Key executives from Disney, LF USA, Hasbro, Mattel and Toys “R” Us will give their perspective on “The Future of Entertainment Licensing” in a keynote panel that will kick off the Licensing International Expo 2010, June 8 -10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The panel will be held 9 – 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8 and is free for all show attendees.

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.

The Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) today announced that it is sponsoring a fundraising climb to the base camp of Mt. Everest in October to support the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) and is calling on the licensing industry to take part. As part of the LIMA Cares campaign, the association has a three-year commitment to raise $3 million to fund the CBTF Tissue Consortium.

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.

Alan G. Hassenfeld, chairman of the executive committee and former chairman of the board of Hasbro, Inc., and the late Stephen Hassenfeld, CEO and chairman of the board until 1989, have been selected for induction into the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) Licensing Industry Hall of Fame.

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.

While we’re still recovering from the aftershock of Toy Fair (and of three consecutive snowstorms), we’re already thinking about Licensing Expo.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced a lineup of more than 30 seminars for Licensing International Expo 2010, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 8 – 10.

Part of LIMA’s Licensing University program, the sessions cover a wide variety of topics for industry newcomers as well as those with many years of experience. With an emphasis on helping licensing professionals expand their knowledge base, the program will cover topics including retail and distribution strategies, legal and financial issues, social media, marketing challenges, and international expansion. The conference offers a strategic look at virtually all major industry segments, including corporate branding, art, sports, and fashion licensing as well as growth markets such as Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
The conference program runs from Sunday, June 6 through Wednesday, June 9. A free keynote session will once again be presented on Tuesday, the opening morning of the show. Details of the keynote will be announced in the coming weeks.
The seminar program kicks off on Sunday, June 6 with a presentation on “The State of Retail in the U.S.,” by Bentonville, AR-based retail consultant Carol Speickerman, followed by a retail tour of Las Vegas, hosted by Speickerman and LIMA. Speickerman will provide an overview of steps mass merchants are taking to differentiate themselves from the competition, including their use of proprietary brands. Immediately following the presentation, LIMA will host a tour of local retail outlets. Cost for the presentation and tour is $55 per participant until April 10; $75 per participant after April 10.
Monday, June 7, there will be  two sessions designed for newcomers to the licensing business. The introductory “Licensing for Beginners” panel, moderated by Rick Mallow, former licensing director for Elmer’s Products, Inc., will offer expert guidance on the fundamentals, from basic terminology and roles of licensors and licensees to when to use licensing strategically to grow a business. Additionally, Jed Ferdinand, an attorney with Grimes and Battersby, LLC, will present “Licensing Law for Beginners.”

Session highlights include:

Getting Your Brand Ready for Licensing – Learn how to evaluate whether a brand is ready for licensing and how to evolve internal structures and processes to support a licensing program. Moderator: Brooke Bridges, associate vice president, Beanstalk Group

Retail Strategies Beyond the Top Ten – Take a look at how key retailers are using brands, exclusives, and innovative strategies to prosper in the current economic climate. Moderator: Sean Heitkemper, vice president of business development, IMC Licensing

New Property Introductions – Learn how to launch a new intellectual property and build a meaningful licensing program at retail. Moderator: Marc Mostman, president, Most Management

Using Demographic Trends to Grow Your Licensing Business – Discover how demographic trends are creating new opportunities. Moderator: Stephen Reily, CEO and co-founder, IMC Licensing, and founder, Vibrant Nation

Deal Structures in the Interactive Gaming and Mobile World – Meet professionals from leading game publishers, retailers, manufacturers and agencies making game-based licensing a success. Moderator: Germaine Gioia, vice president of licensing, THQ

I Never Thought that Would Work: Unusual Success Stories – Explore challenges and opportunities in developing new categories. Moderator: Liz Kalodner, executive vice president and general manager, CBS Consumer Products

To view the complete 2010 seminar lineup and see which sessions are CLS-certified, visit the licensing expo website. You can register online, or by phone at (888) 644-2022. Sessions have limited seating and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.