The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) recently announced its inaugural Retail & Branding Conference: Driving Brand Impact Through Consumer Touchpoints. The half-day event, which will explore transformations in branding, collaboration and shopper-centric strategies, will be held Tuesday, September 13 at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York City. With participation limited to a maximum of 100 attendees, the conference is designed to encourage interactive discussion and dialogue about the future of retailing and branding. Each presentation will leave ample time for questions and answers.

Executives from HSN, Sears Holdings, Iconix Brand Group and newmarketbuilders will share their insights, including:

• Bill Brand, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, HSN, who will present a look at how HSN creates dynamic content and experiences to build sales. He will detail how a brand is developed and launched on HSN’s interactive platforms. Brand oversees HSN’s programming and marketing teams, direct strategy for the network’s lineup, and develops programming opportunities around HSN’s key merchandising initiatives.

• Jeff Fagel, Director of Brand Development at Sears Holdings, who will discuss how a legacy brand, Kmart, worked to change the way people perceive its own brand and those of its products. Fagel is responsible for strategic leadership across the Kmart brand and private label portfolio with a focus on customer, digital, social media and private label strategy.

• Yehuda Shmidman, Chief Operating Officer, Iconix Brand Group (presentation title and description to be announced). Shmidman heads  global business development for Iconix which owns, manages and markets a diverse collection of more than 25 consumer brands including Peanuts, Rocawwear, Bagley Mischka, Material Girl, Fieldcrest, and Joe Boxer.

• Carol Spieckerman, President of retail consulting group newmarketbuilders, who will give insights into how retailers have transformed themselves from mere “boxes with brands” into brands in their own right—and bricks and clicks are only part of their ever-expanding brand territory. She will delve into the new realities that will drive retail brand environments, decision-making processes, and opportunities in 2012 and beyond. Spieckerman is a recognized retail thought leader, strategist, and author and helps Fortune 500 brand, licensor, agency and retail supplier clients retool for retail’s new realities.

“With the LIMA Retail & Branding Conference we are creating an interactive forum in which stakeholders can share strategies on how best to engage with consumers,” says Charles Riotto, LIMA President. “Today’s digital environment requires marketers and retailers to re-evaluate many aspects of their businesses, and this event brings together retailers and brand marketers to discuss and analyze how we will communicate and sell to consumers in the future.”

The LIMA Retail & Branding Conference will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and includes lunch and a post-conference networking reception. Cost to attend is:

Early Bird Price through August 12:

$449 – LIMA members
$649 – Non-LIMA members

After August 12

$499 – LIMA members
$699 – Non-LIMA members

For more information or to register, click here.

In all, LIMA presented 15 International Licensing Excellence Awards recognizing the best and most successful licensed properties and products in seven categories: Art/Design, Character/Toy, Corporate, Film/Television/Celebrity/Entertainment, Sports, Promotion, and Retailer. Nominations were solicited worldwide from across the licensing industry, and winners were chosen by a vote of the LIMA membership.

This year’s International Licensing Excellence Award winners included many recognizable brands such as Lego, Victoria and Albert Museum, Animal Planet, NASCAR, and Hello Kitty, as well as Boots, the first retailer outside the U.S. to be honored. In fact, more than a quarter of the entries were from non-U.S. companies, emphasizing the global reach of licensing.

“It is extremely gratifying to see the breadth and quality of the programs created by the licensing community from around the globe,” says Charles Riotto, president of LIMA. “The more than 220 entries represent the best of the best, and the association is proud to honor the winners for their ingenuity and for demonstrating licensing industry expertise.”

