to launch in specialty channels by this fall. Little ones can now cruise around like mom and dad in their own FIAT 500 from Peg Perego. Rockwell Watches taps into the heritage of the Dodge brand with the new Dodge 100th Anniversary Phantom Black edition. It features 50mm case dimensions, butterfly clasp, solid stainless steel construction, and Ronda Swiss 762 movement. Distribution is targeted for specialty channels. Dodge fans can also read up on the brand’s 100-year history with the Dodge 100 Years from MBI Publishing.
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2014 HOLIDAY SHOWCASE This one-day event gives exhibitors the opportunity to showcase products in front of key media, encompassing print, broadcast, and online news outlets as well as the most inuential parenting bloggers. TTPM will also unveil its coveted Most Wanted List and the hottest trends and properties for the season.
Tuesday, October 1 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Metropolitan Pavilion 125 W. 18th Street, New York, NY
To reserve your space today, contact Bob Glaser 646.763.8720 bob@anbmedia.com Untitled-8 1
Donna Moore 646.763.8718 donna@anbmedia.com 5/29/2014 11:15:18 AM
Licensing Show 2014 The Joester Loria Group
The Joester Loria Group (TJLG) has been appointed by Constellation Brands Beer Division, as the licensing agent of record in the U.S. to represent the Constellation beer brand portfolio. Constellation Brands Beer Division is the exclusive brewer, marketer, and supplier of a growing portfolio of high-end, iconic, imported beer brands for the U.S. market. The portfolio includes Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, and Victoria beer brands. The Beer Division also imports the Tsingtao beer brand in the U.S. Constellation is now the third-largest brewer and seller of beer to U.S. consumers. TJLG will execute a comprehensive licensing program with a consumer engagement strategy that will align with the unique spirit and core essence of the individual beer brands in Constellation’s portfolio. It will develop an integrated licensing and merchandising program designed to appeal to loyal beer enthusiasts and target new consumers with a collection of lifestyle categories.
DHX Media
Brand Central
Brand Central has signed Dwell Media to develop a full-scale consumer products licensing program. Dwell Media operates Dwell magazine, the ecommerce Dwell store, Dwell Digital, Dwell on Design events, and the Dwell Homes Collection. Dwell magazine is a leader in modern design and architecture for consumers, designers, architects, and enthusiasts worldwide. Brand Central is targeting strategic categories for Dwell Media’s partnerships including collaborations with top brands and designers. Dwell Media is the latest addition to Brand Central’s roster of home and lifestyle brands, which includes Cupcakes and Cashmere, Apartment Therapy, Miraval Spa and Resort, and more.
Global phenomenon Teletubbies has reached more than one billion children to date and has aired in more than 120 territories in 45 languages. Its enduring resonance with children is underscored by its YouTube channel, which garners nearly 50 million views per month. Details could not be revealed as of press time, but DHX Media says that big developments are ahead. Yo Gabba Gabba! infuses retro-styles, hip songs, and dance, teaching simple life lessons. The series airs daily on Nick Jr. in more than 75 million households multiple times a day. Along with The National Live touring show, Yo Gabba Gabba! has toys, apparel, DVDs, books, and juice sold at U.S. retailers nationwide. The brand is supported by Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment, Jazwares, Ty Beanies, Vans Shoes, Volcom apparel, and more. Promotional partners include Kia, Ubisoft, Caillou Citi, Vita, Coc, Toys for Tots, and Journeys Kids. Ella the Elephant, based on the books by Carmela and Steven D’Amico, follows the adventures of a thoughtful and caring little elephant named Ella who has a magical hat. The series premiered in the U.S. on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in February, and Ella already has a growing fanbase and strong social media presence on Disney Junior’s Facebook and Pinterest pages. Other broadcasters include TVO Canada, Tele-Quebec Canada, Hop! TV Israel, ABC Australia, and Mini Mini Poland. Key U.S. partners include Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with its first DVD release this fall and Jazwares as master toy licensee. Caillou will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2015. Caillou is about an inquisitive 4-year-old boy whose unique way of relating to the world has charmed generations of preschoolers. Caillou airs in the U.S. on PBS Kids as well as Sprout, Sprout VOD, Netflix, LeapFrog, and Amazon. Internationally, Caillou airs on TIJI (France), Yumercak (Turkey), Hop (Israel), Discovery Kids (Latin America), Al Jazeera (Middle East), ATV (Asia), Jim Jam (Eastern Europe), Rai (Italy), and has aired for more than 10 years on Super RTL in Germany. Currently Caillou has more than 50 licensees globally including master toy partner Imports Dragon, publisher Chouette, and app partner Budge. Caillou is represented by Metropol (Turkey) and CPLG Germany.
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Have extra inventory?
Donate it to K.I.D.S.
Your excess product can put smiles on faces! Poverty is a disaster that happens every day, but K.I.D.S. brings hope to 4.5 million children and their families every year. Donating your excess apparel, shoes, toys, books and juvenile products can provide your company with a generous tax deduction and replace despair with dignity. Fill out the donation form online at www.KIDSdonations.org or call 1-800-266-3314.
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Licensing Show 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment
In 2013, The Smurfs 2 merchandising program saw successful retail placement and strong sales throughout North America, with more than 70 North American licensees covering every major category. With an all-new animated Smurfs film scheduled for release in summer 2015, Sony will work with existing and new partners to build a broad merchandising program. Sony also looks to build on the success of the first Hotel Transylvania film in 2012 with another film in the franchise due out September 2015. For 2016 and beyond, Sony is working closely with Scholastic on a Goosebumps film merchandising program as well as a new program for allAmerican superhero, Popeye. Sony Pictures TV’s hit show, Breaking Bad, came to a dramatic close but the global merchandising program continues to flourish. Breaking Bad merchandise penetrated every channel of retail distribution in 2013 and continues to be one of the top selling global licenses with a full roster of partners covering apparel and accessories, costumes, collectibles, publishing, and more. With its prequel series Better Call Saul launching this fall, Sony is planning an all-new program featuring many of the Breaking Bad characters and more.
Marvel Entertainment
Capitalizing on The Avengers franchise, the anticipated theatrical sequel The Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to experience successful retail support with a robust licensing campaign featuring a range of partners across a variety of categories, including Hasbro, LEGO, Mattel, Huffy, Under Armour, Mad Engine, C-Life, American Greetings, Hallmark, Jay Franco, and more. In a first for the franchise, Marvel has developed a retail strategy that will showcase the many elements of the film offering consumers distinct and separate retail experiences. Partnerships with some of the biggest retailers will give Marvel fans customized, branded destinations and exclusives that will create differentiated retail experiences while maximizing the awareness and buzz for the breadth and depth of products inspired by the 2015 theatrical event. Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors marks the third season of the animated series and will broaden the Spider-Man universe with a new name and new characters. Delivering an all-new Spider-Man experience focused on web-slinging and expanding the franchise with the introduction of a team of Web Warriors, the series will showcase a new multi-character approach for the franchise. The Web Warriors, which will include Spider-Man along with fan favorites Iron Spider and Agent Venom, will introduce unique web-slinging abilities for each character that will play out across product lines. A robust merchandising campaign will be created. Marvel is also amping up its focus on performance in 2014. The company continues to seek brand partners also known for performance, strength, and durability. Current partners that fit these criteria include Under Armour (apparel), Tantrum (electronics accessories), Word Lock (bike locks), and Crunch Pack (better-for-you consumables). Marvel is also spotlighting on women’s fashion to strengthen its reach to the female millennial and teen demographic. Building on successful apparel programs with trendy retailers including Forever 21 and Wet Seal, Marvel is looking to develop additional unique and creative partnerships with fashion forward brands and influential fashion personalities. Much like the licensing program for upcoming summer blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel will use a targeted approach to introduce new Marvel characters with licensing potential. Ant-Man, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Paul Rudd in the title role, is the latest installment in Marvel’s cinematic universe and is expected to introduce the new hero in a major summer 2015 tentpole film. Marvel Television introduces four additional characters under a multi-year deal with Netflix, starting with a Daredevil series in spring 2015.
