Sequential Brands Group has agreed to acquire a majority interest in the Jessica Simpson Collection brand, including master license rights, from Camuto Group. Although the price has not been disclosed, you can bet that it is significantly higher than the $15 million the late Vince Camuto paid for the master license in 2005. Camuto built Jessica Simpson into a $1 billion brand … [Read more...] about Jessica Simpson Brand Sold to Sequentia;
TLL
Who’s News
Ron Garfield is leaving Sony Pictures Television to become the executive vice president and general manager of FremantleMedia North America’s new Buzzr TV digital network, which is scheduled to launch in 17 markets this summer.Anna Kislevitz is appointed Senior Manager Licensing and Merchandising for 41 Entertainment where she will work with key brands like Classic PAC-Man plus … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Mass Retail Fashion Licensing Targets Men
Very quietly and with little fanfare, mass retailer Target launched Target Collective, a curated collection of Americanmade men's fashion products from six different designers: Billykirk (bags and accessories); Owen & Fred (soap and accessories); Taylor Stitch (casual wear); Duluth Pack (bags); Locally Grown (T-shirts and hats); and Terrapin Stationers (note cards). The … [Read more...] about Mass Retail Fashion Licensing Targets Men
Martha Goes to the Dogs
Martha Stewart Living Omnipedia released a new line of natural dog treats exclusively at Petsmart. The Martha Stewart Pets Treat shop line is available in five flavors and was supposedly inspired by the biscuits the duchess of the domestic makes for her own pooches. … [Read more...] about Martha Goes to the Dogs
Online & Value Channels Grow Share of Licensed Product Sales
Sales of licensed retail products in the e-commerce channel accelerated in 2014, while most other retail channels continued in a characteristically steady vein, gaining or losing just a fraction of one percentage point in market share, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. While the changes in market share changes are mostly very small, the dollars involved are … [Read more...] about Online & Value Channels Grow Share of Licensed Product Sales
Taco Bell Licensing Crunch
Taco Bell has become a hot bed of food licensing and co-branding featuring Snapple Lemonade Freeze (Dr Pepper Snapple Group), Starburst Strawberry Freeze (Wm. Wrigley Jr.), in addition to Doritos Locos Tacos and the Cap’n Crunch Delights, basically a doughnut hole covered with Quaker Oats Co.’s Cap’n Crunch Berries cereal and filled with “milk” icing (PepsiCo). Nation’s … [Read more...] about Taco Bell Licensing Crunch
Class Action Lawsuit Against Facebook
A federal judge in California said a lawsuit by hundreds of thousands of parents nationwide against Facebook could go forward as a class action. The suit contends that Facebook let kids use their parents’ credit and debit cards to buy the virtual currency Facebook credits and violated California law by citing its “all sales are final” policy in refusing refunds to parents who … [Read more...] about Class Action Lawsuit Against Facebook
MLB & Majestic Re-up
Continuing a partnership that started in 1982, Majestic Athletic will remain the uniform licensee of Major League Baseball Properties through 2019 with exclusive rights to design, produce and distribute on-field uniforms, authentic collection apparel, replica jerseys and other men’s and women’s fan apparel for all 30 MLB teams. MLB jersey sales were strong in 2014, despite the … [Read more...] about MLB & Majestic Re-up
Adidas to Give Up NBA Sponsorship
After 11 years of being the official apparel sponsor of the NBA, Adidas announced that it will not seek to renew its status after the 2016–2017 season. According to several reports, the announcement came about a week after the League told Adidas that it would open the bidding to other brands like Nike and Under Armour. Result: Renewing the license would have likely cost … [Read more...] about Adidas to Give Up NBA Sponsorship
Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health
Disney Consumer Products announced what it’s calling one of “its biggest ever licensing programs” around the new Avengers: Age of Ultron film and offshoot programming; and given Disney’s track record, that’s no idle boast. The licensing program includes a push into what the studio considers high-potential categories, including female fashion and items intended to foster active … [Read more...] about Avengers Campaign Targets Fashion, Health