Excel Corporation has released its list of clients available for licensing.

	Shape Magazine, a leading publication for health and wellness, is available for licensing in apparel, apparel accessories, exercise equipment, and health & beauty categories.
	The Original Soupman (along with Shaquille O’Neil), is available for kitchen equipment and appliances, tabletop, gift novelty, and food categories.
	Miss Universe is available for apparel, apparel accessories, healthy & beauty, and toys and game categories.
	Fashion designer Lisa Perry is available for home décor, furnishings, bedding, bath, and kitchen categories.
	Patti Stanger of Millionaire Matchmaker is available for apparel, apparel accessories, jewelry, and gift and novelty categories.
	Bill Martin USA, a western wear manufacturer and retailer, is available for apparel, footwear, and jewelry categories.
	Tehama Golf, inspired by Clint Eastwood golf wear collection, is available for apparel and footwear.
	Ruthless Collective, a collection designed by the creators of Miami Ink, is available for apparel, apparel accessories, electronic accessories, home collection, and social expressions categories.
	Paddywhack Lane, a children’s line of toys sold at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and specialty stores, is available for plush, toys and games, apparel, and social expressions categories.
	Vince Camuto, a high-end luxury designer, is available for home furnishings, tabletop, and other categories available upon request.
	The City of Beverly Hills, an iconic crest of the city of Beverly Hills along with an upcoming 100th anniversary logo, is available for apparel, apparel accessories, gift and novelty, and social expressions categories.
	Professional football athlete Michael Vick is available for apparel, apparel accessories, equipment, and footwear categories.

Walmart maintains its No. 1 position on Interbrand’s U.S. Most Valuable Retail Brands list for this year. Amazon.com maintains the No. 9 position, but increased its brand value by 32 percent—the largest riser on this year’s list.

The Best Retail Brands report ranks the top 50 U.S. retail brands by brand value, as well as the top retail brands from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and the Asia Pacific. The U.S. brands are valued for the fourth time in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum, the retail experience group within Interbrand. Looking beyond the U.S. list, Tesco, Carrefour, Aldi, Zara, and Woolworths are ranked as the No. 1 retailer in their respective markets—all holding their top spots from last year.

There were several shifts in the U.S. top 10. Walmart is still No. 1 by a huge margin, with a brand value more than US $139 billion, down 2 percent from last year. Target holds on to the No. 2 position with a value of US $23 billion, up 1 percent from last year. The Home Depot maintains its hold on No. 3, while CVS/pharmacy moves up to No. 4, surpassing Best Buy, which experienced an 11 percent decline in brand value and falls to No. 5 on the list. Walgreens remains at No. 6, while Coach’s 16 percent increase propels them to No. 7, now ahead of Sam’s Club (No. 8). Top riser Amazon.com is No. 9 and eBay moves into the top 10 for the first time. eBay replaces Dell, which falls off the list due to the fact it no longer meets the criteria for the list with less than 50 percent of its revenues from sales through its branded retail locations.

Click here to see the release with the full list of 50 Most Valuable U.S. Retail Brands for 2012.

Mary Engelbreit Studios (MES) of St. Louis, Missouri, has entered into an agreement with HAP Consulting, appointing HAP as its licensing agent.

Heidi Packer, who owns and runs HAP Consulting, has been in the licensing and retail industries for more than 20 years and has a strong background in branding, marketing, and licensing. HAP Consulting will focus on casting Mary Engelbreit as a lifestyle brand. HAP will be seeking new relationships with MES and exposing its brands and artwork to a new generation of home décor and lifestyle licensees.

MES announced that John Mavrakis has joined the company as president and COO. A 20-year veteran of the greeting card and gift industries, Mavrakis will take the lead in the company’s new brand strategy, and will be responsible for identifying and developing opportunities within the organization.

Mavrakis’ retail operations experience as a senior leader at The Discovery Channel, The Body Shop, Banana Republic, The Gap, and Watch World, Intl., will further enhance his abilities to continue building the Mary Engelbreit brands and collections.

Stephanie Barken will continue her leadership role on the creative side of the business with the new title of creative director. The studio has hired Angela Clark and Pam Dobek as designers, reporting to Barken. Tabitha Harwell, a recent hire of the studio, has assumed the role of administration director, where she will handle all company administration duties. Alexa Anderson has assumed the role of art/product coordinator, managing the approval process and art communication between MES and its licensees.

MES also announced a new brand structure and strategy for the company. The evolution of the company involves launching two new brands created to bring relevance and sophistication to today’s bustling lifestyle while maintaining the whimsical appeal and distinct aesthetic Mary is famous for.

The Mary Engelbreit brand ushers in refined and pattern-based designs that are reflective of her eclectic traditional style. The Mary & Co. brand will focus on sales in the mass market and social expression channels.

