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Sam Wankowski to deliver keynote address at LIMA meet in Canada this Tuesday

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The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, the hosts of Focus Canada at Corus Entertainment in Toronto on Tuesday has announced that Sam Wankowski, senior vice president, operations, Western Canada, Walmart Canada will deliver the keynote speech on ‘The Evolving Relationship Between Retail and Licensing in Canada’.

Organized by LIMA Canada, Focus Canada will center on Canadian shopping habits, licensed merchandise, and the future of retail.

The event will offer attendees insights into key trends in licensing for entertainment, fashion and corporate brands, and reinforce the importance of licensed brands as a critical business for many of the world’s largest retailers.

The event will be followed by networking and refreshments in the rooftop event space at Corus Entertainment.

“As licensing’s global trade association, LIMA brings its reputation and expertise to every aspect of the industry,” said Andrew Menceles, director, LIMA Canada.

“Focus Canada will offer a unique perspective and promote dialogue among members of the Canadian licensing community, to continue building the support of all businesses and professions involved in licensing in Canada,” he added

Besides Wankowski the other speakers will include Myles Robinson, president, Centura Brands, Marianne Lattanzi, director, retail development Canada, Universal Studios and Michelle Liem, director, client development, The NPD Group

“According to the LIMA Global Licensing Industry Survey, Canada is the sixth largest country in retail sales of licensed merchandise,” says Charles Riotto, president, LIMA.

“This is a valuable global market, and LIMA is excited to provide an opportunity for licensing professionals to share expertise and gain insights into the rapidly changing retail environment and network for professional growth and support,” he goes on to add.

 

Evollve introduces steam centric Ozobot Bit

Los Angeles-based adaptive robotics company Evollve has unravelled its first-ever Marvel line for its STEAM-centric robot Ozobot Bit.

The new line will supplement Evollve’s existing Marvel Avengers line for its Bluetooth-enabled social Ozobot Evo. Captain America and Iron Man skins are currently available and will be joined by Black Widow, Hulk and Ultron in the coming months.

Ozobot currently reaches one million kids in homes and schools with more than half a million units shipped and bots placed in more than 3,000 classrooms.

The company will also launch Ozobot Bit starter packs based on Marvel properties Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man at Disney’s D23 Expo July 14 in Anaheim, California.

Having given a physical and digital STEAM experience, the Ozobot Bit comes to life by drawing lines and color segments on paper. The patented color command language, or OzoCodes, can make the Bit robot spin, dance or go here and there.

While the Guardians of the Galaxy pack includes skins of popular characters Groot and Rocket, the Spider-Man pack will feature Spidey and Venom. Each pack will cost US$59.95.

A free, web-based block-based programming editor, OzoBlockly, for more advanced coding is also included in the box.

Additional pack items include 20-plus pages of drawing and color coding activities, four color-coding markers, DIY, Marvel-themed stickers and pop-outs, as well as free Android and iOS apps and online and printable games.

The new items arrive as STEAM-centric products for youth continue to trend well in the kids space. Most recently, robotics and AI company Ankiannounced its new Fast & Furious-branded robotic battle racing game, and New York-based tech startup littleBits introduced a new game-based coding kit.

 

Mattel reports 15 pc y-o-y downslide in revenue

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US toy maker Mattel has reported 15 per cent y-o-y (year-on-year) downslide in its revenue on a constant currency basis for the quarter ended 31 March 2017.

The slide would have been even more but for the growth in revenues contributed by the third world, the Asia Pacific specifically with 17 per cent and Latin America with four per cent as reported growths, as against 18 per cent and two per cent respectively on a constant.

The third region that contributes to Mattel’s International Gross Sales, Europe, showed a fall of 10 per cent as reported and a decline of seven per cent on constant currency basis.

The North American region that includes the US and Canada and Disney’s product line of American Girl reported 24 per cent decline in y-o-y sales.

The particular region contributed $448 million (about 60 per cent) to Disney’s $735.6 million in Q1-17. That the toy major is hurt by the loss of Disney Princess line to competitor Hasbro would be an understatement and today even a cliché.

 

 

Licensing Corner organizes ‘The Brand Licensing Summit’ at Hotel Grand Hyatt on 2nd June

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Licensing Corner has organized ‘The Brand Licensing Summit’ at Hotel Grand Hyatt on 2nd June from 3 to 10 pm.