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Download the FREE App from
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• Real-Time Price Comparison/Availability at major retailers: Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Target, Amazon.com, Kmart, Babies“R”Us, buybuy BABY, GameStop, Best Buy, Sports Authority, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and PetSmart and Wag.com (for our pet reviews!) • Set Sales Notifications and receive updates when specific products go on sale • In-Depth Expert Reviews • Daily Giveaways “It’s an all-in-one mobile shopping tool that takes the guesswork out of finding the best products for the kids in your life at the best prices.” —Jim Silver, CEO and editor-in-chief of TTPM.com
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Licensing Show 2014
Big Tent Entertainment
Following on the success of last year’s co-branding effort with DC Comics, Big Tent Entertainment (BTE) has teamed Domo with the Ghostbusters in celebration of Ghostbuster’s 30th anniversary. H&M also showcased Domo on tees at retail worldwide, giving the character its widest reach to date. Domo is a top social brand worldwide with more than 1.5 million YouTube videos, more than 1 million Flickr photos, and 400,000 Instagram photos, according to BTE. NBCUniversal’s The Biggest Loser franchise continues to grow in the health and wellness category following the conclusion of its 15th season. The Biggest Loser licensing program brings the brand to life through experiential events and locations including The Bigger Loser resorts, new Biggest Loser-branded RunWalk events, and the debut of the inaugural Biggest Loser Bootcamp, which features trainer Dolvett Quince. The premium eight-week program provides users with new daily workouts, instructional and motivation training with Quince and other experts, and a chance to interact with The Biggest Loser past contestants. The Biggest Loser also continues its expansion in the food category with healthy options for consumers, including branded fruits and vegetables from Duda and Grimmway Farms, flavored popcorn from Popcorn Indiana (FITPOP), and a line of fresh salads, fresh and frozen entrees, and fruit and veggie snacks from Five Star Gourmet Foods. The show will also launch branded kitchen products this year from Kind Kitchen.
Creative Licensing Corporation
Creative Licensing Corporation (CLC) plans to accelerate its licensing program for its Terminator movie titles at Licensing Show. 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the original film, The Terminator, as well as the 25th anniversary of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (T2) and the fifth anniversary of Terminator Salvation. The continuing popularity of these titles is highlighted by new licenses and extensions of existing licenses. For Terminator, new products include social media games on Facebook from Zynga, comic book series from Dark Horse, and “Re-action” figures from Funko. New licensees include Fright Rags (masks) and Poeticgem (apparel in Europe). Funky Edit Wholesale is expanding its line of contact lenses, NECA is extending its collectibles license, Sudden Impact is extending its laser tag attractions license, and Sideshow Collectibles is creating new high-end collectibles. New for T2, Simbat Toys will produce construction toys in Russia, Nemesis Now expands its accessories line in Europe, Sideshow introduces more collectibles, and Microgaming releases a new online slot machine game. Terminator Salvation also has new comics from Dark Horse and more collectibles from Sideshow. CLC is looking to add new licenses in the food, drink, electronics, and robotics categories to the more than 50 active licenses for the Terminator films.
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Terminator
Dr Seuss Enterprises
In 2015, Dr. Seuss will celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of its annual best-selling titles, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Dr. Seuss Enterprises (DSE), which manages the classic literary-based children’s property, has plans in the works to promote the title in a big way. In addition, DSE continues to strengthen and build upon its marketing platforms that celebrate reading, self-confidence, and the possibilities of a child’s imagination.
Entertainment One
As the popularity of Peppa Pig continues to gain momentum, Entertainment One (eOne) added five new licensing partners in Q1 2014 to the brand’s roster of U.S. program partners. Beginning in 2015, Jazwares will take the lead as Peppa Pig’s master toy partner and produce products for preschoolers across multiple categories, including plush, plastic figures, dolls, playsets, roleplay toys, musical and talking toys, vehicles, and bath toys. Jazwares expects product to be available at mass and specialty retailers in spring 2015. Peppa Pig has also entered a new partnership with VTech, which will launch a Peppa Pig e-book and software download for its InnoTab Learning Tablet range. Additionally, Penwizard will produce personalized Peppa Pig books, which allow fans to star alongside Peppa in an array of fun adventures featuring each child’s name and likeness. Customized books will be available at www.peppapigandme.com. Existing partner Bakery Crafts will produce new Peppa Pig cake top décor, cupcake rings, and edible Icing Art, while Pioneer Balloon Company will create a new line of Peppa Pig balloons. In addition, the brand recently launched several line extensions for 2014. New items currently available include the Peppa Pig My Birthday Party DVD by eOne, the brand’s first-ever U.S. retail-wide national DVD launch; Peppa Pig’s Party Time app by P2 Games, available on iTunes and Amazon; Peppa Pig: The Tooth Fairy by master publishing partner Scholastic; and Peppa Pig and the Vegetable Garden by Candlewick Press. To celebrate the launch of the Peppa Pig My Birthday Party DVD, the brand partnered with the Joy Cone Company for a nationwide cross-promotion featuring on-pack mail-in offers for a free Peppa Pig Ty Beanie Baby with the purchase of any Peppa Pig DVD and any package of Joy Cone ice cream cones from April–December. Additional toys, books, DVDs and other items will continue to launch throughout the year.
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Licensing Show 2014 The Deep
K’NEX
Technicolor
Technicolor will showcase its all-new children’s brand, The Deep, based on the CGI-animated series that follows the adventures of a family of underwater explorers who seek to unravel the mysteries of the deep sea. Developed by Australian partners, ABC Television and A Stark Production, and a soon-to-be announced Canadian partner, The Deep is based on the award-winning graphic novel series published by Australia’s premier graphic novel publishing house, Gestalt Comics. The series was created by comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Star Wars: Blood Ties) and illustrator James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond). Technicolor seeks potential licensing partners to develop a global consumer products program.
For Nintendo’s Super Mario, K’NEX has developed a line of buildable playsets that bring the classic video game franchise and its characters to life. The line adds the new Super Mario: Mystery Figure Bags Series 4, which features Mario, Luigi, Bowser Jr., Waluigi, Bob-Omb, Donkey Kong, and Green Toad. Each figure is compatible with the entire Mario line of K’NEX products. Each is sold separately for ages 6 and up. Slightly older fans, ages 8 and up, can also build the Super Mario 3D World: Cat Mario Building Set. Build Cat Mario and help him battle and dodge a Mouse enemy using the exclusive jump panels. New items will be available this fall. Plants vs. Zombies fans can build out different levels from Plants vs. Zombies 2 with new sets, including the Jetpack Zombie Attack building set. Build then defeat Plants vs. Zombies Mystery Figure assortment the zombies and save your brains with Laserbean’s finger-flick action to launch Laserbean’s eyes. The set is available this fall. Or be transported to the old west with the Plants vs. Zombies: Wild West Skirmish Building Set. Build an area of the Wild West level then slide the Peashooter back and forth along the track for target practice, or use the Peashooter’s shooting action to defeat the zombies. This set is available exclusively at Toys “R” Us this fall, along with the Plants vs. Zombies: Mystery Figure Bags Series 1. Also launching for fall, the Plants vs. Zombies: Pirate Seas Plank Walk Building Set, lets fans create a buildable replica of the Pirate Seas level, including a special battery-powered rumble grid. Build the ship’s deck, turn on the motor, and watch the zombies move toward the plants just as they do in the game. All sets are for ages 5 and up. K’NEX will create construction sets based on the online multiplayer video game Titanfall, developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts exclusively for Xbox One. Recreate parts of Titanfall’s Angel City with sets such as the Titanfall: Ultimate Angel City Campaign. Battle your Titans in the ruined terrain of the city, jump your Pilots between buildings, and arm your weapons to continue the battle between the IMC and MCOR forces. Additional sets include Angel City Escape, MCOR Ogre Titan, and IMC Atlas Titan. They are for ages 8 and up, launching this fall.