Bravo Sports Corporation has expanded its licensed products division by announcing its partnership with Marvel Entertainment to bring Avengers skateboards to the mass market in time for the summer release of the Marvel’s The Avengers.

The skateboard collection features the fictional superhero team of Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Tho. A 21-inch skateboard was made available in January, and the 28-inch skateboard will be available in March at Toys “R” Us. The skateboards come in the themes Team, Assemble, Rescue, and Lightning.

Hasbro, Inc. will turn one of its timeless brands into a multimedia entertainment property this year with the release of Universal Pictures’ epic action-adventure Battleship. Hasbro will augment the experience of the film with an action-packed line of Battleship-themed toys—both in the gaming realm, where the Battleship brand originated, and in a brand new line of KRE-O building sets—as well as an expansive line of licensed goods, several of which debuted at Toy Fair.

Battleship-themed products include:

• Classic Battleship Movie Edition Game
• Deluxe Battleship Movie Edition
• Battleship: Hidden Threat Card Game
• Kre-O Battleship building sets
• Battleship video game from Activision Publishing, Inc.
• Updated version of the Battleship application from Electronic Arts for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
• T-shirts, hoodies, and shorts from Rocawear
• The Battleship Crew Series, Hasbro’s “behind-the-scenes” apparel and accessories collection inspired by the gear worn by the filmmakers and crew, features exclusive fashions from New Era and Red Monkey Designs

In addition, Hasbro is working with licensees around the globe to bring to market an amazing array of lifestyle products in key categories that will resonate with consumers worldwide. Products will range from T-shirts and caps to costumes, backpacks, and publishing from licensees including Disguise and Random House.

Saban Brands has partnered with Mattel for the production of the “Barbie Loves Paul Frank” spring collection, a line of products exclusive to Target stores.

The “Barbie Loves Paul Frank” collection includes both Barbie and Ken dolls and a decked out Barbie doll bedroom set. All Barbie dolls are fully accessorized in their Paul Frank attire, and are ready for everything from shopping at the Paul Frank store to lounging around in their Paul Frank pajamas. Ken also shows his love for Paul Frank, as he rocks out in musically themed Paul Frank threads. The “Barbie Loves Paul Frank” doll bedroom set rounds out the collection, complete with a bedspread, alarm clock, flat screen, and slippers, all for Barbie doll.

Innovation First International, the creators of Hexbug Micro Robotic Creatures brand, plans to launch a new Bobble Bots brand and product line. For this new licensing partnership, the company has joined forces with Mind Candy, the entertainment firm behind the Moshi Monsters brand, on the debut range, Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters, due to hit shelves across Europe and North America this spring

Based on the collectible Moshling characters of Monstro City, the bobble-head mini robotic pets and customizable play sets leverage the patented Hexbug Nano vibration technology. The initial assortment of Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters products will include 24 battery-operated collectible Moshlings and a variety of configurable 3-D “dollhouse” replicas of the streets, yards, buildings, and houses found online in Monstro City. Every Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters product will include secret codes to unlock digital assets in the online world.

In collaboration with leading brands including adidas, Jerome C. Rousseau, nOir, M·A·C Cosmetics, and iHome, Disney Consumer Products (DCP) launches a Disney’s The Muppets-inspired collection spanning couture fashions and apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, electronics, and toys inspired by the film starring Jason Segal and Amy Adams in theaters November 23. Designed for the ultimate Muppets fan of all ages, the new product line features bright and bold colors and playful designs that embody the personalities and characteristics of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal, Gonzo, and other favorite characters.

Fashion:

With her love of the spotlight, Miss Piggy has charmed her way into super stardom, and now her “look at moi” style and attitude has inspired the pink Diva Glitter Pump by distinctive high-end women’s footwear designer Jerome C. Rousseau. Expertly handcrafted in Italy, this shoe reflects the color, curves, and drama of the fabulous Miss Piggy. The Diva Glitter Pump will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue Stores and SaksFifthAvenue.com in January.

True to nOir Jewelry‘s style, the Muppets jewelry collection is enchanting and edgy. Comprised of necklaces, bracelets, and rings, the collection features glamorous Miss Piggy-inspired cocktail jewelry as well as quirky statement pieces inspired by the playful nature of the rest of the Muppets gang. The Muppets jewelry collection from nOir will be available on noirjewelry.com.

The adidas Originals Muppets Collection for kids takes the iconic shell toe and other styles to the next level with designs inspired by Kermit the Frog, Animal, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo. The adidas Originals Muppets Collection is available November 18 at Kids Foot Locker, select Foot Locker stores, and kidsfootlocker.com.

