Mighty Mike strikes again

Reporting exclusively for Total Licensing, pup-tastic inquisitor Mighty Mike brings us all the hot topics as the industry heads back to Vegas for Licensing Expo...

Mike Strikes Again!

Have you heard that Las Vegas has a new motto: What happens here, only happens here? And one of the things that only happens here is the Las Vegas Licensing Expo, back live from May 2426! On the exciting occasion of the industry’s return to this fabulous city, intrepid pug reporter Mighty Mike asked executives what they are looking forward to this year. As an avid cook and consummate entertainer (primarily for his love-interest Iris, the dog next door), Mike has put his talents to work researching a few Vegas shows and restaurants not to miss.

Food

For American classics try the spectacular Southbelly BBQ or, 20 minutes away on a Lake, Americana. For top of the line, exquisite food and famous chefs, try Jean-Georges, Guy Savoy, SW Steakhouse or Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. For a chance to see spectacular dishes prepared before your eyes, it’s L’Atelier de Joel Robluchon, and for a touch of Asia, Blossom, Nobu or Mizumi. Vegas hotels can be very pricey, so here are some cheap-eat lists: VisitLasVegas.com, Vegas.Eater.com and TripSavvy.com.

Circus Shows

Did you know that Cirque de Soleil is not the only circus show in town? ABSINTHE was named “the #1 greatest show in Las Vegas history” by Las Vegas Weekly and Huffington Post said, “If you only see one show in your entire life, make it Absinthe!”

Comedy

Chris Rock brings a new meaning to “slapstick comedy” in his Vegas shows but sadly none during Expo. But you can catch the Grammy-nominated comedian Bill Burr, author of one of the most downloaded comedy podcasts Monday Morning Podcast.

Magic

For a classic, big spectacle show there is David Copperfield. For more recent talent try Mat Franco, America’s Got Talent 2014 winner, or Farrell Dillon, Hollywood’s Magic Castle’s Stage Magician of the Year.

Music Concerts

There are no big concerts during Expo, but a wide choice of tribute shows for the Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and the Rat Pack.

So what are licensing executives looking forward to in Las Vegas? Leslie Levine, Owner/Founder, Licensing Works! - And Las Vegas Resident! (Booth B142)

In addition to celebrating our own 15th Anniversary in 2022, we have several exciting IP anniversaries ramping up for major programs in 2023 to be discussed at this year’s physical and virtual Licensing Expo in addition to sharing details on new live action and animated television programming, new publishing, new promotional partners and new Licensees. To name a few: • Winchester Mystery House celebrates its 100th Anniversary throughout 2023 with a robust licensing program and great promotional activations. • The Little Prince is celebrating its 80th Anniversary worldwide in 2023! • Puppy In My Pocket® turns 30 in 2023! • Zorro is celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Guy Williams Zorro in 2022 and 2023 is the 25th Anniv. of The Mask of Zorro. Zorro introduces an all-new slate of entertainment support, with new live action series already announced from Disney+ and The CW; additional live action series will be announced shortly at two different major streamers with a new animated series from Sony soon to follow. Wilmer Valderrama stars in a 1950’s classic series remake at Disney+. Famed filmmakers Rebecca and Robert Rodriguez are delivering a stylish, modern day female Zorro lead for The CW. And more personally, we are really looking forward to seeing our clients, licensees and promotional partners in person again — virtual meetings have been an incredible resource over the

last couple of years for keeping all ontrack, but it’s been way too long from all being together. As far as tips go, I’ve been living in Las Vegas now for over six years, so this is now home to me. We love it here. The strip has a great deal to offer visitors as it is home to world class restaurants and entertainment. If you are lucky enough to spend a few extra days here, venture outside of the strip. Vegas has so much to offer, especially if you are into golf, hiking and if you love all kinds of sports…we’ve got the Raiders, the Golden Knights, the Aces, the Aviators and the Las Vegas Lights, with more teams rumored to be moving here. Feel free to reach out or stop by our booth B142, if you want any restaurant suggestions.

Laura Nevanlinna, CEO Ferly

This is the first time in a long while the industry from both EMEA and NAM will be together, so we at Ferly are super excited to share loads of new brands and developments with both new and existing licensees as well as potential agents. I would love to find more partners for many of our brands, like the hugely popular girls’ gaming brand Star Stable (which has just gone mobile) and Momolu & Friends, our educational preschool series with a global toy partner already in place. I am also really looking forward to finding new brands for Ferly to collaborate with, be it as an agent or in the capacity of an animation partner. And looking forward to surprising new opportunities! Those always happen at industry events. Personally, I’m just really excited to meet my partners and friends in the industry! It’s been way too long, and with a few of the partners this will be the very first time we meet in person. I’m also very much looking forward to a short road trip from Vegas to LA with an industry friend after the show. I do hope she does the driving in Vegas, though!

Jasen Wright, VP North America, WildBrain CPLG

We’ve got a great and varied line-up of brands across our entertainment portfolio and ASPIRE, our newly launched Corporate & Lifestyle division, to present at the show. We are looking forward to finding some new partners that share our global vision and creative approach. And, I’m excited to be with colleagues and friends in person again and discovering new places to relax after a day of ‘speed pitching’ other than EyeCandy!

