Executive Changes

Kerry Phelan promoted at Lionsgate to President of Global Franchise Management from EVP of Global Franchise Management and Strategic Partnerships… Janet Bareis, ex-Walmart, named SVP Collectibles at GameStop, new position reporting to CEO Paul Raines; Stephanie Pierotti, ex-Yahoo, named VP Marketing at Scott Brothers Global;

Contacts:

GameStop, Janet Bareis, SVP Collectibles, 817- 424-2000janetbareis@gamestop.com

Scott Brothers Global, Stephanie Pierotti, 702-825-8700, stephanie.p@the scottbrothers.com

Lionsgate, Kerry Phelan, President Global Franchise Management,0. 310-449-9200,kphelan@lionsgate.com

Perry Ellis International Reviving Original Penguin Brand for Golf Apparel

The Original Penguin brand is getting back to its roots. Perry Ellis International plans to launch a new Original Penguin Golf apparel line in Q4, building out a licensing program that already includes footwear, home goods, tailored suits and other products. The brand was purchased by Perry Ellis in 1996, which reintroduced Original Penguin as a sportswear brand in 2003.

“We feel that this would give us an opening for something we currently do not offer that is targeted at the millennial,” Perry Ellis CEO Oscar Feldenkreis told analysts. “The PGA Tour has so many young players out there today and we feel that there is an opening for that consumer.”

Meanwhile, Perry Ellis’s golf lifestyle business – Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Callaway and PGA Tour brands – posted a “mid-teens” sales increase in Q2 ended July 29. The growth was driven by the Callaway license, which had a 28% sales increase; orders for the spring line are up 25% from a year ago, company executives said. Ben Hogan apparel expanded into international markets with Walmart. Sales of a 10-piece Jack Nicklaus apparel collection that launched at Target in July has so far “exceeded our expectations,” Feldenkreis said.

Overall, Perry Ellis swung to a $979,000 profit from a $3.5 million loss a year earlier as revenue rose 2.5% to $206.6 million. The men’s business, which includes golf apparel and Nike swimwear, inched up 1% to $155 million.

Contact:

Oscar Feldenkreis, CEO, 305-592-2830, Oscar.feldenkreis@pery.com

Sears Signs Licenses for Kenmore, DieHard brands

Sears Holdings signed deals for its Kenmore and DieHard brands. Cleva North America, which previously made Kenmore vacuums for Sears on an OEM basis, will now become a licensee, also selling bare floor sweepers and accessories.

Meanwhile, Dorcy extended its license for DieHard batteries to include a wider range of standard-size batteries and flashlights and extend distribution into more international markets. The company will market the DieHard products in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America and parts of the South Pacific.

Contact:

Sears Holdings, Mike Angus, Senior Dir. for International Business Development and Licensing, 630 804 9521, Mike.Angus@kcdbrands.com

Trans World Entertainment Posts Wider Q2 Loss

Trans World Entertainment posted a wider Q2 net loss tied both of to a “weak” summer movie box office in July and increased expenses driven by its acquisition of online marketplace operator etailz, company executives told analysts. Trans World’s net loss in Q2 ended July 29 grew to $5.3 million from $4.5 million a year earlier as sales rose 59% to $100.9 million due to the addition of $43.5 million in revenue from etailz.

The operating loss at Trans World’s fye chain grew to $5.4 million from $4.5 million as revenue fell 8.4% to $58.9 million on a 3.6% decline in same-store sales. Fye’s sales of lifestyle items, including licensed goods, were hampered in July by a weak summer for major theatrical releases, company executives said. But the category recorded a 19% gain in Q2 same-store sales, partly offsetting steep declines in video (15%) and music (19%). Lifestyle products accounted for 37% of Trans World’s Q2 sales, up from 29% a year ago. The number of fye stores declined to 269 from 290 a year ago.

Contact:

Trans World Entertainment, Scott Hoffman, Chief Merchandising Officer, 518-452-1242 x7245

Lowe’s Launches Scott Living Furniture

Lowe’s launched online sales of Coaster Co. America’s 300-piece Scott Living furniture collection and will showcase it at two New York stores. The Scott Living Home Furnishings & Décor section within the Lowe’s web site covers bathroom, living room, bedroom and kitchen/dining products.

The licensing deal with Coaster is the most recent for twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, whose “Property Brothers” show airs on HGTV. The pact with Scott Brothers expands Coaster’s licensing business, which also includes a Donny Osmond home collection that was introduced in 2016.

Contacts:

Lowe’s, Angie Shore VP Merchandising,704-758-1000

Coaster Co. of America, Tony Konetzny, VP Marketing, 562-944-7899

Scott Brothers Global, Stephanie Pierotti, VP Marketing, 702-925-8700, stephanie.p@thescottbrothers.com

Viacom Scraps Plans for Nickelodeon Undersea Park in Philippines

Viacom scrapped plans for a Nickelodeon resort park in the Philippines, after pressure from environmental groups. Viacom and Coral World Park unveiled plans for an “undersea attraction and resort” on Palawan Island. Conservation groups called Palawan “the last frontier” because of its pristine coastlines and forest and an online petition opposing the plans in January drew 260,000 signatures. Viacom on Wednesday issued a statement that it “mutually agreed” with Coral to end development on Palawan. A Viacom spokeswoman wasn’t available to comment on whether the company would work with Coral to find another location in the Philippines.

Contact:

Ronald Johnson, EVP International Consumer Products, 212-846-3895, ron.johnson@vimn.com

Tiffany Fragrance Sales Beat Coty’s Initial Forecast

Initial sales of Coty’s Tiffany-licensed fragrance surpassed projections during a 30-day exclusive at Bloomingdale’s in New York this month, Coty CEO Camillo Pane told analysts. Coty signed with Tiffany & Co. last year to launch the brand’s first fragrance in 15 years and will start global sales in October. The fragrances are available in 30-, 50- and 75-milliliter bottles along with shower gel, body lotion and body cream. The Tiffany brand has been added to Coty’s luxury line of fragrances that includes the Gucci and Hugo Boss licenses it gained in buying Proctor & Gamble’s beauty business.

Coty’s luxury fragrance revenue rose 61% in fiscal Q4 ended June 30 to $648 million, benefitting from sales of Hugo Boss and Gucci products, which offset a decrease in Calvin Klein, company executives told analysts. Overall, Coty’s net loss widened to $304 million from $31 million a year ago as it took a $99 million charge in connection with the P&G acquisition. Total revenue more than doubled to $2.24 billion.

Contact:

Coty, Kevin Monaco, Treasurer, 212-389-6815, kevin_monaco@cotyinc.com