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Funko
Funko is adding new additions to its Pop! Vinyl line of collectible figures, featuring the main characters of the new Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy. Pop! figures include Rocket Raccoon Pop!, Star-Lord Pop!, Groot Pop!, Gamora Pop!, and Drax Pop! Each stands at about 3.75-inches tall and comes in a window display box. Funko will also add Wacky Wobbler figures for the film, including Rocket Raccoon (pictured) and Star-Lord. These bobble head figures stands about seven-inches tall and come in window display boxes.
Outfit7
Outfit7, the entertainment company behind Talking Tom and Friends, has appointed nine licensing agents to expand Talking Tom and Friends the reach of its licensing business worldwide. Exim Licensing Group will support the Talking Tom and Friends brand in Latin America, while Bulldog Licensing will push opportunities for the entertainment brand in the U.S. and Canada. In Western Europe, Enjoy Licensing is representing Talking Tom and Friends in Spain, Portugal, and Andora, while J&M Brands has been charged with handling the brand’s licensing and promotional rights in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The rights for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will sit with Team! Licensing. Plus Licens will manage the Taking Tom and Friends licensing program in Nordics and CEE as the brand continues to gain traction in these markets. Icon Promotion is now covering Russia, Ukraine, and CIS, while Brand Is Real will oversee the rights in Israel. Partnerships with Promotional Partners Worldwide for Greater China, TIGA for Thailand, and Empire for South East Asia will also allow Outfit7 to spearhead its licensing program for Talking Tom and Friends in major cities throughout Asia.
Rocket Licensing
Rocket Licensing, which manages the licensing campaign for the design brand A-Z, has announced a new deal with apparel and fashion gifting specialist Fashion UK. Using design material from the A-Z guides, and the iconic logo itself, Fashion UK will produce a range of A-Z daywear, nightwear, underwear, and wearable accessories for children and adults. The day range will include A-Z outerwear and onesies. The accessories range will include caps, belts, beanies, scarfs and gloves. Launch at retail is expected in Q4. Target retail outlets are expected to be wide-ranging and include fashion retailers as well as major high-end clothing stores. Numerous other licensing categories are also well positioned to make use of the instantly recognizable A-Z mapping and branding, including adult gifting products, greeting cards and wrap, stationery, homeware, bags and accessories, games and puzzles, apps, and, car and travel accessories. The A-Z licensing campaign is being built with the help of relevant retail partners, as well as specialist Fashion UK’s outlets, including car specialists, across Britain. The AA-Z suit and tie Z guides have also recently taken to the London stage in a delightful new musical about artist and writer Phyllis Pearsall and her journey from the Bohemian art world to the helm of the Geographers’ A-Z Map Company.
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Licensing Show 2014
Epic Rights
In March 2014, Epic Rights entered into a multi-year merchandise, licensing, e-commerce, and digital media agreement with legendary rock band KISS, joining forces with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons to build the KISS global franchise through a combination of touring, music sales, merchandise, licensing, social media, and promotional partnerships. This year, KISS celebrates its 40th anniversary, which is marked by its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; the release of Paul Stanley’s autobiography by Harper Collins; the L.A. KISS Arena Football Team’s inaugural season; the Jon Varvatos’ Dressed to Kill ad campaign; and the recently announced three-month summer tour with Def Leopard. Epic Rights will introduce new artwork, photos, designs, and licensees. Among its fresh approaches for the KISS brand, Epic Rights will launch a social media campaign targeting the 12 million-plus KISS Army Fans. Epic Rights recently partnered with Perryscope to manage the global licensing program for Woodstock and will debut the brand at Licensing Show. Perryscope and Epic Rights will serve as global licensing agents overseeing a series of innovative initiatives that honor and reflect the Woodstock legacy and lifestyle. The Woodstock global licensing program will be supported by a new social media and e-commerce platform that will further engage current fans and introduce the brand to younger generations. Product execution and retail development strategies will reflect Woodstock’s global appeal and recognition. The licensing program will be based on a fashion-driven lifestyle program reflecting the ongoing trend of natural, bohemian, and custom-designed products, including apparel, accessories, housewares, and stationery. Epic will also serve as the global licensing agent for award-winning contemporary artist, Gary Baseman, whose work has crossed many lines of art as a painter, illustrator, video and performance artist, animator, TV/movie producer, curator, and toy designer.
Out of the Blue Enterprises
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’s master publishing partner Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing will introduce 10 new titles in a range of different styles under its Simon Spotlight imprint. The first five books debuted in January at stores nationwide as part of the brand’s initial product launch. Expanded offerings are now planned and will be available in additional stores and online. Four books are anticipated to launch this summer, with six more to follow in the fall. The Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood library of books will grow to include board books with flaps and novelty board books with sound. The latest offerings round out the collection, which also features shaped board books, including one Trolley-shaped version with wheels; tabbed board books; 8-by-8 paperback storybooks; Ready-to-Read beginning readers, and deluxe storybooks. The titles focus on first experiences in the lives of preschoolers–from going to school to visiting the doctor and learning how and when to use the potty–along with seasonal themes like Halloween (pictured) and wintertime fun.
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DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation arrives at Licensing Show with a strong franchise portfolio brimming with new content for film and television across multiple categories. Highlighted properties include: How to Train Your Dragon 2, Home, The Penguins of Madagascar, B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations, and Kung Fu Panda 3 as well as an array of offerings from DreamWorks Classics, including Postman Pat and Noddy franchises. The relaunch of the Trolls brand and new initiatives surrounding the Shrek franchise are also set to make a statement in the fashion world. As part of the company’s content evolution, 2014 will see the debut of AwesomenessTV into retail as the burgeoning multi-platform media company continues to expand its reach across the teen space.
