Avon Goes to Bat for Little
League Baseball
Little League Baseball,
through licensing agency SloaneVision Unlimited, finalized an agreement with
Avon. The new relationship between the pair will feature wristwatches by Avon,
as well as merchandise from licensees including bags and backpacks from
Accessory Network and sleepwear from MjC SF/Logotel. First products will be
featured in Avon's catalog in first quarter 2007 and will be ready for Little
League's '07 season.
DCP Strengthens UK Business
with Two New Offices
Disney Consumer Products
launched two UK offices in a direct move to grow its business in the UK. The
offices at the headquarters of Tesco in Welwyn Garden City and Asda in Leeds
demonstrate DCP's intention to align its retail strategy with key retailers in
the UK and fully understand their business and consumer needs. The launch of
the UK offices follows the 2002 opening of DCP's Bentonville, AR, office for
Wal-Mart, resulting in the development of a stronger relationship with the
retailer. A dedicated team with category and retail experts will be based at
Welwyn Garden City supporting the Tesco business worldwide. The office at Asda,
a satellite office from the global Wal-Mart office in Bentonville, also will be
run by a team of retail experts.
Equity Firm Invests in
Steve & Barry's
TA Associates, a buyout and private equity firm, made a minority investment in
Steve & Barry's University Sportswear that will provide the casual apparel
retailer with working capital to support its future growth.
Brainy Baby Co. Puts Its Ideas
Up for "Adoption"
The Brainy Baby Company launched an "Adoption Program," a new acquisition
initiative that will provide DVD producers with the tools to model the success
of Brainy Baby. Content will be evaluated, and in some cases re-shot, to align
with Brainy Baby's quality demands. The first title in the new program is Baby
IQ, a DVD series produced in association with the National Literacy Trust in England,
which supports the use of the DVDs as part of its "Talk to Your Baby" campaign.
Baby IQ's musical accompaniment is scored by the London Symphony Orchestra, and
the series is filmed in high-definition. Initial titles are The World Around Us,
Baby's First Word, Colors, and Counting, which have been endorsed by Virgin
Atlantic Airways and are included in its in-flight entertainment package. Each
Baby IQ soundtrack will be available on a 30-minute CD and will retail for
$12.99.
New Juniors' Brand Targets Hispanic Girls
Palomita, a new junior
and girls' fashion brand with a focus on the Hispanic market, inked a licensing
agreement with Wish Licensing for junior and girls' tops and sleepwear.
Palomita will launch in spring 2007 at mass-market and specialty stores with
designs and images highlighting popular Hispanic vintage consumer product logos
and characters.
TV Veteran Creates New Company
Susan Bender, a veteran international TV distribution executive, established
Bender Media Services, Inc., a company specializing in the sales and marketing
of television programming to Latin America. The New York-based company will
represent television producers in all key programming categories, including
primetime series, movies, reality programs, game shows, and children's
animation. Most recently, Bender represented Latin America for Paramount International Television,
serving as the studio's vice president.
Big Idea Brings VeggieTales to Hispanics
Big Idea established a
long-term strategy targeting the Hispanic population by making VeggieTales
available in Spanish. The show launched in September on Telemundo as part of
the new "qubo" Saturday morning programming block, which also airs on NBC and
the i network. In addition, two Spanish language VeggieTales DVDs, Gideon: Tuba
Warrior and Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush, were released
December 1. Big Idea also is developing local grass-roots events to bring the VeggieTales
characters to Hispanic neighborhoods, a Spanish-language Web page, in-language
monthly VeggieGram e-mail newsletters, and a national live tour. Big Idea also will
customize its current 27 VeggieTales titles and bonus features for Hispanic
audiences.
Holiday Favorites Attract Ho-Ho-Host
of Partners
Classic Media is re-releasing its Christmas DVD titles including Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, Frosty the Snowman, The
Legend of Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, and forgotten
classic Cricket on the Hearth. A comprehensive marketing, promotional, and
advertising campaign for the holiday classics has attracted partners such as
Applebees, Hostess, Keebler, Quaker, and Sargento.
What Kids Want! Has Designs on Happy House
What Kids Want! signed a deal to create a line of diaries, make-up with unique
carrying cases, play jewelry, tattoos, stick-on d
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