Britney Spears Partners with Elizabeth Arden
On the heels of securing Britney Spears as a client, Brand Sense Marketing LLC engineered a global licensing deal between the pop singer and Elizabeth Arden. The agreement includes the development, marketing, and distribution of fragrance, skincare, and color cosmetics with Spears' exclusive endorsement. A fragrance will premiere in prestige department stores in fall 2004. Spears is personally involved in all aspects of product development in order to bring her own style and personality to the fragrance, packaging, and marketing.

Ace Lighting Makes U.S. Debut
Ace Lightning makes its TV debut April 5 on DIC Kid's Network. The coproduction between BBC and Alliance Atlantis features CGI and live action and will air on Fox, UPN, and WB stations. Alliance Atlantis, which holds the North American TV rights to the series, and DIC Entertainment have signed a multiple-year deal, giving DIC the rights to air all 39 episodes of the first two seasons. Ace Lightning puts the life of a typical teenager together with the demands of being a superhero's sidekick.

Playhut Entertainment Signs Puzzle Licensee
Playhut Entertainment secured Karmin International as a licensee for the jigsaw puzzle category. As part of the deal, Karmin International will create a line of puzzles based on Playhut Entertainment's Little Signz property housed within boxes and decorative tins. The property brings traffic signs to life in a city environment with simple stories that help introduce children to the rules of safety and cooperation.

ShopKo Supports Line of Designer Bedding
Textile designer Leslie Beck will launch four bedding patterns at ShopKo in May 2004. The Leslie Beck American Casual collection is being created by Dan River and will be merchandised in the chain's Power Rack display and promoted on its Website and in promotional flyers. In addition to bedding, Kittrich Corp. will come to market this fall with adhesive and non-adhesive decorative drawer liners, peel & stick wall art, and switch plate covers as well as 54-inch wide vinyl coverings. The Wildflower Group was instrumental in putting the deals together.

Peak Entertainment Secures Rights to Faireez
Peak Entertainment Holdings Inc. acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to Faireez with Australia-based Moody Street Kids. The animated property targets children between ages 5 to 7 and will launch in spring 2005. Broadcasters such as Channel 10 in Australia and GMTV in the UK will launch the project. B Wooding Media will represent the broadcast rights to the property in Germany, France, and the U.S. The series is coproduced with Funbag Animation Studios, which is in the process of confirming a Canadian broadcaster. Peak will secure lead international territories at MIPTV and will be responsible for the merchandising, licensing, and broadcast placement worldwide.

Kinkade to Light up Homes
Westinghouse Lighting Corp. will begin manufacturing a line of Thomas Kinkade lighting products. As part of its deal with The Thomas Kinkade Co., Westinghouse will create light fixtures, portable lamps, ceiling fans, lightbulbs, and more. Products under the Thomas Kinkade license exceed $500 million annually at retail.

Pixter Gets Academic
Fisher-Price is adding academic learning software to its Pixter handheld creativity platform. The new Pixter Color learning titles will feature topics such as phonics, reading, math, writing, time, measurement, and geography. Ten titles (suggested retail, $19.99 each) will ship in July through late summer and feature characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius. The Pixter platform is a portable computer that features an LCD screen, stylus, and special function keys located at the bottom of the screen that give kids a menu of creativity options.

Sesame Workshop Signs New Zealand Rep
Sesame Workshop named Global Licensing Limited as its licensing representative for the Sesame Street brand in New Zealand. Global Licensing Limited was formed in 1995 and is operated by Mark Paul. Paul has an extensive history in the industry including 13 years as the owner/operator of a retail chain specializing in licensed products, and three years as a distribution licensee.

Industry Appointments and Honors
Marc Bertrand was named to the board of directors of the Toy Industry Association, Inc. Bertrand, president and CEO of Mega Bloks, Inc., will serve the unexpired term of a TIA director who left the industry. Bertrand then will be eligible to serve two consecutive two-year terms of his own. Brad Globe, head of the consumer products division for DreamWorks SKG, will be inducted into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Hall of Fame at the LIMA Awards gala June 9. Candidates for the Hall of Fame must demonstrate continual and outstanding contributions to the licensing industry. Consideration is given to those who have been actively involved in the business of licensing for a minimum of 10 years and whose contributions have ongoing relevance to the industry.