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia’s Kids & Family Entertainment division (FMKFE) manages a broad and distinctive brand portfolio spanning preschool, comedy, and tween and teen content. Created using groundbreaking production techniques combining puppets, Japanese vinyl toys, and digital effects, Strange Hill High combines everyday classroom antics with fantastical and mysterious events. With 13 licensees already in the UK and a number of categories signed in Australia, the first raft of products are due at retail this summer. The series has also been sold to more than 50 territories, including ABC in Australia; France Television in France; SVT in Sweden; DR in Denmark; and Disney in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South and Sub Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Strange Hill High is a coproduction between FMKFE and CBBC in association with Factory Transmedia for CBBC (UK). Tree Fu Tom, the heroic hit property that launched on CBeebies in the UK in 2012 and expanded to more than 75 territories, now has more than 25 UK licensees. The licensing rollout took root last year and Tree Fu Tom ended the year as the No. 3 new UK preschool toy property of the year. Tree Fu Tom is branching out in 2014 with a new series airing in the UK and overseas, and seven international licensing agents and four toy distribution partners on board to launch an expansive international consumer products program. Launching soon on CBeebies, Kate & Mim-Mim is a new CG-animated preschool series following the adventures of Kate, a spirited little girl who, together with her toy bunny Mim-Mim, travels to a fantasy world where Mim-Mim comes alive as a larger than life playmate. The series is created by award-winning husband-and-wife team Scott and Julie Stewart and produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment. FMKFE holds the exclusive worldwide licensing and distribution rights outside of Canada. Grojband is a new musical comedy following four tween wannabe rock legends that steal lyrics from the diary of a teenage drama queen, which launched on Cartoon Network (U.S.) in Q3 2013. The animated series has been sold to 30plus territories globally, including Cartoon Network in Latin America, Canal J in France, K2 in Italy, and ABC2 in Australia. Grojband was developed by Fresh TV in association with Teletoon Canada and is distributed and licensed by FMKFE. Celebrity Name Game is a new syndicated TV show developed by Coquette Productions. The show will be hosted by Craig Ferguson and is scheduled to launch this fall. The show has already been sold into seven of the top 10 markets in the U.S. and FremantleMedia is currently seeking licensing partners across numerous categories, including board games, card games, social gaming, gambling, lottery, and publishing. Assorted characters from Fremantle’s Kids and Family Enterainment properties
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Licensing Show 2014 Rubie’s Costume Co.
Rubie’s expands its line for 2014, offering costumes for some of the most popular characters in movies, television, and entertainment. From the Amazing Spider-Man 2, the Spider-Man costume includes a padded muscle chest jumpsuit and fabric mask. It will be available in child sizes small, medium, and large. Rubie’s will introduce a Retro Captain America costume for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The costume includes padded jumpsuit and mask. It will be available in child sizes small, medium, and large. Rubie’s will introduce a collection of costumes based on the characters of Mattel’s Ever After High doll line, including Apple White and Madeline Hatter. The Apple White costume includes a dress, bolero jacket, and tights. The Madeline Hatter costume includes a dress, tights, necklace, and gloves. Both will be available in child sizes medium, large, and extra-large. DC Comics fans can also dress up as Batgirl with a new costume from Rubie’s. The costume includes a tank dress with removable cape and embellished Batman logo. It will be available in adult sizes small, medium, and large. Rubie’s will also expand its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collection this year with a Deluxe Leonardo costume. The costume includes a jumpsuit with attached belt, elbow and knee pads, mask, and stuffed shell. It will be available in child sizes toddler, small, medium, and large.
Discovery Madeline Hatter costume
To continue growing Discovery Channel’s Discovery Expedition program in 2014, new locations are planned in China and Mexico. Plans are also underway to grow its retail footprint in South Korea, which is expected to reach 135 shops by year-end. A Discovery Expedition shoe range from Exportaciones del Futuro will launch this month in Walmart Mexico, supported by a large-scale outdoor campaign to drive success. Discovery Channel also continues to grow its merchandising programs inspired by top-rated programs such as Moonshiners, Gold Rush, Sons of Guns, Fast & Loud, MythBusters, and the TV event, Shark Week. This year, the Gold Rush Panning Kit hits retail in the U.S., after a successful e-commerce debut. New deals will expand Discovery Kids’ North American presence at retail and online, including a line of augmented reality 3-D Jurassic Action toys from Cypher and outdoor adventure and roleplay products from Tek Nek. Discovery Kids’ partnership with Walgreens will continue to grow with new toys in 2014. Rounding out the new Discovery Kids launches for 2014, JLR is distributing an electronic voice changer, kids’ lighting, a marshmallow shooter, and other novelty items; Basic Fun will create a classic viewer with two reels; NKOK is debuting an updated Laser Tag toy and Pull Back Bugs; Merchsource is developing new toys including Night Vision Goggles, an Art Projector, and a Squish Camera; and Parragon will continue to develop new additions to the Discovery Kids publishing line. Deals were brokered by DCP’s North American licensing agent, Big Tent Entertainment. Animal Planet expands its pet program in North America with the debut of new products and line extensions. New partners include G Mason (pet travel accessories) and Greenberry, Inc. (pet waste and cleaning products). Current licensees expand their lines for 2014 including all-natural Animal Planet Crunchy and Chewy Dog Treats made from 100 percent real meat and grain free (Premium Pet Health), nutritional supplements chews for dogs and cats (FoodScience), wet and dry grooming products (Fantasia Accessories), and pet care products (Merchsource). Animal Planet grows its DTR partnership with Toys “R” Us, adding new toys to the land, sea, and dinosaurs categories. For information on TLC’s Cake Boss franchise turn to page 26.
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Infinity Licensing
Following the success of Yummy, which started a nationwide collectible craze for breakfast- and dessert-themed key chains and plush, creator Heidi Kenney launches HappyWorld by Heidi Kenney. The new home furnishings brand features Kenney’s imaginative world of smiling, anthropomorphized snacks, desserts, and household items. Infinity Licensing plans to launch the HappyWorld by Heidi Kenney brand in home, kitchen, and bath. The first licensed partners will be announced for the brand in the coming weeks. Kenney previously HappyWorld by Heidi Kenney designed exclusive lines for Urban Outfitters and Land of Nod, and her plush pillows, key chains, and bath accessories have been featured at Barnes & Noble, specialty gift stores, and independent toy stores nationwide. Her MyPaperCrane blog has also become a destination for D.I.Y. crafters.
Mattel
Mattel’s roster of licensees continue to expand its brands in new ways and categories. For Ever After High, Rubie’s Costume Co. has created a collection inspired by the main Royal and Rebel characters Apple White, Raven Queen, Madeline Hatter, and Briar Beauty. Available in child sizes medium, large, and extra-large, each costume features unique designs, detailing, and coordinating accessories. The line will also include wigs and matching purses. The line’s launch will be timed to Halloween 2014 at select mass and online retail outlets. At Claire’s retailers, Innovative Designs launched Ever After High stationery sets, diaries, and charm pens, with unique pencil case assortments to follow for back to school at Walmart and Target. Staples and Office Max will also carry full Ever After High assortments. And for arts & crafts fans, licensee Fashion Angels has created activity kits that enable girls to dream of joining the world of Ever After High through open-ended play. The Fashion Angels Ever After High line includes a watercolor portfolio, 3-D velvet nail art kits (“Royal & Rebel” assortment), wrap bracelets with story-themed inspirational message bars, wish bracelet kits featuring a molded Ever After High zinc alloy charm, hair accessory kits, and make-up sets. All are now available at select mass and online retailers. Electronics partner Sakar International is also expanding its line of products to introduce a new collection of Ever After High electronics and accessories. The line includes mobile and smartphone cases, audio accessories, karaoke systems, computer accessories, and more—all featuring ornate details and embellishments modeled after the world of Ever After High. The Ever After High mobile accessory lineup includes iPod touch and smartphone cases with vintage-inspired charms, luxurious finishes, and etched mirror detailing. All product is expected to launch in time for holiday 2014. In home goods and personal care, Innovative Designs will present full Monster High back-to-school lines at Walmart and Target. Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot will also carry Monster High assortments for back to school. The licensee will also introduce its “Deadluxe” art set at Walmart for fall. Just Play introduced a new line of roleplay Barbie and Monster High products. Products featured brand imagery and tapped into Barbie’s “Be Yourself” attitude and Monster High’s message that “Anything Is Possible.” Under an agreement for Hot Wheels, which kicks off this year and runs through 2016, Toy State designed a line of lights and sound R/C vehicles using custom versions of Hot Wheels iconic vehicle styles.