All awards are based on calendar year 2010. The winners, by category, are:

Art

• Best Art/Design Program: Victoria and Albert Museum (by Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Enterprises)
• Best Art/Design Licensee: Dom Pérignon (for Andy Warhol)

Character/Toy Brand

• Best Character/Toy Brand Program: Hello Kitty (by Sanrio, Inc.)
• Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee: Hard Goods – Smart USA (for Hello Kitty)
• Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee: Soft Goods – Loungefly (for Hello Kitty)

Corporate

• Best Corporate Brand Program: Animal Planet (by Discovery Communications/The Joester Loria Group)
• Best Corporate Brand Licensee: Shabby Chic for Simply Shabby Chic at Target

Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment

• Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program: Toy Story 3 (by The Walt Disney Company)
• Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee: Hard Goods – Lego (for Harry Potter)
• Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee: Soft Goods – Awake, Inc. (for Glee)

Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment

• Best Sports Program: NASCAR Team Properties (by NASCAR and Teams)
• Best Sports Licensee: Jakks Pacific, Inc. (for Ultimate Fighting Championship)

Promotion

• Best Licensed Promotion: Dove Glee (for All by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.)

Retailer

• Best Retailer: Boots (for Strictly Come Dancing)

Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year

• Toy Story 3 (by The Walt Disney Company)

Categories for the awards include Art or Design; Character or Toy; Corporate, Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment; Sports or Sports-themed Entertainment; Licensed Promotion; and Retailer of the Year.

The Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year award will also be presented. Finalists include Hello Kitty Sanrio, Inc.; JCB JC Bamford Excavators Ltd./JCB.; Consumer Products; Justin Bieber Bravado International Group; PGA Tour PGA Tour, Inc.; The Stanley Works Beanstalk (agent for The Stanley Works); Toy Story 3 The Walt Disney Company; and Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Enterprises.

Voting is open to LIMA members until May 13. The full list of nominees is below:

Best Art or Design Program of the Year

Andy Warhol
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

Artkey’s Qi Baishi
Artkey Co., Ltd.

Shopaholic, Too
Designs by Lolita, Inc./Out of the Box Licensing

The Smiley Pop Art Style Collection
The Smiley Company

Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Enterprises

Best Art or Design Licensee of the Year

Creative Tops
Victoria and Albert Museum/ceramics

Dom Pérignon
Andy Warhol/champagne

Santa Barbara Design Studio
Lolita/glassware

Smiley Factory Ltd.
SmileyWorld Vintage/apparel

Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year

Hello Kitty
Sanrio, Inc.

Minnie Mouse
The Walt Disney Company

Peppa Pig
eOne Entertainment

Skelanimals
Skelanimals, LLC/Art Impressions, Inc.

Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods

Fisher-Price, Inc.
TRIO DC Super Friends Batcave

JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Big Buck Hunter Pro/TV games & Wii title

Kellogg Company
Scrabble/Cheez-It

PPW Toys
Mr. Potato Head Affinity Program

smart USA
Hello Kitty/car wraps for the smart fortwo

Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods

São Paulo Alpargatas S.A./Havaianas
Woody Woodpecker/flip flops

Jay Franco & Sons, Inc.
Mickey Mouse/bath program

Loungefly
Hello Kitty/junior accessories

Best Corporate Brand Program of the Year

Animal Planet
Discovery Communications/The Joester Loria Group

ASPCA Private Label Brand
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

JCB
J C Bamford Excavators Limited/JCB Consumer Products

Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly/The Licensing Company

The Stanley Works
Stanley Black & Decker/The Beanstalk Group, LLC

Best Corporate Brand Licensee of the Year

Baccus Global, LLC
The Stanley Works/lighting & 12 volt automotive accessories

Ginsey Home Solutions (aka Ginsey Industries, Inc.)
Rubbermaid/designer bath mat collection

Nouveau Eyewear
Umbro/ophthalmic eyewear

Sakar International, Inc.
Kodak/family of products

Shabby Chic
Simply Shabby Chic at Target/bedding, bath, window

Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Program of the Year

Dora the Explorer
Nickelodeon Consumer Products

How to Train Your Dragon
DreamWorks Animation

Justin Bieber
Bravado International Group

Toy Story 3
The Walt Disney Company

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Summit Entertainment/Striker Entertainment

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando Resort/Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods

The Bridge Direct, Inc., dba The Bridge
Justin Bieber/dolls

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Karaoke Revolution Glee

Learning Curve Brands
Chuggington/die-cast toys

LEGO
Harry Potter/construction sets & Hogwarts board game

Rubie’s Costume Co., Inc.
Lady Gaga/costumes & accessories

Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods

Awake, Inc
Glee/apparel

Jay Franco & Sons, Inc.
Toy Story 3/bedding, bath & beach

Mighty Fine
Alice in Wonderland/apparel

Mighty Fine
Toy Story 3/apparel

National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Inc.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse/apparel & accessories

Best Sports or Sports-Themed Entertainment Program of the Year

2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
National Hockey League

ESPN
ESPN

NASCAR Team Properties
NASCAR and Teams

PGA Tour
PGA Tour, Inc.

Best Sports or Sports-Themed Entertainment Licensee of the Year

Cycle Force Group
Tour de France/bicycles & accessories

JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Ultimate Fighting Championship/action figures, playsets & role play

K’NEX
NASCAR/building sets

PB Teen
NFL/bedding

Sportcraft
ESPN/indoor & outdoor recreation

Best Licensed Promotion of the Year

Burger King’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Ultimate Experience
Summit Entertainment/Striker Entertainment

Chuggington Traffic Safety Cross-Platform Promotion
Ludorum/Super RTL

Dove Glee For All
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Limited Edition Armed Forces Licensed Razor Program
U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard

Green’s Free Irwins Apron
Irwin Family

Mr. Happy Should’ve Gone to Specsavers
Chorion

SGI Apparel & Kohl’s Bakugan Gift with Purchase Program
Nelvana Enterprises/Cartoon Network Enterprises

Best Retailer of the Year

Boots
Strictly Come Dancing

Forever 21
Minnie Mouse

Lowe’s
Sesame Street

Target
Toy Story 3

Wal-Mart
Toy Story 3

Wal-Mart
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

All awards are based on calendar year 2009. The winners, by category, are:

ART

Best Art Program: Paul Frank

Best Art Licensee: LF USA’s Kids Headquarters Investments Division (for Paul Frank Apparel)

CHARACTER/TOY BRAND

Best Character/Toy Brand Program: Barbie (Mattel, Inc.)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee – Hard Goods: Digital Blue (for LEGO electronics)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee – Soft Goods: Mighty Fine (for Peanuts T-shirts)

CORPORATE

Best Corporate Brand Program: Food Network

Best Corporate Brand Licensee – Hard Goods: Creative Designs International, a Division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (for Black & Decker Junior role-play products)

Best Corporate Brand Licensee – Soft Goods: adidas Originals (for Vespa footwear and apparel)

FILM, TELEVISION, CELEBRITY OR ENTERTAINMENT

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee – Hard Goods: Cardinal Industries, Inc. (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon The Movie Board Game)

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee – Soft Goods: National Entertainment Collectibles Association (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon apparel and accessories)

SPORTS AND SPORTS-THEMED ENTERTAINMENT

Best Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment Program: ESPN

Best Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment Licensee: Electronic Arts (for FIFA videogames)

PROMOTION

Best Licensed Promotion: Scrabble at Subway (Hasbro, Inc.)

RETAILER

Best Retailer: Nordstrom (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon)

OVERALL BEST LICENSED PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit Entertainment, LLC)

The film took home an award in each of the five categories it was nominated: Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year; Best Retailer of the Year; Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program of the Year; and two awards in the category of Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program of the Year (Soft Goods for the National Entertainment Collectibles Association’s apparel and accessories, and Hard Goods for Cardinal Industries’ Twilight board game).

In case you’re the last one in the world who hasn’t seen New Moon, here’s the trailer:

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) today announced 75 nominees for the Annual LIMA International Licensing Excellence Awards, recognizing the industry’s best and most successful licensed properties and products from the past year. Awards in seven categories plus the License of the Year Award will be announced at LIMA’s Opening Night Awards Party on June 8 during Licensing International Expo 2010 in Las Vegas.

Nominations were solicited from across the licensing industry and winners will be chosen by a vote of the LIMA membership.

