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Sesame Workshop Expands Caring for Each Other Initiative

Building on last week’s launch of its Caring for Each Other initiative, Sesame Workshop is expanding the initiative with the rollout of brand-new content. The array of “Sesame Street” content made available, which includes newly produced content, is designed to help parents and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“‘Sesame Street’ is there for children and families whether it’s a sunny day or a stormy one, and unfortunately many families are facing unprecedented challenges right now,” says Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president, U.S. social impact, Sesame Workshop. “Through Caring for Each Other, we’re committed to supporting families for the duration of this crisis and beyond – equipping them with the tools they need to get through this together and look to the future with hope and optimism.”

The content includes animation covering healthy habits, resources providing comfort and activities that caregivers can use to spark learning in areas like reading, math, science and more. The animated spots, which will be available in 19 languages, include Elmo’s new “Washy Wash” song and “Sesame Street’s” Muppets learning how to sneeze properly and learning about how caring for yourself means caring for each other.

“As families around the world adjust to their new realities, parents and caregivers are looking for help in creating new routines, staying healthy, and fostering learning at home,” says Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, senior vice president, curriculum and content, Sesame Workshop. “At Sesame Workshop, we’re here to support the caring adults in children’s lives as they help their children navigate these challenging times.”

The new animated spots will be distributed through partners in the U.S. and globally, including HBO, PBS KIDS and local PBS stations, Univision, the Ad Council, YouTube, Sesame Street in Communities partners and international broadcast partners. They will be available in the coming days in languages including English, Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Dutch, Dari, German, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Kurdish, Mandarin, Pashto, Portuguese, Rohingya, Somali, Swahili and additional dialects.

SesameStreet.org/caring will be updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves on an ongoing basis, with resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home, and staying physically and mentally healthy.

Source: https://www.licenseglobal.com/streaming-and-tv/sesame-workshop-expands-caring-each-other-initiative

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Companies Pitch In On The Coronavirus Fight

In this period of pain and adjustment, when we’re all inundated by a flood of bad news and surrounded by the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak, we decided to begin the week with a look at some of the ways that companies in and around the licensing business are stepping up and making a contribution.

A vast number of companies are making huge financial donations to help fund such things as relief efforts for the needy, financial help for workers who have lost their jobs due to the financial upheaval and aid for health workers.

Some companies also are lending their talents, facilities and supply chains to the effort. Those cited below are only a sampling, but we hope it gives a dash of inspiration about what’s possible, and how people and companies around the world are pulling together to try to make a difference.

  • Fanatics is manufacturing masks (shown above) and gowns out of material originally destined for Major League Baseball jerseys in its Easton, PA facility. The program is totally funded by MLB and Fanatics.
  • Burberry is dipping into its global supply chain to “fast-track the delivery of over 100,000 surgical masks to the UK National Health Service,” among several other measures.
  • My Icon Story has launched a free greeting card initiative aimed at getting cards sent to those in need, be they shut-ins, health workers or others.
  • Careismatic Brands donated $1 million worth of Cherokee and Dickies branded scrubs to impacted hospitals across the U.S., specifically for healthcare workers on the front lines of COVID-19.
  • Crazy Aaron’s switched from manufacturing its Thinking Putty to producing hand sanitizer.
  • MGA Entertainment, in addition to helping source masks and other medical supplies, is retooling its Little Tikes toy factory in Ohio to produce ventilator valves and googles for hospitals, Forbes reported.
  • Major European fashion companies owned by Kering and LVMH, as well as such retailers as H&M and Zara, said they will either source or retool their supply chains to produce masks and other medical equipment.

Please let us know about other companies and industry members contributing to the effort. Send info to Mark Seavy (mseavy@licensing.org) and Marty Brochstein (mbrochstein@licensing.org).

Stay safe.

Source: https://licensinginternational.org/news/companies-pitch-in-on-the-coronavirus-fight/

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Gap, Canada Goose to Make Patient Gowns, Scrubs

Canada Goose Holdings and Gap have both committed to begin production of medical gear for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Reuters.

To aid in the battle against the pandemic, Canada Goose, known for its luxury parkas, announced it make patient gowns and scrubs and begin distributing them to local hospitals, free of cost, within a week.

Production will begin in two of its Toronto plants and in Winnipeg to manufacture 10,000 units. The company says it will be utilizing 50 employees to complete the production.

U.S. retailer Gap is also planning on aiding in the COVID-19 pandemic relief. The company will pivot resources to manufacture masks, scrubs and gowns for healthcare workers. On Twitter, the company said it would connect its vendors with hospitals in California to supply personal protective equipment.

Source: https://www.licenseglobal.com/apparel/gap-canada-goose-make-patient-gowns-scrubs

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Mumbai City hand Asif Khan long-term deal; Bipin Singh extends stay

Some great news for Mumbai City FC fans of the ISL. The team is planning contract extensions for midfielders Asif Khan and Bipin Singh Thounaojam. Young Asif Khan has extended his stay with the Islanders until May 2024 while Bipin Singh has put pen to paper on a deal that keeps him at the Club until May 2022.