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Licensing Show 2014
Dimensional Branding Group
King Kong
Lisa Marks Associates
Dimensional Branding Group (DBG) has been named the exclusive licensing agency for the iconic character King Kong as part of the property King Kong of Skull Island. All rights are controlled by DeVito ArtWorks, LLC. Joe DeVito’s Kong: King of Skull Island prequel/sequel has teamed with Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong, the official family property of the creator of the original King Kong, to form a unique and comprehensive King Kong universe. DBG, working with Dannie Festa of Festa Entertainment, global manager of the rights to the property including television and film, will oversee the King Kong of Skull Island licensing program.
Lisa Marks Associates, Inc., (LMA) continues to expand global humor brand Avanti’s licensing program, signing new partners across a number of product and retail categories. Innovative Designs is developing a comprehensive stationery and back-to-school program, which will be available in Q4 in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada at specialty stores, online and e-tailers, office supply, department, card and gift stores, arts and craft stores, mass market, and more. Mark Feldstein & Associates, Inc., will launch a line of Avanti-themed alarm and wall clocks. Available in the U.S. and Canada this back-to-school season, the clocks will debut in all retail channels. LMA has also signed on custom art company, iCanvasART to create Avanti canvas wall prints in multiple sizes and formats, to be sold online worldwide. Additional new partners for the brand include Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Ceaco (puzzles). LMA has also added new key partners for Just Born’s Peeps, Hot Tamales, and Mike and Ike brands. Mattel has launched a collection of Peeps-, Hot Tamales-, and Mike and Ike-branded die-cast vehicles into all retail channels. The line features art and graphics displayed on classic cars and trucks, including a Hot Tamales ’56 Ford F-100, a Peeps ’56 Chevy Nomad, and a ’71 Mike and Ike Chevy El Camino. PetSmart exclusively featured the Peeps pet toy collection by Fetch…for pets this spring, which included Peeps-themed rings, crunchers, plush, and vinyl toys. Fetch is also planning additional products, including pet clothing, accessories, and beds. Wilton Industries introduced a broad range of Peeps items including cookie cutters and pans, baking pans, and party goods ranging from baking cups, treat bags, and picks to edible decorations, stands, and boxes. The collection launched Q1 in Walmart, Michaels, and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and will expand into additional retail accounts with a broader product line in 2015. Yankee Candle captured the essence of Peeps with a Peeps Marshmallow Chicks scented candle. Yankee Candle has also signed on for both home fragrance and auto fragrance with the Peeps brand. A collection of Peeps toys from Little Kids is due at retail in January 2015, including a range of bubble toys, wands, necklaces, blowers, and whistles. DanDee International is creating a new line of Peeps plush, pillows, baskets, bags, and purses featuring the iconic Peeps chicks and bunnies. The line will include marshmallowscented plush toys.
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Sync Beatz Entertainment/Bandai America
Bandai America Incorporated and Sync Beatz Entertainment have signed a deal with Evy of California to apply its KuKee technology to Bandai’s girls-targeted Tamagotchi Friends fashion line. The relationship between Bandai and Evy was forged as part of the new Tamagotchi brand licensing program, which includes Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. and Tamagotchi Friends. Tamagotchi fans will be able to utilize KuKee, a free app that activates unique AR on iOS devices, to unlock an enhanced experience that transforms human faces into animated Tamagotchi characters. Download the KuKee app and scan the unique marker embedded throughout Evy’s Tamagotchi-branded fashion apparel, as well as on collectible posters available in packages of new Tamagotchi Friends product, to create customized illustrated self-portraits complete with distinctive Tamagotchi Friends fashion elements on a digital Dream School student ID card, which can be shared via social media. Evy’s new line of Tamagotchi active wear, dresses, fleece, T-shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, and sweaters is targeted to roll out at U.S. and Canadian retailers later this year. Bandai is also launching an all-new product line, Tamagotchi Friends Digital Friend, in Q3, representing the newest iteration of the digital toy. The egg-shaped devices will feature fashionable, trend-inspired designs on the outside, along with new characters to raise in new experiences on the inside. An all-new short range communication function will enable owners to “bump” another Digital Friend device to send their characters on play dates and interact with characters outside their own device, as well as allowing owners to share texts with friends.
Beanstalk
Beanstalk announced the official launch of Blueprint—Powered by Beanstalk, a new consulting division dedicated to advising companies on how to evolve their brands. Blueprint will work with brand owners, retailers, and manufacturers to evaluate and analyze their needs and provide a road map to open doors to new markets, audiences, and revenue. The newly formed division will be led by Nicole Desir, who has been promoted to the position of executive director of Blueprint. A 12-year veteran of the agency, Desir will expand on her role as vice-president of brand management by spearheading the global implementation of this division at Beanstalk.
ASPCA
ASPCA will showcase new product from its roster of licensees at Licensing Show 2014. Commonwealth will offer a plush line of adoptable dogs and cats, launching at Kmart in time for back to school. Bradford Exchange’s new line of Precious Moments collectible porcelain cat figurines honor the love between people and their cats. Sophia’s Heritage’s collection of 18-inch dolls, clothing, and accessories is adding an ASPCA Shelter to its playsets. Doll-sized pets and accessories can be purchased separately. PetKing offers a line of pet toys and sweaters available at Target. And Enertec has a line of collectible dog and dog house figurines made for ages 3 and up. The ASPCA has also teamed up with the internet sensation Lil Bub for Lil Bub’s Big Fund for the ASPCA. Under this agreement, the ASPCA receives a portion of the purchase price from Lil Bub’s licensed products, which will go to a fund distributed as grants to help special needs cats. To date, $25,000 has been distributed to organizations across the country.
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Licensing Show 2014
Consumer Strategies
Consumer Strategies, Inc., brokered a licensing partnership between Fetch. . . for pets and Farouk Systems, Inc., to launch a line of pet grooming products under the global professional hair care brands CHI and BioSilk, known for its proprietary formulas of Cationic Hydration Interlink and silkinfused ingredients that keep human hair silky smooth. The CHI product line will be reformulated for pets and sold exclusively at Petsmart in spring 2015, and the BioSilk pet line will also launch in early 2015 in Petco and other pet retailers. Consumer Strategies’ roster of health and fitness and food brands includes ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss, Contessa Premium Foods, celebrity chef Susan Feniger, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, among others. For these and other clients, Consumer Strategies develops unique licensing programs, implements brand extensions, expands distribution, builds sales, and launches products in the marketplace.
