The Licensing Letter

TLL

Ellen DeGeneres Debits Lifestyle Site

Talk TV queen Ellen DeGeneres—ranked America’s favorite TV personality for the past three years by The Harris Poll—became the latest celebrity to launch a website lifestyle collection. eD, on eDbyellen.com, includes home goods, apparel and accessories priced from $25 to $395, all with DeGeneres’s signature casual but tailored and detailed style. Although currently available … [Read more...] about Ellen DeGeneres Debits Lifestyle Site

Jordan Still Rules

No knock against LeBron James, but when it comes to NBA star power, nobody tops Michael Jordan. As if to drive home that point, 2K announced that Jordan, who retired in 2003, will be on the cover of its Special Edition NBA 2K16 video game. Those who pre-order before Sept. 25 will also get a Jordan poster, t-shirt and/or Fathead. … [Read more...] about Jordan Still Rules

Sequential Aquires Martha Stewart

The recently announced merger with Sequential Brands Group is the culmination of Martha Stewart Living Omnipedia’s transformation from a publishing to consumer licensing business. it began a few years ago when MSLO wound down its TV operations. In October, MSLO licensed its flagship Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings magazines to Meredith Corp. All the while, … [Read more...] about Sequential Aquires Martha Stewart

Walmart Slaps Suppliers with New Fees

If you supply goods, licensed or otherwise, to Walmart, you may have to start shelling out fees to the company for stocking your items in its new stores and/or holding your goods as inventory in its warehouses. The new fees, which reportedly range from 1% on the value of goods held in inventory  to 10% for food suppliers on the value of goods shipped to new stores, apply to … [Read more...] about Walmart Slaps Suppliers with New Fees

Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games

Video games may be the closest thing mighty Disney has to an Achilles’ heel. The merger between Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products aims to fix that. The move is hardly unexpected. For years, DCP, which is supposed to focus on “traditional” games, has developed digital products like app-based story books, mobile learning apps like Imagicademy, toys to life like … [Read more...] about Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games

Pop Quiz: Sales Tax on Online Sales

Situation: Lucy Tania and her brother Maury live in Arizona. Lucy buys a Captain America t-shirt at the local mall; Maury buys exactly the same shirt for the same price from an online retail site operated by a New York company that doesn't have a physical location in Arizona. Question: Which transaction(s) is/are subject to the 5.6% Arizona state sales tax? Lucy's mall … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: Sales Tax on Online Sales

Licensing Expo Is Coming-Out Party for Digital; Brand Revivals, Global Properties Also Loom Large

The arrival of digital celebrity, digital content and social media is the biggest story of Licensing Expo 2015. That "arrival" is, of course, more symbol than substance. Digital and social media have been reshaping licensing for more than a decade. But in 2015, it became official as those forces took their rightful place at Expo, the licensing industry's central event. Digital … [Read more...] about Licensing Expo Is Coming-Out Party for Digital; Brand Revivals, Global Properties Also Loom Large

Small Bites

News tidbits in the food and beverages sector: Eggland’s Best signed with Joester Loria Group to extend its egg brand to kitchen tools, appliances, publishing and other food items. Sony Pictures TV has enlisted 21st Century Spirits for a limited Heisenberg Blue Ice Vodka inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad. Huy Fong Foods is teaming with Pop! Gourmet Foods and Red Gold on … [Read more...] about Small Bites

Branding, Island Style

Two brands that embrace a beach lifestyle, Tommy Bahama and Maui Jim, are summering together. Maui Jim polarized sunglasses will be sold at all Tommy Bahama stores and online, marking the first time that Tommy Bahama will sell a branded product other than its own. … [Read more...] about Branding, Island Style