The event will feature who’s who from the brand and retail space for a day full of insights and opportunity exploring the driving factors and changing dynamics of the India Brand Licensing Sector.

This is a good opportunity to learn what the experts are doing to leverage licensed brands to succeed in the global marketplace.

Those who can attend the Summit are Brands/IP owners, manufacturers, vendors, traders, OEM specialists, retailers, Advertising and licensing agencies, brand managers and consultants, intellectual property lawyers and auditors.

 

Freaky Friday: Five Bollywood film merchandises that became a rage

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Whether on-screen or off-screen, celebrities have always inspired fans (especially youngsters) with their fashion sense and these fans mimic the style of their favourite celebrity. In short, one can say that celebrities are trendsetters. So much so that fans seek inspiration from their favourite celebrities.

And that is why, movie production houses are coming out with movie merchandises as part of their promotional activity making this a way of connecting with the audience.

Ranging from apparel to video games, these film production houses release a wide range of products that appeal to a wide range of people.

Go through the under listed posts and see if you can add more.

 

Bajrangi Bhaijaan Pendant 

One must admit that Salman Khan grabs the most attention and becomes a talk of the town whenever his film hits the large screen.

Be it his rockstar aviators from Dabangg or his trademark silver bracelet, his style has been copied and admired by his numerous fans.

And just last year, the makers of Bajrangi Bhaijaan decided to include Salman’s club-shaped pendant as part of the movie’s official merchandise. And, believe it or not, his fans went helter skelter to grab a similar stylish pendant.

 

Chennai Express sarees

 

Ask any lady and she will say that she liked the 6-yards of beautiful fabric with a solid golden zari border beautifully drapped on Meenama (Deepika Padukone) in Chennai Expresss.

Popular saree house Palam Silk not only sponsored the sarees but it even organised contests related to the movie. Some exquisite sarees were also for sale in their showroom.

The Heroine apparel

 It is another story that Kareena Kapoor‘s ambitious project Heroine bombed at the box-office but her style was definitely a huge hit.

Apparel brand Jealous 21, teamed up with the makers of the film to create some of the stunning dresses inspired by Kareena’s glamorous lifestyle. They even tied up with online websites that allowed customers to pre-order some executive dresses.

Krrish Action-figure

India’s first superhero franchise, Krrish, raked in on the success of first two films, to create action-figurines!

The action figure, modeled on its lead character Krrish played by Hrithik Roshan turned out to be a big hit among children. Not just that, the Krrish 3 collection also included toys, apparel and publishing material as part of its merchandise line.

Ek Villain-black hoodies

The makers of this film had a simple marketing plan: selling the solid black apparel that marked the identity of the antagonist aka Ritesh Deshmukh.

Black hoodies and yellow smiley badges became a rage after this! And interested fans ran from store to store seeking their favourite black apparel.

 

 

 

 

 

20th Century Fox teams up with online entertainment retailer Zavvi

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has teamed up with online entertainment retailer Zavvi, part of The Hut Group to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an American television series created by Joss Whedon under his production tag Mutant Enemy Productions with other co-executive producers being Jane Espenson, David Fury, David Greenwalt, Doug Petrie, Marti Noxon, and David Solomon.

Among the terms of the one-year agreement, Zavvi will release an extensive collection of Buffy-themed merchandise including hoodies sweats, tees, loungewear, exclusive prints and linen tote bags. The online retailer will also launch a limited edition ZBOX specifically for the series’ fans.

All excited, Claire West, brand licensing manager, The Hut Group said, “The Hut Group is excited to be entering a partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products to celebrate the 20th anniversary of  Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

“Buffy is a cult television show that is as popular now as it was in the ‘90s and we are thrilled to be working on developing a range that is relevant to both a long serving Buffy fan and a new viewer.”

The new Buffy products will also be supported with a dedicated online and social media campaign as well as a homepage takeover.

The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer merchandise will be available throughout the U.K. this year.

 

Nickelodeon calls for second season of Hunter Street

Shortly after its March premiere, Nickelodeon has renewed live-action series Hunter Street for a second season of 20 episodes.

The series follows five foster children of Amsterdam who are trying to figure out what happened to their foster parents after they disappear.

The adventure-comedy, produced by Blooming Media debuted on Nickelodeon on March 13 in the US. It was co-developed with Nickelodeon Netherlands series De Ludwigs.

The second season will go into production this summer in Amsterdam and would feature new mysteries.

