By Marcy Magiera Xcel Brands, owner and licensor of the Isaac Mizrahi, C. Wonder, H Halston and Judith Ripka fashion brands, is experimenting with new ways to help retailers manage inventory. Under its new Quick Time Response supply chain program, Xcel will design and manage the manufacturing of products under the IMNYC (Mizrahi), H Halston, and C. Wonder Limited brands for … [Read more...] about Xcel Designs Nimble Supply Chain for Stores
TLL
‘Homegating’ Drives Sales of NFL-Licensed Products
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Americans still love watching football with friends but consumption patterns are changing. The TV is slowly but surely eclipsing the stadium as the viewing venue of choice. And as it does, tailgating in the parking lot is giving way to "homegating" in the living room. Seven of 10 fans would rather get together with friends at home to watch the game than … [Read more...] about ‘Homegating’ Drives Sales of NFL-Licensed Products
Awareness High of New ‘Muppets,’ ‘Supergirl’ TV Shows
By Marcy Magiera With the fall TV season about to start, research shows that the new programs with the highest ratings and consumer intent to watch are based on properties that are already established. ABC's "The Muppets" (62% awareness), Fox's "Minority Report" (35%) CBS' "Supergirl" (34%) and NBC's "Heroes Reborn" (28%) have the top … [Read more...] about Awareness High of New ‘Muppets,’ ‘Supergirl’ TV Shows
Licensed Products Figure Prominently in Season’s First ‘Hot Toys’ List
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Yesterday, 105 days before Christmas, Toys 'R' Us unveiled its Holiday Hot Toy List for 2015. As you'd expect, licensed brands from Disney, especially Star Wars, figured prominently, capturing four of the coveted "Fabulous 15" spots. At least six of the Fab 15 were licensed, including (in the order listed by TRU): Doc McStuffins Take Care of Me … [Read more...] about Licensed Products Figure Prominently in Season’s First ‘Hot Toys’ List
Saban Gives Paul Frank Fashion Revamp
By Marcy Magiera Saban Brands Lifestyle Group is repositioning its Paul Frank Kids label as fashion rather than an entertainment character brand and taking in-house control of design, marketing and manufacturing. "Retailers get the cost savings by buying direct because we are doing our own sourcing and designing from our creative base in Sydney, Australia," Daniel Castle, … [Read more...] about Saban Gives Paul Frank Fashion Revamp
Philadelphia Flooded with Pope Products
By Marcy Magiera Updated Sept. 8, 2015 With less than three weeks until Pope Francis arrives on his first apostolic journey to the U.S., Philadelphia is reportedly becoming awash in papal products, both licensed and unlicensed. ‘Pope Rosary? Licensed. ‘Papal bobblehead? Licensed. ‘Pontiff wine glasses, Christmas ornaments, plush dolls, lifesize standees, etc.? All licensed. But … [Read more...] about Philadelphia Flooded with Pope Products
Who’s News
Brad Globe steps down as President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products this spring with current DC Entertainment President & CCO Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Diane Nelson to oversee the division until a successor is named. Ian Rogers, the Senior Director Apple Music who created the online radio station Beats 1, moves to LVMH as Chief Digital Officer where he will … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Who Lives in a Pineapple on Broadway?
The SpongeBob Musical will open at Broadway in Chicago’s Oriental Theatre on June 7, 2016, where it will play for a month in preparation for its run on Broadway (in New York) in the 2016-2017 season. The SpongeBob Musical will be produced by Nickelodeon with songs from John Legend, Cyndi Lauper, The Flaming Lips, T.I., Lady Antebellum, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of … [Read more...] about Who Lives in a Pineapple on Broadway?
Sesame Street Makes Room for HBO
In a move that means more TV exposure, HBO will be the exclusive first-run subscription TV partner for the next five seasons of iconic preschool series Sesame Street and new series from Sesame Workshop. PBS will also continue to air Sesame Street, but in a 30-minute rather than full-hour version, with new episodes available to public TV after an exclusive window on HBO … [Read more...] about Sesame Street Makes Room for HBO
Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Merchandising Campaign: Bigger & Earlier than Anything Before
The timing between movie release and merchandising is a perennial challenge in movie licensing. Historically, merchandise associated with an anticipated blockbuster appears on store shelves around six weeks before release. But several of the entertainment executives we interviewed last spring for The Licensing Letter's 2014 Annual Licensing Business Survey predicted that this … [Read more...] about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Merchandising Campaign: Bigger & Earlier than Anything Before