Entertainment Tie-ins / Licensing

Books-A-Million is re-defining the meaning of summer camp and fun for kids this summer with a new character-based series of store events.

Summer Fun Camps at Books-A-Million will take place from 2-4 pm each Saturday in July, and feature activities based around popular characters like the Minions, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. The camps will take place at all Books-A-Million locations.

HSN is celebrating its 38th year as a direct-to-consumer content retailer by having a party in Margaritaville.

HSN's fast-growing Margaritaville brand will launch on HSN on July 3 with an assortment of exclusive and curated products that capture the escapism of island living. Viewers can enjoy "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere" Margaritaville programming highlighting the branded merchandise that introduces the island mindset to every home.

PetSmart is launching a promotion to bring panting pups and their owners into the store for heat relief this summer.

Mount Shasta, Calif. – Following the lead of Pinocchio, online puppet and educational toy retailer ePuppets Inc. is joining the “real” world.

E-Puppets will open its first physical store on July 4, in its headquarters town of Mount Shasta, California.

Minneapolis – Best Buy is putting a spotlight on the way technology is impacting home appliances.

The retailer is partnering with Samsung on a new in-store concept, “Samsung Open House,” a 20-sq.-ft. area inside Best Buy stores that feature the largest dedicated in-store branded display of Samsung appliances anywhere.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Cold Stone Creamery is partnering with the Discovery Channel to promote its “Shark Week 2015” TV programming event through July 14. As part of the promotion, Cold Stone is holding a social media contest where one winner will win a trip for four to the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas.

Barnes & Noble is debuting a strangely appropriate omnichannel promotion for a retailer who might wish it could go back to an era in which bookshops were more relevant.

Toronto – Canadian Tire Corp. is rallying around a flag that contains no controversy with a new omnichannel promotional campaign. To celebrate the upcoming July 1 Canada Day holiday, Canadian Tire has posted a promotional video on YouTube using the hashtag #FlyYourCdnFlag.

Canadian Tire is encouraging consumers to post photos and videos on social networks such as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram using the #FlyYourCdnFlag hashtag.