The first 20-episode season averaged a 3.2 rating with kids between six to 11 years-old and became one of the top five shows this year for that age group across all TV in the US.

 

Viz Media ties up with Televix Entertainment

Viz Media has entered into an agreement with Televix Entertainment to bring the industry’s top anime titles to audiences all throughout Latin America.

Anime continues to be a massively popular entertainment genre throughout the region and captivates a wide demographic of fans from multiple countries.

“Our partnership with Televix Entertainment is a key move in helping us share some of our most popular and critically acclaimed anime series with the fast-growing fan base in Latin America,” says Brad Woods, CMO of VIZ Media.

“Televix has a proven track record of success and possess an unrivaled understanding of the Latin American marketplace. They will be a valuable partner in VIZ Media’s continued growth internationally,” he goes on to add.

VIZ Media’s appointment of Televix will expand the company’s reach and help to continue to build a strong international audience for anime.

Televix will represent VIZ Media’s extensive catalogue of titles that includes acclaimed series such as Bleach, Death Note and Naruto to broadcast and other prominent media outlets across multiple territories throughout Latin America.

Televix licenses properties to broadcasters, DVD distributors, and mobile operators based across Latin America, and is a qualified aggregator for various media in the region.

VIZ Media and Televix will jointly participate at the upcoming 2017 LA Screenings event, a pre-eminent international television content showcase for licensors and content delivery providers.

LA Screenings takes place from May 16 to 19 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. VIZ Media and Televix Entertainment will hold meetings at the Intercontinental Hotel Suite 821.

 

Disney, Universal tap toy licensees for Cars and Despicable Me

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As Disney’s Cars and Universal’s Despicable Me head towards their release dates on June 16 and June 30 respectively, the two aren’t just looking at ticket sales. They will have contending licensing programs both hinged on keeping the flame alive for young fans.

For Disney’s Cars 3, it involves a licensing push across every category from toys to soup.

“Some of our toy licensees include Mattel, Sphero, Thinkway, Funko and Lego,” reveals Josh Silverman, EVP of global licensing at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.”

In addition, we’re looking to reach new audiences through collaborations on the apparel and accessories side, with brands including Members Only, Illest, New Balance and New Era, just to name a few,” he adds.

On the consumables side, licensees include Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farms, Kraft, Juicy Juice, Johnson & Johnson, P&G and Coppertone.

Since the first Cars movie released in 2006, naturally, the audience for the third movie will be much older while the younger set of the audience will be entirely new. These aspects were taken into account when planning the licensing for the movie, it is understood.

The franchise is also banking on new characters to make kids interested in similar products from past licensing programmes.

The licensing programme of Cars 3 has additional pressure for master toy partner Mattel, which recently suffered major losses in Q1 and is banking on the brand to re-up sales.

Meanwhile, though Universal’s Despicable Me, has signed on fewer partners, but the production house is moving head-first into the collectibles trend.

“With Despicable Me 3, we’re launching our biggest and most expansive consumer products program for the franchise,” says Manuel Torres Port, EVP of worldwide consumer products for Universal Brand Development.

“We’ve added new product categories and partners including WowWee’s MiP Minion and the Moose Mineez collectibles line, which features the largest collection of Despicable Me characters ever,” he adds.

Universal has signed Thinkway as the master toy licensee and has partnered with Mega Bloks, PUMA, Moose Toys, WowWee, Hasbro Games and more.

It is also trying to keep things fresh this time around by focusing on the latest toy trends including STEM toys. And Illumination is introducing new characters to the franchise, which according Port keeps the brand moving forward.

 

 

 

Designer Sabyasachi comes out with diamond collection Zanyah

By any given chance, diamonds are designer Sabyasachi’s best friends.

“Diamonds have always fascinated me because my first memory of jewellery was a beautiful diamond necklace that my mother owned,” proclaims the designer on his debut diamond collection Zanyah that he made in collaboration with Forevermark.

Playing true to the designer’s love of all things vintage, the collection features a delicate range of enamel dangling earrings and old-world rings in yellow, pink and white gold, dripping with sparkling diamonds.

It’s been inspired by the art and fashion of the ’20s and, according to the designer, perfectly blends elements of the Indian and Italian renaissance.

He claims that it’s a true marriage of the west and the east bringing together the design movement from two very important artistic periods to create an enchanted piece of jewellery that can be worn on special occasions and gifted to your loved ones.