Genius Brands
Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab
Genius Brands International (GBI) will head to Licensing Show for the first time under the new leadership of Andy Heyward, CEO, and Amy Moynihan Heyward, president, following the November 2013 merger of the Heywards’ A Squared Entertainment with Genius Brands. GBI will reintroduce and relaunch a newly revamped Baby Genius brand. Baby Genius, the toddler brand with a library of more than 500 popular toddler tunes and 12 music videos, has been refreshed and redesigned with new characters, a new style guide, newly recorded music, and a new preschool readiness program that the company is developing. GBI has expanded Baby Genius’s distribution with the introduction of a new streaming service at www.babygenius.com; a new agreement with Netflix, which adds 10 Baby Genius video titles to its on-demand kids content service; and a renewal of its agreement with Comcast on its Baby Boost channel. The company recently debuted Little Genius Jukebox, the first in a series of all-new interactive 3-D animated apps for iPad, iPad Mini, and iPhone in the App Store. The pilot episode of Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, a new animated series being developed with American Public Television, is scheduled to premiere in 2015. The company will introduce the property’s new style guide to potential licensing partners and will seek partners across relevant categories, including toys, mobile, apps, games, activity kits, apparel, publishing, and more. The animated series follows Angie, a 12-year-old prodigy, and her young science club, who discover Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab—a scientist’s ultimate dream lab equipped with two of Edison’s very last inventions: a hologram that brings Edison “to life” and a wacky robot named Von Bolt. In each of the 52 11-minute episodes, Edison appears in the form of a hologram to encourage and inspire the kids in all sorts of scientific and technological explorations. An academic team led by Professor Emeritus Don Roberts, and a team of Emmy Award-winning writers developed Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, which will be E/I (Educational/Informational) compliant per FCC standards. Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab will be a fully immersive multi-media property that encourages kids to engage in the fun exploration of science. An interactive website, digital applications, toys, games, electronics, in-school curriculum, and more are all in development. International distribution of the series is being handled by PGS Entertainment. From the mind of legendary Stan Lee and Stan Lee Comics (a joint venture among GBI, Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, and Archie Comics) comes the Stan Lee’s Mighty 7 (SLAM 7) trilogy, encompassing three 90-minute television movies, digital comic books, an online community and an animated television series set to debut in 2015. The Hub holds the world premiere rights for all three movies, starting with the first film, Beginnings, which had multiple airings in February. International distribution of the trilogy and the series outside of the U.S. is handled by PGS Entertainment, which recently secured its first broadcast deal with ABC (Australia). The second installment will premiere on the Hub Network in early 2015.
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Global Merchandising Services
2014 will mark the third year Global Merchandising Services will exhibit at Licensing Show since the company was founded six years ago by industry veteran, Barry Drinkwater, also a founding partner of Bravado Merchandising. GMS will present its diverse roster of artists–from Beyoncé, Dolly Parton, and One Direction to metal acts such as Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Mötely Crüe, Alice Cooper, and Rob Zombie, introducing them to a global audience of potential licensees, promotional partners, and retailers. With a worldwide stadium tour (reaching the U.S. in August), One Direction’s global merchandising program includes the top licensees in apparel and fashion to electronics and novelties.
TK Brands
TK Brands’ Schoolies is the preschool brand created by artist Ellen Crimi-Trent and popularized by the expansive growth of Schoolies books, published by Priddy Books, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. The brand will be showcased at Licensing Show and seeks new licensing and promotional partners. The Schoolies brand launched with a successful preschool educational mobile app, Spencer Goes to School (available on iOS and Android). In 2013, Priddy Books introduced five titles spanning across mass, specialty, and online retailers. The books feature Spencer the Owl and his friends as they prepare for their first day of school, make new friends, and learn their ABCs and 123s. Priddy released nine new titles this spring, and has two additional titles, The Birthday Party and Race Day, planned for release this fall/winter. International editions are now available in 12 countries, including the UK, Spain, Finland, Norway, Italy, Mexico, and more. Retail placement includes Walmart, Target Canada, Toys “R” Us, Meijer, Sam’s Club, Costco, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids, and more. Schoolies book sales are set to exceed one million books by the end of 2014, according to TK Brands.
The Licensing Group
SPD Brands’ lineup of properties—Heart Girl, Flight Patterns, and Malibu Life—will once again be presented at Licensing Show by its agency of record The Licensing Group. Heart Girl is a whimsical character based on the simple premise that little girls love to draw hearts. Heart Girl shares her adventures in the sunny world of Heartland with her faithful animal friends, including Daisy Dog and Mittens the Kitten. Flight Patterns is a collection of original travel-centric designs inspired by the three-letter airport designation codes unique to each airport worldwide. The designs also feature traditional airline route maps and familiar symbols associated with air travel. Malibu Life captures the casual luxury and affluent lifestyle of the glamorous and legendary Southern California beachfront community, affectionately referred to by the locals as “The Bu.” The Licensing Group seeks partners for all the aforementioned brands in categories including toys, apparel, stationery, accessories, games, and publishing.
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Licensing Show 2014 Phil Marden
Metro Kids
At this year’s Licensing Show, veteran New York Times illustrator Phil Marden will introduce about 30 new design collections inspired by the mid-century illustrations and designs he grew up with and still collects and studies. Several designs have already been picked up by Keka for its phone cases, and he has been tapped for the second year in a row to design swimwear for Australia’s Tom & Teddy. Marden has design collections created specifically for bedding, kitchen textiles, fabric, tabletop, and stationery. Marden, best known for his humorous conceptual illustrations, has also done character design for TV and films. He builds on his traditional illustration style to achieve a more graphic look by focusing on simple shapes, bold flat colors, and repeating patterns. Among his designs are Bug, a geometric group of insects; Cowboy Pete, a cheerful cowboy-and-horse pattern; and Metro Kids, a cityscape full of favorite hangouts for a city kid.
Lawless Entertainment
Lawless Entertainment’s Olive the Ostrich debuted in the U.S. on Sprout in mid-2012 and is currently shown in Australia, Denmark, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Benelux, France, Poland, Canada, and Israel. In each episode, animators bring to life real pictures drawn by children. The children’s artwork is used to create all the guest characters, places, and objects that Olive encounters. Olive is an ostrich with a big imagination, huge heart, and a gigantic appetite for adventure. She lives in the Outback with her family, and while they are running, pecking, and laying eggs, Olive is imagining exciting adventures when she buries her head deep in the sand. Suzy’s Zoo was created more than 46 years ago by award-winning artist Suzy Spafford. Since then, its received world-wide recognition for its colorful, friendly animal characters doing fun things that people like to do. The evergreen property, which includes the three character sets of Duckport, Little Suzy’s Zoo, and Wags and Whiskers, appeals to multiple demographics, says Lawless. Bug Rangers is about a group of best friends–three kids named Squiggz, Cosmo, and Flutter—who are learning about friendship and trust, honor, and family. Bug Rangers is about feeling bug-sized in a human-sized world and how it takes everything you’ve got to beat the odds, have all the fun you can, and not get stomped on by everything life throws your way. Bug Rangers recently announced the conclusion of a worldwide distribution and co-production deal with Mondo TV for a new 3-D CGI animated TV series based on the Bug Rangers property. It is expected to debut for distribution at MIPJunior in October. Nutri Ventures is the first entertainment brand that encourages healthy eating in kids ages 4–8. Nutri Ventures: The Quest for the 7 Kingdoms follows the journey of Theo, Lena, Ben, and Little Nina, who have never known food—only Genex 100, the synthetic creation of the nefarious and ultra-rich Alex Grand. Theo learns the truth about real food and its importance, and sets off on a quest to discover seven kingdoms where real food remains and bring nutrition back to their world. As they journey, they gain Nutri-Powers, the benefit of food exaggerated as a super power, and band together to rescue the seven kingdoms and defeat Alex Grand. In the first-ever agreement between the Partnership for a Healthier America and an animated series, the series will be made available for free to all U.S. public school systems, reaching nearly 60,000 elementary schools nationwide, according to Lawless. These schools will have free access to 29 episodes from Nutri Ventures’ first three seasons, along with more than 200 additional pieces of educational material produced by Nutri Ventures Corp. Nutri Ventures characters will also be available to public school systems to help promote education.
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MHS Licensing
Enesco, LLC signed a licensing agreement with Lori Lichtman-Sander and Patti Ray, creators of Mamasana (pronounced “ma-má-sa-na”), a collection of whimsical, yogainspired images with messages that encourage women to find balance in their everyday life. Mamasana is represented by MHS Licensing. The Mamasana line features traditional gift formats with an image and message on every piece, including totes, tumblers, jewelry, and more. Enesco expects to introduce the new product this summer. MHS Licensing has also signed artist Josephine Kimberling. Kimberling specializes in modern-meets-vintage florals and unique pattern mixing and color palettes.
