Entertainment Tie-ins / Licensing

A partnership between New York designer Liz Lange and Target has contributed to a transformation of the maternity wear market over the past decade, according to Target’s hometown newspaper the Star Tribune.

A recent article on the partnership and its success quoted Lange and even got SVP Trish Adams to hold still for a photo shoot at a downtown Minneapolis store.

STRATHAM, N.H. — Premium Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli USA announces a partnership with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Through the partnership, Lindt will collaborate with the next generation of culinary experts in a student contest searching for innovative dark chocolate bar recipes, sponsor CIA Boot Camp sessions, including several lectures and demonstrations with a Lindt Master Chocolatier, and donate premium chocolate products for use in CIA classrooms. 

Redmond, Wash. – PlayNetwork said Tuesday that it has been selected as women’s apparel retailer Maurices’ strategic music agency for all Maurices marketing initiatives.

As music agency of record for Maurices, PlayNetwork will help expand the retailer’s music footprint with their customers through multichannel engagements that include targeted national campaigns, social media features, music festivals, artist and label partnerships, and exclusive original video content.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola is giving fans a chance to get an insider's look at Team USA through its London 2012 Olympic Games campaign.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro has introduced a new line of its Kre-O brand construction toys inspired by the upcoming "Star Trek" sequel. The Kre-O Star Trek line, under license from CBS Consumer Products, features a variety of vehicles from the movie along with fun Kreon figures based on iconic Star Trek. The collection will make its debut at Comic-Con on July 11.

NEW YORK — Banana Republic is launching a special holiday collection styled by Jacqueline Durran, the Acadmemy Award-nominated costume designer for Anna Karenina.

CINCINNATI — As part of its "My Story. Our Flag." project, Tide unveiled a special flag — created in honor of Team USA — in New York's Bryant Park on Tuesday.

The 117-ft.-by-52-ft. flag, a larger-than-life artistic rendition of the American flag, features nearly 1,500 stories collected from Tide's Facebook and Twitter followers. Each piece of fabric making up the flag was washed in Tide prior to being sewn together, the brand said.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR is going patriotic this weekend with many of its sponsors behind products and events designed to honor active servicemen and women, veterans and their families, ahead of the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS).

The past few months have seen Walmart leverage its 50th anniversary with a wide range of tactics, but one of the company’s most visible actions may occur this weekend.

NEW YORK — Macy's is offering Katy Perry fans the chance to see her movie, "Katy Perry: Part of Me," for free just for shopping in its stores. On Saturday, June 30, at more than 650 Macy’s locations nationwide, with any purchase of $50 or more in the Macy’s MSTYLELAB departments customers will receive one ticket to the film.