The License of the Year award will recognize an outstanding property that has had the most significant and profound impact on the licensing community during calendar year 2009. The candidates listed below were chosen by the LIMA Awards Committee from among the category-specific nominees.

Property: Brand Owner/Licensing Agent:
2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic: National Hockey League
Burger King: Burger King/Broad Street Licensing Group
Food Network: Scripps Enterprises/Brandgenuity LLC
Hello Kitty: Sanrio, Inc.
In the Night Garden: Ragdoll Productions/BBC Worldwide Limited
Skelanimals: Skelanimals, LLC/Art Impressions, Inc.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon: Summit Entertainment

Sixteen awards will be presented to top licensees and properties in seven categories: Art, Character, Corporate, Film/Television/Entertainment, Sports, Licensed Promotions, and Retailer. In addition to acknowledging the Best Brand Program of the Year in the Character, Corporate, Entertainment, and Sports categories, awards for Best Licensee-Hard Goods and Best Licensee-Soft Goods will be presented. In the Art category, best program and best licensee will be recognized. Each winner will receive the coveted etched-glass trophy sporting the LIMA logo.

For a complete list of the nominees in each award category, visit the LIMA website.

The discussion, moderated by Marty Brochstein, LIMA’s Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Information, will cover current challenges and examine how ongoing changes in the entertainment and retail marketplaces will affect the licensing industry going forward. The panelists will also share their thoughts on what licensees and licensors need to do to adapt in today’s fast-paced business environment.

The following executives will take part in “The Future of Entertainment Licensing” keynote panel:

Rick Darling, President, LF USA
Karen Dodge, Senior VP, Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys “R” Us, Inc.
John Frascotti, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Hasbro, Inc.
Neil Friedman, President, Mattel Brands
Andy Mooney, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products

To register for “The Future of Entertainment Licensing” keynote panel, go online and click on the University tab at the top of the page or call (888) 644-2022.

CBTF, the licensing association’s charity of choice, calls brain tumors the toughest children’s cancer: one-third of those diagnosed die within five years and most of those who survive suffer profound effects of the tumor and treatment.

“The Mt. Everest climb provides LIMA members with an opportunity to get actively involved in supporting the tissue consortium, which will enable researchers around the world to collaborate to speed a cure for brain cancer,” said Charles Riotto, president of LIMA. “We are looking for four to six adventurous LIMA members from around the world who will join the group to help us raise money to help find a cure.”

The climb will take place October 13 – 31, 2010 and cost per climber is $6,600 plus airfare to Nepal. The Everest Base camp, located 18,000 feet up the face of Mt. Everest, is the last stop for expeditions on the way to the summit.  Abercrombie and Kent, a leading adventure tour company, is operating the climb and will handle all the arrangements other than air travel. Each climber will be asked to raise $25,000 toward LIMA’s fundraising goal.

This climb is being spearheaded by LIMA member Jennifer Zivic, who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2008, raising more than $32,000 for CBTF in memory of her father who died from brain cancer.

LIMA will conduct a webinar on Thursday, April 15 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. EST, during which Ms. Zivic will outline details of the climb for members who are interested in learning more.

The induction ceremony will take place on June 8 at the second annual LIMA Opening Night Awards Party at Licensing International Expo 2010, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Under the Hassenfelds’ leadership, Hasbro initiated significant changes in the way partners work together on new licensing opportunities. By creating a more simultaneous and collaborative creative process, Hasbro has given its programs a competitive edge by improving speed to market. Major licensing partners include Lucasfilm, Marvel, DreamWorks, Paramount, Universal, and Electronic Arts (EA).

Noted for their philanthropy, the Hassenfelds have been involved in literally hundreds of charitable and social causes. The Hasbro Children’s Foundation, founded by Stephen Hassenfeld in 1984, has contributed millions of dollars to children’s causes. Among other endeavors, Alan Hassenfeld is co-chair of the International Committee of Toy Industries (ICTI) Care Foundation, the global toy industry’s program to ensure the ethical manufacture of children’s products.