Lately Lily
Lately Lily is making licensing in-roads with its first Lately Lilly doll from MerryMakers, Inc. The Lately Lily doll, which will launch for fall, is one of several new products to be featured at retail this year. Lately Lily product assortment Created and illustrated by co-founder Micah Player, former creative director for Paul Frank Industries, Inc., Lately Lily was introduced in 2012 through its unique line of graphic T-shirts based on the story concept about a traveling girl. As the daughter of a journalist and photographer, Lily joins her parents on their worldwide journeys and records her observations about her adventures. She visits each location with her notebook in hand, and those notes become the inspirations behind the Lately Lily T-shirts and hangtags. The first apparel collection was inspired by Peru, and successive collections have showcased Iceland, Paris, and London. The newest collection, which was made available for purchase in May, reflects Lily’s adventures in Tokyo. Apparel is available at www.latelylily.com and The Land of Nod, in stores and online. A line of products from Chronicle Books also launched in May, including Lately Lily: The Adventures of a Travelling Girl picture book that showcases Lily’s personal adventures around the globe. Lately Lily ABC Travel Flash Cards feature vibrantly colored illustrations with Lily and Zeborah, which help kids learn both the alphabet and the world of travel. A unique travel activity book and kit, Lately Lily Sunny Yellow Suitcase, includes everything kids need to get ready for a travel adventure such as a travel tips booklet, exciting games, doodle ideas, activity cards, luggage tags, and stickers. Chaotic Moon also launched a mobile app last year called Lately Lily, Paris for a Day.
Mamasana product assortment
Accessory Innovation
Accessory Innovation heads back to school with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to offer an extensive lineup of Ninja Turtlesthemed lunch bags, plush bags clips, backpacks, and accessories. Features include a 3-D molded turtle shell front pocket as well as a wearable turtle mask, mesh side pockets, adjustable straps with padding for support, and three additional large pockets. Despicable Me fans can also now carry their favorite Minion bags, hats, and accessories back to school with Accessory Innovation’s Minioninspired line. A full-bodied plush Minion include a sound chip. Squeeze its hand and the classic Minion jabbering sound is heard.
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Licensing Show 2014 The Valen Group
The Valen Group has recently launched several new licensed products for its clients. IHOP at Home, which brings the convenience of IHOP breakfast items to the home freezer, is expanding its line of frozen breakfast products with Griddle n’ Sausage breakfast sandwiches. These breakfast sandwiches provide the sweet treat of IHOP pancakes with the benefit of nine grams of protein to fuel the day. The products can be found in grocery stores nationwide. Rust-Oleum launched a line of grill, patio furniture, and car covers with an innovative technology that inhibits corrosion. The products can be found in automotive retailers and home stores. Red Robin launched its first retail grocery product, signature seasoned steak fries, sold in grocery stores across the U.S. The fries are the first of a multi-SKU strategy to provide Red Robin products to consumers for home use.
Jewel Branding & Licensing
Jewel Branding & Licensing has introduced many new licensing partnerships for its existing designers. Licensed partnerships in home categories have been a key focus for Jewel’s designers including the launch of home textiles and rugs for Clairebella, The New York Botanical Garden, Shell Rummel, Robin Pickens, and Tracy Porter. Clairebella launched a new retail website, Clairebella.com, and expanded into wall art, luggage, and tech accessories. The New York Botanical Garden signed partners for fabrics, outdoor décor, and launched a co-branded limited-edition tabletop and giftware collection with Oscar de la Renta. Tracy Porter continues to The New York Botanical Garden bedding grow in retailers including Bed, Bath & Beyond, expanding into tabletop and housewares. With a steady flow of new designs and images, Rachael Hale, Lezlee Elliott, Aunty Acid, and Dominique Vari have all introduced new greeting card and stationery lines. Heather Rosas and Robbin Rawlings will launch baby products and room décor later this year, while fashion illustrator, Izak Zenou, is rapidly growing internationally with licensing partnerships in Europe, Asia, and South America. Jewel Branding also announced the addition of several new designers and design-based brands to its client rosters. Blissliving Home, established in 2007, is the destination interior lifestyle brand for the stylish consumer seeking modern design with a global influence; Chalkboard artist and typographer Valerie McKeehan has been hand-lettering and illustrating since childhood, which led to the brand, Lily & Val; Created by graphic designer and illustrator Kimberly Schwede, Bebe Bilingual features a collection of educational tools for children, teaching colors, numbers, animals, and food in English, Spanish, and French; Designing for the likes of Disney, BabyGap, and Westpoint Stevens, Elizabeth Silver has a keen eye for designing on-trend designs that easily translate into a wide variety of product categories; Capitalizing on a void in the marketplace for modern designs geared for kids, designer Kat Earnshaw Zlotnick created Modern Kat, which features graphic illustrative shapes and patterns highlighting endangered animals, travel, healthy lifestyles, and environments; In her Nashville studio, Valentina Ramos uses paints and her radiograph pens for her signature drawing style; Richard Noldin Designs infuses the beauty of nature with crisp, clean contrasts to create a sense of “urban cool” for today’s sophisticated homes; and UK-based designer Susan Claire’s love for all things ethereal prevails through her collections inspired by contemporary interpretations of nature, ocean, and Nordic culture.
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The Wildflower Group
The Wildflower Group and global trading company Hermes-OTTO International USA are expanding Bombay lifestyle label further into the decorative home products, with introductions from Popular Home Products, and into the pet market with Innovia Design Solutions. Popular Home Products is creating an assortment of decorative pillows as well as unique bath hardware, bath storage, and window hardware that will convey the Bombay brand’s classic style accented with exotic influences. The collection will be available at mid-tier retailers, home specialty outlets, and through catalogs. Innovia Design Solutions is embracing the brand’s adventuresome overtones with an extensive collection of pet products for dogs, cats, birds, and fish. While initial products will debut in September, the full line will launch in spring 2015 at pet stores, warehouse clubs, specialty and department stores, and online retailers. The new Bombay pet merchandise program will translate the brand’s design elements into useful everyday items that pet owners can share with their companions. New products from both companies will begin rolling out at retail this fall. The Wildflower Group is also working to expand the Bombay brand into a host of home categories, including kitchen textiles, home office essentials, fabric and upholstery, flooring, home storage and organization, seasonal décor, bath fixtures, luggage and travel accessories, men’s and women’s gifts, and more for mid-tier and specialty retailers. New licensees will be announced soon. Currently available at retail are offerings by Powell Furniture, JLA Home Fashions, and Lifetime Brands. An outdoor collection from The Arden Companies will be introduced later this year.
Global Icons
Ford launched a global fashion collaboration to mark Mustang’s 50th anniversary in April. Under the partnership, five top designers from around the world will collaborate with Ford for a limited-edition collection of apparel called Mustang Unleashed, which will be inspired by the brand. Designers include Anna Sui, Rogan Gregory, and Scott Mackinlay-Hahn of Rogan, Paula Cademartori, Tomaso Anfossi and Francesco Ferrari of CO|TE, and Pamela Love. Each designer will create three unique Mustang-inspired shirts, which will be produced by Loomstate, a leading organic and sustainable apparel company, and available globally this fall. To kick off the 50th anniversary celebration and the Mustang Unleashed collaboration, the all-new 2015 Mustang was on display atop the Empire State Building’s observation deck in April, replicating its debut there in 1965. OPI has also teamed with Ford Motor Company for the official launch of the limited-edition nail lacquer collection inspired by the popular Ford Mustang. The OPI Ford Mustang collection features six Mustang-inspired shades set to hit U.S. stores in July.
