Pepsi is bringing back the memorable Diet Pepsi and Ray Charles’ ads for “You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!” with a line of retro T-shirts.

The recent collaboration was brokered through The Joester Loria Group, Pepsi’s exclusive licensing agency for North America, and Act III Licensing in conjunction with the Ray Charles marketing group, the licensing agency for The Ray Charles Foundation. The collection, designed by licensee Ripple Junction, features imagery of the late music legend Ray Charles and is representative of the award-winning advertising campaign. Launched in the early 1990s, the “You Got the Right One Baby” campaign, featuring 11 commercials within three years, put Pepsi on the leading edge of pop culture.

Current designs are authentic to the merchandise that originally launched in conjunction with the campaign in the early ’90s and incorporates the Diet Pepsi logo, Ray Charles images, the “Uh-huh” girls, and the iconic tagline. The nostalgic appeal also aligns with the current Pepsi Throwback beverage line, which offers vintage Pepsi packaging from the ’70s and ’80s and a real sugar blast from the past taste.

Select T-shirt styles are currently available at Urban Outfitters retail locations and online, Kitson retail locations and online, and on Pepsi’s e-commerce shop (shop.pepsiusa.com) beginning in mid-July. Retail prices range from $24-$38. Kitson’s Robertson and Melrose locations in Los Angeles will feature an exclusive Pepsi Throwback window promotion for two weeks starting July 16 and for an additional two weeks at the Santa Monica location starting Aug. 1.

With a new Alvin and the Chipmunks film release on the way this holiday season—Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!—Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, in conjunction with Bagdasarian Productions, kicks off a long-term merchandising program intended to support the franchise. The program includes seasonal rollouts of fresh product and unique styles with prime retail positioning and the exciting introduction of a new branding initiative based on The Chipettes, the adorable, fashionista, female rock stars of the group.

To meet consumer demand and keep the product fresh, Fox Consumer Products will continuously offer new character art and graphics with themes tied to key retail selling windows such as back-to-school, holiday, and spring. The spring look will include a “Chipwrecked” island theme inspired by both the new film and the season. An everyday look is also available for year-round business. Some of the kid-favorite themes include: rock ‘n’ roll, sports, cheerleading, and nautical.

To fuel this campaign at retail, Fox Consumer Products has aligned with a wide range of partners to produce new product consistently throughout the year. New partners on board include Just Play LLC, who will create basic, feature, and novelty plush lines, with Vivid Imaginations as the as the UK distributor for the product. Santa’s Best will introduce holiday seasonal goods for the new film, while Gipsy has partnered for a specialty plush line in France.

In the interactive space, Majesco will take the lead once again with a follow-up Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked video game, based on the upcoming film. Ty will continue to produce their own special lines in the toy category, while Build-A-Bear Workshop will return with its top-selling line of stuffable plush featuring Alvin and Brittany and pre-stuffed plush of the other main characters.

HarperCollins also rejoins for a wide publishing program that will include beginning readers, novelizations, sticker books, and storybooks. They will be accompanied by Bendon Publishing, which will publish a line of activity, board, and coloring books along with flashcards and workbooks.  Editora Alsto Astral will introduce a book program in Brazil.

Apparel and accessories form the cornerstone of the merchandising program and include a robust offering of items: Tees, sets, outerwear, swimwear, sleepwear, headwear, bags, rainwear, hosiery, and footwear for both boys and girls from leading companies in both the U.S. and Canada, such as Isaac Morris Limited, H.E.R. Accessories, Berkshire Fashions, Accessory Innovations, JCorp, SGI, and SG Footwear.

Other key partners include Hallmark, which will create a comprehensive  line of greeting cards, ornaments and giftwrap, and Kellogg’s continues with its top-selling line of branded fruit snacks. When released in support of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, the fruit snacks marked the brand’s first foray in the food category.

To fully capitalize on world’s love affair with the adorable Chipettes, Fox Consumer Products is focusing on the wholesome and cute, yet sweet and sassy attitude of Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor for a line of accessories, toys, and more. Always a favorite among girls, Fox Consumer Products is dedicating a strong program that will introduce The Chipettes as never before at retail to reach this most enthusiastic fanbase.