Michael Connoly, Founder & CEO of Retail Monster

Licensing Expo is a great event to gauge interest in upcoming IPs in the hopes of clinching a future, longer deep-dive opportunity post-show. Having been in this industry for so long, I look forward to talking with and watching all the folks who I have worked with, or that have worked for me, in their leadership roles running major CP divisions. There’s no greater satisfaction than watching those you’ve led become leaders themselves. Laura

Jasen

By Valentina Candeloro, International Marketing Director Mood Media

SHOPPING TRENDS

High tech and sustainable retail experiences are driving shopper loyalty

The high street is back in business and new tech is exciting consumers while sustainability drives are winning their loyalty

Improving footfall figures show that retail is getting back on its feet after a couple of very testing years. Mood Media research shows that, while there is still some understandable caution, 80% of global shoppers now feel confident to shop in-store again. The majority plan to spend around the same amount of money and time shopping as before the pandemic, with 17% aiming to spend more.

Retailers are tapping into their return by rewarding shoppers with experiences that immerse them in an environment that looks, sounds, and even smells, perfect.

Advanced retail technology can then take experiences to the next level, such as Adidas introducing a gait measuring system that maps how a person runs on an in-store treadmill before matching them with the perfect running shoes. This can go beyond the style and fit to allow customers to truly personalise their trainers by commissioning an artist to ‘paint’ a design to their specification, so they truly stand out on the running track.

Later this year Amazon is expected to take retail technology to new levels with a fashion store concept, due to debut in Los Angeles. Shoppers will be able to select items to be tried on and then join a virtual queue for a changing room which can be unlocked by an app on their mobile phone. Touch screen monitors will make suggestions of other items a customer might like to try and when they are ready, they need only use their palm print to check out.

Sustainable loyalty

Some of these new ideas may take a while to catch on and involve a heavy investment in technology but where retailers can make huge gains right now is tapping into environmental issues. These are top of most people’s minds after the pandemic and so are being embraced by savvy brands eager to earn customer trust and build up a deeper sense of loyalty.

Indeed Mood Media research found that 67% of consumers worldwide reveal it is important the brands they shop at are committed to being environmentally friendly. While sustainably minded consumers will do what they can to recycle, it is not always clear whether some containers can be used again. For customers who do not always know how to dispose of items responsibly after use, Boots now allows beauty and personal care ‘empties’ to be recycled in-store in return for Advantage card points. Not only does the initiative empower consumers to ensure they are making an environmentally sound decision, the retailer is encouraging shoppers who need to buy a replacement back into their stores, and it’s all tied in to the loyalty programme it hopes will see many future visits. Tesco is taking this idea a step further with a new service which loans out containers to shoppers for a 20p deposit. There are 88 products that can be dispensed into the containers, including washing powder, condiments and cosmetics. On the trip back to the supermarket, the container is returned and washed for the next user. The 20p deposit is also refunded.

In-store audio and visual experiences are also moving towards greater sustainability with speaker systems and screens developed to professional quality standards that mean they need less maintenance while also consuming as little electricity as possible. This is being embraced alongside LED lighting and, in the case of Clarins’ new store in Paris, even the fabric of the shop. The flagship store’s floors are made of left-over marble and the walls are coated in beech wood sourced from fair trade forest scheme.

This trend to embrace consumer demand for more sustainable shopping is felt particularly strongly in the fashion industry where recycling materials and extending items’ lives through second hand markets is a huge trend. It is so big, in fact, that major brands, including Adidas, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Selfridges offer second hand corners where pre-owned items can be bought to extend their lives. Lululemon and Patagonia have taken this a step further with stores dedicated to selling second hand clothes from their ranges.

This trend towards fitting out stores with sustainably sourced materials and then empowering shoppers to buy (and recycle) goods that have a reduced impact on the environment is sure to last. Concern is felt too deeply by shoppers for it to be a fad. As early adopters are showing, people want to come back to the high street but they want to ensure retailers to show they share their desire to live a more sustainable life that is in balance with the environment.

Kidscreen is back!

Kidscreen Summit is renowned as one of the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. In 2020, the last in-person Summit welcomed more than 2,000 attendees from 50plus countries. Top executives attend regularly to take advantage of the year’s best business networking, and to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry. This Kidscreen Summit will offer unrivalled access to leaders in the international kids space, bringing together creators, buyers and distributors of children’s programming for meaningful pitching and networking. Through facilitated networking sessions such as Speed Pitching, Coffee and Cocktails with…, Brainpick and Pitch Doctoring, it’s easy to connect with potential partners and investors who can propel your business forward.

Property Spotlight

Canada’s Mercury Filmworks is developing a new animated children’s series based on Scott Rothman’s popular children’s picture book Attack of the Underwear Dragon (October 2020, Random House), an Amazon Editor’s Pick and National Indie Bestseller, illustrated by New York Times’ Best-Selling illustrator and Annie Award-nominated animator, Pete Oswald. The series, to be titled Tales of the Underwear Dragon, will feature an original song in every episode written by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer, producer, arranger, and orchestrator Bill Sherman (Sesame Street, In the Heights, Hamilton). Medieval stories about valiant knights and dastardly dragons infused with a fresh new spin will be delivered in Tales of The Underwear Dragon, a 2D animated comedy series (11’ x 52) for kids ages 6-11. “Behind every hit show is an amazing team, and we are lucky enough to have a truly fantastic trio. Thanks to a hilarious and heartfelt tale by Scott, the magical illustration style of Pete Oswald, and original songs from Bill, our show won’t look or sound like anything that kids have seen before,” stated Heath Kenny, Chief Content Officer, Mercury Filmworks. “And while Tales of the Underwear Dragon will be a fun and adventurous comedy, it will also stand out because the series will wear its heart on its sleeve and kids will recognize themselves as our pint-sized hero overcomes all kinds of obstacles to become a true hero, or should I say assistant hero.” “Comedy will be the main goal of this series, but there will also be plenty of heart,” commented Rothman.