WowWee
WowWee’s Elektrokidz makes its Licensing Show debut with its music-inspired characters whose hair dances to the beats of your favorite music. There are multiple opportunities available.
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Licensing Show 2014 Rainbow
Mia and Me
Winx Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Comprising 156 animated episodes and two featurelength movies that mix 2-D animation and CGI, Winx Club follows the adventures of a group of young fairies and combines action and adventure with comedy. Season six just launched and season seven is currently in production, with a projected release date of 2015. A third movie is also in production and will rollout in theaters worldwide beginning in September. With more than 500 licensees on board globally across a multitude of categories and more than 6,000 products developed, Rainbow is currently looking to build on this success by expanding the property into less conventional sectors, such as Winx Club-themed holidays and experiences. Rainbow will also be showcasing Mia and Me, a co-production of Lucky Punch GmbH/M4e that chronicles the adventures of 12-year-old Mia in the magical land of Centopia. The show mixes live action with CGI animation. Broadcast partners are already on board worldwide, with the show currently airing in more than 80 territories. Mattel recently signed up as global master toy licensee and has a full range in development based on the brand.
Pop Star Club
Pop Star Club’s The Beatrix Girls, a line of collectible pop star dolls driven by original music, continues to inspire young girls throughout the country to rock out. With fully developed personalities, band members Brayden, Ainsley, Lark, and Chantal live and interact in the human world—producing real music, real hits, and real fans. Kids can collect their music, join their fan club, and vicariously live the fantasy of being a pop star through play. Premium doll packages now include one doll along with a matching doll stand and a Peavey Electronics-branded toy instrument. Each doll also comes with a VIP pass that unlocks the latest songs and webisodes via The Beatrix Girls website www.TheBeatrixGirls.com. Licensee Peavey Electronics has also captured The Beatrix Girls in highly detailed artwork on real musical instruments including guitars, drums, and more, which launched this spring. Berkshire Fashions has come on board for baseball caps, cut-and-sew fashion headwear, knitted and polar fleece hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, head bands, ear muffs, leg and arm warmers, socks, slipper socks, rain slickers, ponchos, and umbrellas. Accessories partner Hanover Group will create necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, anklets, charms, headbands, barrettes, ponytail holders, hair clips, head scarves, lanyards, coin purses, purses, and more. For the back-to-school season, Skyhigh International will release a line of Beatrix Girls-branded notebooks, memo books, portfolios, binders, planners, journals, address books, list pads, book covers, and more. Additional partners include Jay Franco (beach towels, beach blankets, beach backpacks, bedding, bath, and room décor), AME for sleepwear; Playa Vista Designs for footwear; and Fast Forward for handbags, backpacks, totes and sports bags, small leather goods, cell phone cases, luggage, lunch juts, and beverage bottles.
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The Beatrix Girls
Source Interlink Media
Source Interlink Media (SIM) has a licensed consumer products program that focuses on the automotive and action sports categories with everything from apparel, tools, auto accessories, die-cast cars, and toys. SIM has extended the Hot Rod brand into a limited-edition, licensed 1933 replica Hot Rod car and a customized Hot Rod 2015 Limited Edition Camaro. SIM has also entered the franchised restaurant/bar industry with Surfer The Bar in Turtle Bay, Hawaii and a soon-to-open restaurant/bar on the beach in St. Petersburg, Fla. A new brand to the portfolio is Roadkill, a YouTube video channel with more than 50 million views, available for licensing and brand extensions. With the addition of the Transworld brands, SIM is now a leading content creator for action sports, including surfer, SLAM, powder, and Transworld Skateboarding and Snowboarding. SIM is seeking additional licensees for all brands for all of the categories above plus beach accessories, outdoor products, gift items, furniture, and back to school.
Morning Glory Licensing
The Thomas Kinkade Company will highlight its partnerships with licensed properties such as Disney Consumer Products, Warner Bros., Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Rockefeller Center, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Biltmore Estate, Radio City Music Hall, and Lionel. These partnerships extend the reach of Thomas Kinkade Studios’ art into new audiences and present sublicensing opportunities for new and existing licensing partners. The Thomas Kinkade Company plans to expand its portfolio of licensed products in the home décor categories of bedding, dishware, candles, and garden. The brand has strong recognition in the U.S. and further opportunities internationally are expected to drive growth. Kinkade’s well-known images depict gardens, cottages, estates, cityscapes, plein air landscapes (painted outdoors), holiday scenery, and commemorative American landmarks.
“Studio in the Garden” by Thomas Kinkade
All American Licensing & Management Group
All American Licensing & Management Group (AALMG) announced the signing of The Christmas Wish, by Lori Evert and photographer Per Breiehagen and published by Random House. Already an instant classic, The Christmas Wish is a New York Times bestseller. AALMG plans to develop a comprehensive line of seasonal products from gifts, novelties, figurines, ornaments, and candy to linens, apparel, and outdoor items. Additionally, the parties plan to simultaneously work on licensing plans for the next editions of the franchise, The Tiny Wish and The Reindeer’s Wish. In the tradition of The Snowman, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Polar Express, this Nordic tale is filled with photographs that will have readers of all ages believing in the magic of Christmas. Currently, the book is being readied for a live-action theatrical release in 2015.
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JULY
6/29–1 2–4
23–24 24–27
AUGUST 6–9
18–20
Summer Fancy Food Show
specialtyfood.com
Jacob Javits Convention Center
New York City
Comic-Con
comic-con.org
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego
Licensing Japan
Wearable Tech Expo
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market MAGIC Marketplace
SEPTEMBER 7–10
17–20
OCTOBER
ABC Kids Expo
Natural Products Expo East
1
TTPM HOLIDAY SHOWCASE
10–14
New York Comic Con
7–9 7–9
10–11
12–15 27–28
4–7
16–18
DECEMBER 9–11
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wearabletechworld.com
AAPEX
New York City
theabcshow.com
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas
TTPM.COM
METROPOLITAN PAVILION
newyorkcomiccon.com
Jacob Javits Convention Center
newhope360.com
mipjunior.com
Dubai International Licensing Fair
Tokyo
Salt Lake City
MIPjunior MIPCom
Jacob Javits Convention Center
Salt Palace Convention Center
magiconline.com
toyassociation.org
Brand Licensing Europe
Tokyo Big Sight
outdoorretailer.com
TIA Fall Toy Preview
NOVEMBER 4–6
licensing-japan.jp
brandlicensing.eu mipcom.com
licensingdubai.ae
Las Vegas & Mandalay Bay Convention Centers Las Vegas
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore
NEW YORK CITY
Dallas Market Center
Dallas
Palais des Festivals
Cannes
Olympia
Palais des Festivals
Dubai World Trade Center
London
New York City Cannes Dubai
PLMA’s Store Brands Reality Trade Show
aapexshow.com
plma.com
Sands Expo Center
Las Vegas
International Halloween Show
hiaonline.com
Halloween Tower
New York City
SEMA Show
ROYALTIE$ JUNE 2014
semashow.com
Las Vegas Convention Center Rosemont Convention Center
Las Vegas Chicago
aNb Media Congratulates Debra Joester and Joanne Loria (founders of The Joester Loria Group)
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VISIT US AT LICENSING EXPO, BOOTH S171 www.yugioh.com ©1996 Kazuki Takahashi ©2014 NAS • TV TOKYO
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Jennifer Coleman jcoleman@4kmedia.com +1.212.590.2120
5/29/2014 10:50:43 AM