Bipin Singh joined the Islanders in the summer of 2018 and registered 7 appearances in his debut season at Mumbai City. He fortified his place in the side in his second campaign, doubling his appearances tally featuring a total of 15 times, scoring two goals and providing an assist.

Asif Khan, who rose through the ranks at the Club, was brought in to replace Anwar Ali in the 2019/20 Hero ISL squad. The 19-year old was named on the bench on one occasion in the League and continues to be a key figure for the Islanders’ Reserves in the Hero 2nd Division League.

Asif Khan said: “Having grown up in Mumbai, it’s a dream come true to be a part of Mumbai City. It is a wonderful moment for me and my family and I am thankful to the Club for the trust they’ve placed in me. I want to keep working hard, improve my game here and give nothing but my best every time I get to pull on the shirt and represent Mumbai City FC.”

Bipin Singh said: “The past two years I’ve spent in Mumbai have been fantastic for me. The environment here at Mumbai City is perfect for young footballers to come and flourish and I am delighted that I will be here for two more years. I hope to contribute much more in my time here and repay the faith the club and the fans have shown in me in these past two years.”

Indranil das Blah, CEO of Mumbai City FC said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of two fantastic young talents for the years to come. Asif is a hard-working young boy. He has great potential and has shown remarkable progress in the past year. Bipin has come to the fore as a fantastic attacking talent in his two seasons here and we’re confident he has a bright future at Mumbai City FC.”

 

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Pokémon Shirts marks first anniversary with new launches

Company launches new children’s line as well as adding 100 new fabrics to its line-up.

Original Stitch – the online custom shirt service which allows customers to mix and match Pokémon prints to create unique shirts – is celebrating its first anniversary since debuting in Tokyo.

To mark the milestone, the company is adding 100 new Pokémon fabrics referencing Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver – and inspired by the Johto region in the games – to the original 151 patterns currently available.

Customers can create their own unique shirt, choosing fabrics at six different parts of the shirt: collar, inner collar, cuffs, inner cuffs, base and pocket.

In addition, the company has expanded to feature children’s sizes meaning that everyone in the family can now wear their favourite Pokémon on their shirt.

Source: https://www.licensingsource.net/pokemon-shirts-marks-first-anniversary-with-new-launches/

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Shoppers Stop betting big on beauty space

Despite the adverse economic conditions, the K Raheja owned Shoppers Stop is betting big on the beauty space reports Moneycontrol.com.

shoppers-stop-retail-outlet

According to Rajiv Suri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shoppers Stop, the company is on track to achieve its target of opening 50 stores in the current financial year.

“This year, we have opened 28 stores (eight department and 20 beauty) and plan to open 22 stores (four department, 11 beauty and seven airport stores) by March,” said Suri.

It operates over 300 departmental stores, spanning 4.4 million square feet, in 50 cities across India.

The last quarter saw a 9.6% jump in revenue from the beauty segment which has led management to focus on this opportunity and see if it can be propelled further. It is present across more than 400 fashion brands and 32 fashion categories.

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Aldi ready to mark World Book Day with key licences

Retailer’s dress-up offer includes popular characters such as Harry Potter, Mary Poppins and Dennis the Menace.

Aldi is gearing up to mark World Book Day 2020, featuring a number of licensed brands within its dress-up and publishing offer.

The retailer’s licensed dress-up range went into stores on February 13 as part of its Specialbuys, ahead of World Book Day which takes place on Thursday March 5.

Aldi is offering five designs including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins and Dennis the Menace.

In addition, children can pick up the Harry Potter Paperback Books 1-3, as well as Horrid Henry Paperback Books which include six tales to choose from.

The retailer’s selection of Fairytale Picture Flats, meanwhile, includes a number of classic tales such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Rapunzel.

source: https://www.licensingsource.net/aldi-ready-to-mark-world-book-day-with-key-licences/

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Record numbers expected for Bloomberg Square Mile Relay Mumbai 2020

Mumbai, February 15 2020: The annual Bloomberg Square Mile Relay has exceeded entries of last year’s race, as it returns to Mumbai for the second time on Thursday, 6th March 2020, following a hugely successful inaugural event in 2019. Organisers have said that businesses are registering in large numbers and anticipate the number of teams on the start line to be significantly up from last year.

Square mile logo

Some of the city’s major companies will again take to the start line, including the likes of Axis, Barclays, Edelweiss Financial Services, Federal Bank, Google, IDFC Bank, LinkedIn, Macquarie, Mastercard, Michael Page, Nomura, Reserve Bank of India, SBI Funds Management, Standard Chartered among many others.

The internationally-renowned annual event, which also takes place in 11 other cities across the world, will see the city’s top businesses to come together, as teams of ten employees each take turns to run the unique one-mile (1.6km) route at Jio Garden, BKC, all in a bid to be crowned the fastest company in the city.

