Branded Entertainment Network’s Greenlight Launching Lifestyle Licensing for Iconic Celebrities

Branded Entertainment Network (BEN, once known as Corbis Entertainment) having established its stable of iconic celebrities in advertising and marketing, is moving to extend them into lifestyle brands. BEN’s Greenlight Division recently launched plans for Sophia Loren Home, and Buzz Aldrin licensee Sprayground released a capsule collection of backpacks, duffle bags, parkas and other apparel. It also will seek to extend the reach of actor Steve McQueen and Albert Einstein and has developed a stylebook for Thomas Edison, says Greenlight’s Tamra Knepfer. “When you look at the merchandise rights for licensing, those haven’t been fully optimized,” says Knepfer, who joined Greenlight from Knockout Licensing a year ago. “Most of what we have done has been driven by the assets in terms of images and artwork as opposed to looking at them as lifestyle or a brand.” The first of the Sophia Loren Home products isn’t likely to hit the market until 2020 and Greenlight also will seek agreements for apparel, says Knepfer.

Contact:

Greenlight, Tamra Knepfer, SVP, 212-777-6200

Disney Resetting Gaming Strategy

Disney is resetting its mobile games strategy in striking licensing deals with four development partners. Ludia, Glu Mobile, Gameloft and PerBlue are each working on a new unannounced game based on a Disney franchise, Disney executive Kyle Laughlin said at the Casual Connect game conference in California this week. The new strategy follows Disney’s retreat last year from internally developed console games, including the shutdown of its Disney Infinity toys-to-life system and the closing of its Avalanche studio. It also canceled plans for the “Marvel: Avengers Alliance” mobile game and “Marvel Heroes” online title that was being developed by Gazillion. But Disney continues to work with game developer Square Enix on the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III PC game, and Electronic Arts is its licensee for Star Wars titles.

Contact:

Josh Silverman, EVP Global Licensing, 818-544-0041, josh.silverman@disney.com

Photographer Ann Geddes Tests Jewelry at Kay Jewelers

Australian-born photographer Ann Geddes is expanding licensing as SHR Jewelry launches a 10-piece test with 100 Kay Jewelers stores, says SHR’s Scott Rauch. The collection, which includes sterling silver pearl necklaces, rings and earrings, builds on the well-known family and baby photographer’s licensing business, which also includes calendars. The jewelry first was introduced on Home Shopping Network last October.

Contact:

SHR Jewelry, Scott Rauch, Pres., 917-446-3133

Nestle Sells U.S. Confectionary Business to Ferrero

Nestle is selling its U.S. confectionary business and 20 brands attached to it to Ferrero for $2.8 billion. The division, which posted $900 million in sales in 2016, contains a range of candy brands including BabyRuth, Raisanets, Chunky, ohHenry!, SnoCaps and LaffyTaffy. The sale, which is expected to close at the end of Q1, allows Nestle to focus on categories its “sees strong future growth” and where it has a “strong leadership position” including bottled waters, pet care and coffee, the company said. Nestle is keeping its international confectionary business, which includes the KitKat brand.

Contacts:

Nestle, Carlos Velasco, Pres. Confections Div., 818-544-6000

Ferrero, Jim Klein, VP Sales, 732-764-9300

Executive Changes:

Cynthia Money, ex-Global Pursuit Co., named Head of Licensing, Brands and Entertainment at Redbubble… Appointments at Nelvana Enterprises: Mellany Masterson, ex-Import Dragons, returns to the company as VP Sales, Consumer Products and International filling a post vacant since last fall following the departure of Jerry Diaz for DHX Media; Lily Yan promoted to Head of Brands from Director of Brands; Madeline Fergusonpromoted to Senior International Sales Manager… Jane Whittaker, ex-Electronic Arts, joins virtual reality gaming company XR Games as senior executive.

Contacts:

Nelvana Enterprises, Mellany Masterson, VP Sales, 416-479-7000, mellany.masterson@corusent.com

Redbubble, Cynthia Money, Head of Licensing, Brands and Entertainment, Cynthia.money@redbubble.com

XR Games, Jane Whittaker, Senior Executive, +44 7973 119820, jane.whittaker@xrgames.io

Licensed TV Brands Changing Hands, Expanding Distribution

Licensed TV brands are changing hands and expanding distribution. Shenzhen MTC is the new U.S. licensee for the JVC brand, adding to similar agreements it has with JVC for China and South Korea. Shenzhen replaces AmTran, whose agreement for the brand expired after a six-year run. Meanwhile, Super Plastronics Pvt is expanding distribution Kodak LCD TVs in India with a line of 24-55-inch models, the last size available in ultra-high definition (UHD) resolution.

Contacts:

Shezhen MTC/JVC, John Araki, Chief Technology Officer, +86 735 3290

Super Plastronics/Kodak, Avneet Singh Marwah, Managing Dir., +91 97111 2288

Shenzhen MTC, John Araki, Chief Technology Officer, +86 735 3290

Investment Firm Buys Stake in Bebe

B. Riley Financial bought a 29.4% stake in Bebe Stores, converting a $16.9 million loan into an equity investment that will fund expansion of the former retailer’s licensing business, Bebe said. B. Riley purchased 2.8 million shares (at $6 per share) and acquired another 500,000 shares in two separate transactions. With the deal, Bebe will seek to expand its Brands Holdings LLC joint venture with Bluestar Alliance for the Bebe label. Bebe generated $2.7 million in revenue from the venture in Q2 ended Sept. 30. Meanwhile, Bebe licensee Global Brands Group, which operates the brand’s web site and has international apparel rights, has re-opened a Bebe store near the Empire State Building in New York. Bebe closed its other 148 stores last year. Meanwhile, Bebe founder and CEO Manny Mashouf has agreed to no longer take a salary or housing allowance, the company said in an SEC filing.  Previously, Mashouf’s annual salary was $900,000 and the housing allowance was $100,000.

Contact:

Bebe, Manny Mashouf. CEO, 415-715-3900