Interparfums Keeping Jimmy Choo Licensing Agreement

Intrerparfums’ fragrance licensing agreement with Jimmy Choo won’t be affected by the proposed $1.2 billion sale of the brand to Michael Kors, Interparfums Chief Financial Officer Russell Greenberg tells us. The company signed a 12-year deal with Jimmy Choo for fragrances in 2009, starting with women’s products and adding men’s in 2015. It is one of Interparfums’ top-selling brands, generating about $90 in annual revenue. Kors, which is buying Jimmy Choo from JAB Holding Co., has a fragrance licensing agreement for its brand with Este Lauder Companies.

Under new ownership, Choo expects to increase sales to about $1 billion over the next several years, up from about $470 million in its most recent year, Kors’ John Idol told analysts.  Choo will continue open about 10 stores annually, building on its base of 150, and expand its accessories business which is 25% of annual revenue, Kors executives told analysts.

Contacts:

Interparfums. Russell Greenberg, Chief Financial Officer, 212- 983-2640

Michael Kors,Joseph Parsons, Chief Financial Officer,212-201-8100

Agency News

Valiant Entertainment makes multiple agency appointments, extending into international markets for the first time: Alicom (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden); BN Licensing (The Netherlands) Brand Monk Licensing (India); Exim Brasil (Brazil); Exim Licensias y Promociones (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Caribbean Islands, Central America, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru); Lizenzwerft Brands and Characters (Germany) and Rocket Licensing (UK) will seek licensee for apparel and collectibles for Valiant properties. The agency appointments follow the launch of publishing in each of the countries, starting with Brazil about four years ago, says Valiant’s Russell Brown. Valiant also wanted to get licensing established in advance of Bloodshot and Harbinger movies which are in development with Sony Pictures… CPLG is now representing the Crystal Palace Football Club for licensing… Brandgenuity is launching licensing for Welch’s in the UK, as the brand seeks to leverage a strong grocery presence. Welch’s, the marketing arm of the National Grape Cooperative, seeks to extend the brand into jams and jellies, beverages, baked goods, yogurt, among other products. Promotion in Motion, which sells licensed fruit snacks in the U.S., also has rights for the UK, but hasn’t exercised them yet, says a Brandgenuity spokeswoman… Notorious Brands and People now represents Tetris in Iberia, seeking deals across a range of categories, including toys and apparel… The Joester Loria Group is handling licensing for 1-800-Flowers.com, representing its brands, including Harry & David and The Popcorn Factory, in the U.S. and Canada.

Contacts:

Valiant Entertainment, Russell Brown, President Consumer Products, 212-972-0361 x229, russb@valiantentertainment.com

CPLG. Steve Manners, EVP, +44 20 8563 6111, smanners@cplg.com.

Brandgenuity Europe, Teri Niadna, Managing Dir., +44 207 953 0200, teri@brandgenuity.com

Alicom Licensing, Roland Lindholm, Managing Dir., +46 8 702 24 33, roland@alicom.se

BN Licensing, Broderick Johnson. Co-Founder, +31 88 7734500, broderick@bnlicensing.com

Brand Monk Licensing, Rohit Sobti, CEO, +91 9819140003, rohit@brandmonk.co

Exim Brasil, Murilo Poloni, Brand Mgr., +55 11 3885 9275, mpoloni@eximbrasil.com

Exim Licencias, Jaime Hofman, Dir. General, +52 55 5545-1413,  jphofman@eximmexico.com.mx

Lizenzwerft Brands, Peter Bichler, Managing Dir., +49 40 1800 7000, peter.bichler@lizenzwerft.de

Rocket Licensing, Rob Wijeratna, Joint Managing Dir., +44 20 7207 6241, Rob@rocketlicensing.com

Notorious Brands and People, Julio Cano, Founder, +34 963 444 135, info@notorious.com

The Joester Loria Group, James Slifer, SVP Business Development, 212-683-5150, Jslifer@tjlgroup.com

Mattel Bringing Female WWE Wrestlers into Ring

Mattel is bringing fashion dolls of female World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestlers to market for the first time, with online preorders starting at Toys R Us this week. The line, which formally launches as an exclusive in Toys R Us stores in September, will include 12-inch dolls of Nikki and Brie Bella, Sasha Banks, Natalya, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Alicia Fox and Eva Marie. There also will be role play products, including a WWE Women’s Championship belt and Sasha Banks’ “Legit Boss” rings and action figures with accessories.

Contacts:

Mattel, Susan Lecker, Chief Brand officer, 310-326-1500, susan.lecker@mattel.com

World Wrestling Entertainment, Jess Richardson, VP Licensing, 203-328-2539, jess.richardson@wwecorp.com

McCormick Reviewing Licensing Deals in Buying Reckitt Benckiser Food Business

McCormick & Co. is reviewing licenses being acquired as part its proposed $4.2 billion purchase Reckitt Benckiser’s food business, including those for the French’s Mustard and Frank’s RedHot sauce brands, says a McCormick spokeswoman. B&G Foods has a license for French’s Chili-O seasoning, spaghetti sauce mixes, fried onions and crispy jalapeno snacks. Reckitt’s food business is expected to add about $5 billion to McCormick’s net sales this year. A B&G Food spokesman wasn’t available for comment.

Contact:

McCormick & Co., Lori Robinson, VP Corporate Branding, 410-527-6004, Lori_Robinson@mccormick.com

Stanley Black & Decker Targeting Craftsman Launch in Mid-2018

Stanley Black & Decker (SB&D) will launch a broad array of Craftsman products in mid-2018, SB&D CEO James Loree told analysts. Stanley, which bought the Craftsman brand from Sears Holdings earlier this year (Inside Licensing Jan. 5), didn’t release product details, but Loree noted the purchase brings the company into the small gas engine and electric motor lawnmower business for the first time. Stanley has received a “high level of interest” from retailers in the new Craftsman line and will finalize 2018 distribution plans by Q4, Loree said.

In advance of Craftsman shipments, Stanley is opening a new distribution center in Charlotte, NC this fall.

Under terms of the deal, Sears gets a perpetual license to source and sell Craftsman tools through its stores royalty-free for 15 years. Sears also will get 2.5% of sales of SB&D-designed Craftsman products through 2020, 3% through 2023 and 3.5% after that until 2032.

Contact:

Stanley Black & Decker, James Loree, CEO, 860-225-5111.

Marquee Brands Buys BCBG Max Azria IP

Marquee Brands is buying the intellectual property of BCBG Max Azria for $106 million as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan that was finalized this week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, New York. Marquee, which owns several other brands including Ben Sherman, Body Glove and Bruno Magli, received the rights to the BCBG Max Azria and BCBGeneration brands. The operations of BCBG Max Azria, which specialized in women’s apparel, are being purchased by Global Brands Group for $23 million, including 22 stores as well as inventory and contracts.  The company had 550 stores at the beginning of the year. In March, Global Brands announced it had licensed the brands for footwear, belts, socks and other products.

Contacts:

Marquee Brands Group, Mike DeVirgilio, Pres., 212-203-8135

Global Brands Group, Dow Famulak, Pres. and Chief Operating Officer, 646-839-7001, dowfamulak@globalvbrandsgroup.com