Entertainment Tie-ins / Licensing

Hasbro has entered into a strategic merchandising relationship with Disney Consumer Products for the Disney Princess and Frozen properties. The agreement gives Hasbro global rights (excluding Japan) to develop dolls based on Disney Princess stories and characters including Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid and Frozen beginning in 2016.

Sequential Brands Group has selected actress Paula Patton as the new face and brand ambassador for Ellen Tracy.

Patton's role as brand ambassador begins this November when she will spearhead a global initiative to commemorate women's contributions during the last 65 years. The partnership coincides with seasonal collections and campaigns and extends throughout 2015.

Lifestyle footwear and accessories brand Cole Haan has entered into a multiyear partnership with three ballerinas of the New York City Ballet for its Cole Haan Avery Ballet Studio Collection.

The collection re-materializes the classic Avery Ballet Flat, according to the brand, and features product inspired and co-created by Principal Dancers Sara Mearns and Megan Fairchild, as well as Gretchen Smith of the Corps de Ballet.

Dole has teamed up with actress Ali Larter to introduce Dole Garden Soup, a premium line of packaged, ready-to-serve soups.

According to Dole, the line of soups — which is packaged in BPA-free boxes — has no preservatives or MSG, and is available in five low-fat, gluten-free and cholesterol-free varieties: Roasted Garlic Tomato Basil, Tomato Vegetable, Carrot Ginger, Southwestern Black Bean & Corn and Sweet Corn.

Richardson, Texas -- KDC announced it has agreed to sell land to Look Cinemas to build a 60,000-sq.-ft. upscale dining and movie theatre complex at CityLine, the company’s 186-acre mixed-use project in Richardson, Texas.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us and specialty retailer Claire’s have entered into a global partnership to open nearly 100 Claire’s in-store shops in Toys “R” Us locations across Europe, along with 12 U.S. locations, by year-end. The shops will feature an assortment of jewelry, headbands, hair and fashion accessories, jewelry holders, legwear, seasonal items and more. The rollout follows a successful pilot program in Europe.  

Trendy teen retailer Hot Topic is banking on the popularity of the upcoming animated movie The Book of Life to drive sales of an exclusive merchandise offering inspired by the 20th Century Fox and Reel FX Animation Studios film.

The movie arrives in theaters October 17 and Hot Topic in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has introduced a graphically-stunning limited-edition collection of fashion apparel inspired by the fantasy-adventure film.

The opportunity to be discovered and appear in a national TV ad later this year are being used to entice Kohl’s shoppers to submit videos singing the hit song “Let it Go” from the Disney movie Frozen.

Kohl’s and Disney created the digital campaign called Sing Your Heart Out and are giving fans of the movie Frozen until September 29 to submit videos of themselves singing the song Let it Go for a chance to be included in a Kohls holiday commercial that will air during the 2014 American Music Awards.

Target has entered the “top toy” fray with a list filled with familiar brands, exclusive offering and boutique products designed to inspire creative play and reinforce Target’s differentiation.

Just as retailers like Walmart and Target unveil their top toy lists ahead of the holiday shopping season, Toys“R”Us has revealed its 2014 Holiday Hot Toy List. The annual list of 36 items is determined by Toys“R”Us play experts and packed with a wide range of brand new toys and games.