Mattel, the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys and family products, and Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family entertainment brands, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Masters of the Universe with the launch of a consumer products program for the iconic franchise that will include 30th anniversary apparel from Changes, costumes from Disguise, and a special 30th anniversary edition DVD box set from Mill Creek Entertainment. Publishing partners will be announced shortly.

The award-winning Masters of the Universe Classics toy line, featuring updated sculpts of vintage Mattel toys, will also continue throughout 2012 only on Mattycollector.com. The 2012 annual subscription will go on sale the week of San Diego Comic-Con starting July 22. Additionally, the 30th anniversary program will include interaction with the collector community through “FAN-atic” activities at Comic-Con International: San Diego and New York Comic Con.

“Masters of the Universe is an iconic franchise with a legacy that’s deeply rooted in fantastical storytelling which translates naturally to play experiences and products kids of all ages love,” says Michael Riley, VP, Franchise Development, Mattel. “In 2012 the property celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary allowing us to create a robust synergistic program that offers something for all fans.”

Changes will develop T-shirts, sweatshirts, thermals, track jackets, and fashion tops for men, women, and juniors. The company will also launch an accessory line based on the Masters of the Universe brand including wristbands, belts and belt buckles, key chains, and costume jewelry. In addition, Disguise is launching a line of Halloween costumes and accessories, including Skeletor, He-Man, and She-Ra adult costumes that will first be available this fall through a leading online retailer.

As part of the celebration, Classic Media will introduce a brand-new comprehensive Masters of the Universe style guide featuring retro artwork, all-new modern artist renderings, as well as a special 30th anniversary logo, all of which will be available this summer. Classic Media and Mill Creek Entertainment together will also release the complete series of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in a special 30th anniversary edition DVD set. The collection will be available in fall 2012 and will include special bonus material along with other memorable content developed especially with collectors in mind.

Since the debut of Mattel’s toy line in 1982, Masters of the Universe has become a hugely successful franchise that continues to have a strong cult following to this day. In 1983, Filmation debuted the original television series, introducing fans nationwide to “By the power of Grayskull…I have the power!,” and in 1987 Warner Bros. released the first film based on the series, Master of the Universe, starring Dolph Lundgren, worldwide. In 1990, animated television series The New Adventures of He-Man launched, and in 2002, Cartoon Network premiered the most recent series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Stone America Licensing has brokered a multiyear licensing agreement between Delta Galil and LittleMissMatch. LittleMissMatched will launch a fashion-forward collection of girls’ loungewear, sleepwear, and intimates to mid-tier, clubs, and specialty channels of distribution.

“Our mission at LittleMissMatched is to inspire creativity amongst tween girls,” says Andrew Arguiarro, VP of Licensing & Sales at LittleMissMatched. “Our new partnership with Delta Galil Industries will allow us to spread this message around the world through a collection of products that are both loved by tweens and approved by parents.”

LittleMissMatched continues to seek licensees in categories including  infant and children’s apparel, infant/baby gear, consumer electronics, paper party goods, health and beauty products, footwear, swimwear, eyewear, and jewelry/watches.

When I set out two weekends ago to find comfortable summer shoes, sans heels but still suitable to pair with skirts, I tried on pair after pair—uncomfortable, or overpriced, or had felt-like bottoms not meant for pounding the pavement. Feeling like Goldilocks and about to give up on finding a shoe purchase, I stumbled upon a discounted pair more my style, tucked away among rows of clearance-aisle shoes. Though not meant for skirts without feeling a bit like Juno, these sneakers were must buys—pink Converses featuring the citizens of Whoville wrapped around the base of each shoe, the Grinch on the shoe tongues, and a quote from the story printed inside one shoe.

Still new to my job as assistant editor for The Licensing Book, I was experiencing the power of licensing—products that strike nostalgia and conjure childhood memories get bought. I was excited about these shoes because, while growing up, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was the family favorite Christmas classic at my house. The Grinch Converses meant something to me beyond just any shoe purchase—and upon finding that purchase, my inner shopping cynic’s small heart grew three sizes that day.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

Living in New York City, I always take the R train home to Brooklyn from The Licensing Book office in Midtown Manhattan. I don’t like to read on the subway—afraid I will be too engrossed in a book and miss my stop (it’s happened before)—so I normally listen to music. Sometimes, if I find something interesting, I read the advertisements that extend down the length of the subway car.