Threadless has released a Muppets-inspired collection of men’s and women’s tees. Following the popularity of The Muppets Design Challenge held earlier in the year, Threadless is printing 23 of the most popular Muppets designs submitted and voted on by more than 1 million members of Threadless community. Limited quantities of The Muppets Threadless tees are available on Threadless.com/themuppets.

Beauty:

Generous glamour goddess that she is, Miss Piggy is sharing her beauty with the world via a limited edition, online-exclusive, M·A·C Cosmetics collection for the eyes. The collection includes a glamorous pink frost eye shadow, black eye liner, and lashes designed to create a stunning and alluring look.

Disney and OPI introduce two enticing Muppets-inspired collections perfect for this holiday season. The Muppets Collection features six glitter-packed polishes packed with micas and sparkle creating a 3-D textured look in bright jewel tones, providing the perfect pop to any ensemble. The Miss Piggy Collection features six elegant shades ranging from softer shimmers in copper and bronze metallic hues to dramatic reds and bold burgundies. Polishes from both collections are available at professional salons and spas.

Toys & Electronics:

Disney and iHome have collaborated to make your iPod listening experience even more enjoyable with a new line of Kermit the Frog-themed iHome accessories, including speakers, headphones, and earbuds. Kermit the Frog-themed iHome accessories are available at Toys “R” Us, and Amazon this fall.

With the Kermit the Frog Wrist Band for iPod nano. The watch face can be remove and replaced with your sixth-generation iPod nano. Featuring a slap bracelet design wrapped in soft-touch silicone, it’s comfortable, fashionable, and practical. The Kermit the Frog Wrist Band from PDP is available at Apple.com, Amazon, and Dr. Botts.

What Not˙ Workshop Plush: Now you can create your own zany-looking Muppets plush with the What Not˙ Workshop only at FAO Schwarz. The workshop allows participants to create a personalized What Not˙ by selecting the eyes, nose, hair, and outfit of their choice. From cute princesses to wild monsters the options are endless!

Get reacquainted with all of the classic Muppets characters with Disney Store‘s collection of Muppets plush toys. This exclusive plush assortment includes Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, and Beaker. Muppets plush toys are an extensive collection of high-quality, uniquely detailed plush available in small, medium, and large sizes, only at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.

View more photos of merchandise inspired by Disney’s Muppets by clicking here.

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has teamed with SimEx-Iwerks and Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s biggest visitor attraction operator, to bring the blockbuster Ice Age franchise to life with the debut of the world’s first fully immersive Ice Age attraction featuring Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The 4-D Experience.  The attraction will debut in March at Merlin’s two theme park resorts – Alton Towers in the UK, and Gardaland in Italy, when they open for the 2012 season. These two exciting projects will set the groundwork for a long-term location-based entertainment rollout for Ice Age, one of Fox Consumer Products most successful family franchises.

Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The 4-D Experience is a completely immersive entertainment attraction that will combine 3-D film footage from the third movie in the franchise, with an exhilarating array of synchronized physical effects. Upon exiting the 4-D experience, guests will find themselves in an Ice Age-themed area where they can meet their costumed characters, as well as purchase specially developed branded merchandise. Along with the new 4-D attractions and gift shop, Alton Towers Resort will also feature two interactive Ice Age-themed bedrooms inside the theme park’s Splash Landings Hotel. SimEx-Iwerks, the leading innovator of immersive 3-D and 4-D attractions, will work with Fox to develop Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The 4-D Experience.

Nancy Bailey & Associates, a leading corporate brand licensing agency and division of Beanstalk, has been selected by Electrolux Home Products, Inc. as the brand licensing agency of record for three of household brands, Frigidaire, Kelvinator, and Tappan in selected product categories. Nancy Bailey & Associates will work in conjunction with the Electrolux Global Brand Licensing Unit to extend the brands in the North American market. With more than 50 brands worldwide, Electrolux is recognized as an innovator in the appliance industry. Leveraging Electrolux’s success in both home and professional appliances, Nancy Bailey & Associates will be creating and executing brand licensing programs in an effort to extend each of the three brands into a range of product categories to include cookware, housewares, consumer kitchen electronics, barbecues, patio heaters, lighting, and generators.

Each of the branded licensing programs will be unique to the respective brand attributes and objectives of Frigidaire, Kelvinator, and Tappan:

For Frigidaire, the legendary home appliance brand known for reliability and customer value, the licensing program will introduce innovative, contemporary products to complement Frigidaire’s core products and appeal to a broad audience in North America.

Kelvinator will leverage brand licensing to reintroduce the brand to the U.S. market and lead the way for expansion of the core brand into new product categories.

Tappan is synonymous with excellence and innovation in the kitchen and responsible for introducing the microwave for household use. Licensed products will help accomplish the goal of developing a broader mass appeal for the brand and will introduce Tappan to new consumers across all demographic segments.