The focal point of the race is to make an important and meaningful contribution to the city in a bigger and better way, through the charity arm of the event called The Extra Mile. This year’s race saw over $20,000 donated to support livelihood programs through the event’s charity partner Magic Bus, working in some of the toughest communities in Mumbai to give young people the tools and resources to get employed. The 2020 event will see 25% of team entry fees donated to another important local cause, focused on using the power of sport to make a lasting difference to the lives of people in the city.

Feedback for the first race in Mumbai was extremely positive, with a participant from Standard Chartered commenting: “I have attended many running events, but this event stands out. It was a fantastic evening, very well organized and an awesome post run party. Can’t ask for more. Keep up the good work, you have set a high benchmark!”

James Hassett, Managing Director of Square Mile Sport, the owners of the event, said:

“We’re all really excited about returning to Mumbai after such a brilliant first year, as we loved how the city really embraced the relay and the reaction has been fantastic! Corporate wellness is an increasingly important issue for corporations in the city and the fantastic energy and infectious enthusiasm the relay brings goes hand-in-hand with companies wanting to improve the well being of their employees.”

“We are incredibly proud to be working alongside Bloomberg, positively impacting corporations and the community in Mumbai and look forward to many more successful years in the city. This year is shaping up to be a memorable one, so I encourage anyone thinking of their business taking part, to come and experience it first hand – it’s an event like no other!”

For more information about the race go to: www.squaremilerelay.com/mumbai

Runners at the start of the 2019 race on 15 March, 2019

Inaugural Fastest All-Female Team winners, Nomura on the podium at the 2019 race.

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“Retail is facing the greatest period of disruption in living memory”

World’s biggest retailers to take on the digital evolution and ailing high street at Retail Week Live 2020.

Senior business leaders from the world’s biggest retailers will be tackling the issues contributing to unprecedented challenges in retail following the worst year on record for the industry in 2019.

Dave Lewis (ceo, Tesco), Peter Jelkeby (country retail manager UK & Ireland, Ikea), Richard Walker (md, Iceland Foods) and Beth Horn (head of industry for retail, Facebook) will be among 200+ influential figures speaking at Retail Week Live 2020, which is taking place on March 25-26 at The Intercontinental London.

The digital evolution, sustainability, the declining high street and how to win business from the increasingly conscious consumer will be addressed in a packed programme at the event.

The two-day conference provides delegates with ideas, insights and the tools required to lead through the digital transformation in a series of strategic sessions, workshops and seminars.

The opening keynote will come from Iceland’s Richard Walker, who will speak about ‘democratising environmentalism and business as a catalyst for a step change in sustainability’.

This year’s theme – Retail Evolved: Thriving in a Digital World – will see a number of leaders from global brands taking to the stage. As well as those already mentioned, these will include Amazon, The Body Shop, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Primark, Boots, Green & Blacks, Sweaty Betty, Sainsbury’s, Crosstown Doughnuts, LEGO, Hema and Pets at Home among others.

“Retail is facing the greatest period of disruption in living memory,” said Hannah Tovey, programme director of Retail Week Live. “Retail and commerce businesses know that they cannot keep up with the pace of change alone. Building an ecosystem that will fuel growth has become critical to success and this is where the new Retail Week Live comes in.”

Source: https://www.licensingsource.net/retail-is-facing-the-greatest-period-of-disruption-in-living-memory/

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NuonX freestyle a hand-crafted collection for today’s youth by Bubble Design

It all started in August last year when Umashan Naidoo, the head of menswear at Tata Trent, saw a group of people beautifying a wall in Bandra, Mumbai. He immediately contacted the husband wife duo of design studio Bubble Design and wanted to know how he could collaborate with them to create a funky line of clothing for the youth which is inspired by local speak – thus was born the NuonX freestyle capsule collection.

 

Nuon, is a youth oriented private label brand by Tata Trent’s Westside.

As Neisha Sylva, Business Head of Bubble Design explains, “Over the years Bubble has worked to give new-comers each with their own artistic capabilities and opportunity a platform to showcase their skills.

For this particular collaboration, four local artists were shortlisted Akshay Lushte (who wants his art to touch peoples lives), Chaitrali Kadam (who used to conduct art classes to supplement the family income), Radhika Gohil (a student who supports her family by way of freelance gigs that come her way) and Sandeep Shelar (an uber driver with a highly versatile illustrative style).

Vivek Sylva, creative head, Bubble Design, explains how once the brief was received, they dove straight into researching each of the 7 shortlisted themes. From finding the right fabric to integrating with the logistics at Trent to deliver on the brief. All of it finally came together at Trent’s fabrication unit in Tirupur. Akhila Chandrashekhar from the purchase department at Trent commented that this range would be a great way for the youth to express themselves. We wish them all the best with such future initiatives.