The normal ads involve everything from ambulance-chasing attorneys, all but begging for business, to Jameson whiskey ads, airlines promising to spirit weary travelers off to an exotic destination, and foot surgery ads complete with pictures of mangled feet. I have read those bulletins a million times, but yesterday I saw something different.

The vibrant colors first attracted my attention then I looked up and saw several smiling models wearing Care Bears T-Shirts. Most people would think that’s cute and go on with their commute rituals. Maybe because I spend the bulk of my day examining the world of licensing, the ad peaked my curiosity.

With further examination, I learned that the shirts are produced by the Tokyo-based, somewhat hipster, clothing company Uniqlo. I was familiar with their clothes, normally very basic and rarely adorned with graphics.

When I got into work this morning, I decided to investigate: American Greetings Corporation and Japanese licensing agent MindWorks Entertainment brokered The Uniqlo/Care Bear deal. The shirts just hit retail and are sold at 800 Uniqlo stores across Japan and an additional 150 territories, including the U.S.

I know people often take their work home with them, whether they want to or not, but in this case, I’m glad I did.

—Mackenzie Allison

Men’s lifestyle brand Old Guys Rule, together with Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC, has launched the Old Guys Rule Muhammad Ali “Legends” Collection.

The collection will debut with three T-shirts that honor the legendary fighter. Each design features an iconic image coupled with one of Ali’s famous sayings, including “Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee,”  “I Am the Greatest,” and “It’s Not Bragging if You Can Back It Up.” A portion of the proceeds from the Old Guys Rule Muhammad Ali Collection will benefit the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The collection will be available online at oldguysrule.com and in select U.S. retailers beginning April 15.

Skechers Entertainment, a division of global footwear company Skechers USA, Inc., is leveraging the popularity of its original branded content and characters with a global licensing campaign.

Among the initial properties driving this new initiative is Zevo-3, the first originally produced animated television series from Skechers Entertainment, which premiered on Nicktoons in October 2010. Additionally, the direct-to-DVD movie Twinkle Toes, which is currently in production, will be among the other key properties leading the licensing roll-out. Skechers Entertainment will develop licensing partnerships in all categories including apparel, interactive, toys, games, accessories, food & beverage, stationery, gifts, arts & crafts, publishing, personal care, dress up & role play, home, novelty, seasonal and back to school.

Universal Pictures and Walmart have announced a retail program tied to the upcoming live action/CG-animated comedy Hop, which hits theaters April 1.

The Story
Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst houseguest.

The Program
Walmart customers can build Hop-themed Easter baskets, and visit the movie-inspired “Candy Factory,” with 100 exclusive licensed products, including candy, toys, activities and apparel from Garan, Topsville, Hershey’s, Frankford, Bakery Craft, Create a Treat, Keystone Bakeries, Kool-Aid, Country Time Lemonade, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Funrise, Dalmation Press and Townley.

The program begins tomorrow at more than 3,000 Walmart stores.

Walmart will also offer Hop-themed video games for the Nintendo DS, DSi and 3DS, greeting cards and children’s books.

According to a recent report by the Associated Press, The Nelson Mandela Foundation is putting its stamp on South Africa’s textile clothing industry with the launch of an international clothing line. The foundation’s objective with the line is to sustain its charities while also helping the country’s textile clothing industry.

The line, titled “46664,” after Mandela’s prisoner number at Robben Island Prison, will debut in August at its own store in Johannesburg, as well as department stores and online. The line will include sportswear for men, African-influenced women’s wear and couture garments.

No matter how admirable the intent, however, some detractors find the line to be too expensive: A T-shirt will cost 180 rand ($26), while a man’s collard shirt will cost about 600 rand ($86)—lofty price tags for a country with a minimum wage that is fewer than $200.

Come August,  sales will determine whether charity or price won out.