Entertainment Tie-ins / Licensing

Seeking to boost back-to-school sales, 24 GGP malls will host Teen Vogue’s Back-to-School Saturday™ on Aug. 10.

For the second year in a row, Teen Vogue magazine has declared a national shopping holiday for Back-To-School.

This year, 100 malls and numerous national retailers — H&M, Topshop and American Eagle, for instance —have decided to see what the marketing concept can do for them.

Retailers will offer back-to-school deals and discounts, and the malls will host events.

NEW YORK — Nickelodeon has promoted Pamela Kaufman to the expanded role of CMO and president of the company’s consumer products. She will report to Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon Group.  

In her new role, Kaufman will oversee Nickelodeon's domestic consumer products business, encompassing merchandising and licensing for properties which include SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer.

Woodland Hills, Calif. – Build-A-Bear Workshop is partnering with 505 Games to release an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch called “Bear Valley.” The app, available for $4.99 at the Apple App Store or on iTunes, lets customers create a virtual teddy bear and take it through various online experiences.

Bear Valley game features include shopping, buying and decorating a condo, performing in an outdoor theater, playing with toys, participating in scavenger hunts and playing on a playground. The game was developed by WayForward.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro reported net revenues of $766.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a 6% decline compared to $811.5 million in 2012. Despite seeing growth across its girls, games and preschool categories, it was not enough to offset a decline in the company’s boys category. 

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 is partnering with Sony Pictures Entertainment to promote the release of "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.” The promotion awards a winner with two tickets to the Hollywood movie premiere; three additional winners receive movie prize packs.

In addition, Rue21 is hosting two legs of Sony Pictures' 10-market mall tour where fans can see the stars of the film, Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower. Rue21 is hosting the events at the Chicago Ridge Mall (Chicago) and Franklin Mills Mall (Philadelphia).

New York -- Fashion designer and retailer Kenneth Cole is partnering with the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots on the launch of a limited-edition capsule shoe collection arriving in stores for the holiday season.

To promote the launch, a designated area in front of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street in Manhattan) will encourage passersby to try and win a pair of Kinky Boots tickets by following @kennethcoleprd and @kinkybootsbway and Instagraming a photo of their "kinky" shoes using #KCKinkyboots.

With just a few days until the San Diego Comic-Con kicks off, Hasbro has announced the expansion of its Kre-O construction brand to include Dungeons & Dragons, the iconic fantasy entertainment brand from Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro. 

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Ahead of the 84th Major League Baseball All-Star Game in New York, Pepsi has announced a national partnership with New York Yankees All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano.

Cano will be officially welcomed as Pepsi's latest brand ambassador in a tribute spot that will run during the MLB All-Star Game Tuesday, July 16, on Fox.