JoJo Siwa, Danskin Partner for Co-Branded Lines
Nickelodeon announced its partnership with Danskin, the 135-year-old heritage dance and activewear brand owned by Iconix Brand Group, to launch two collections inspired by Nickelodeon star JoJo Siwa. The partnership includes JoJo Freestyle by Danskin, a collection of traditional dancewear, gymnastics, and athleisure apparel available now exclusively in-store and online at Target, and JoJo by Danskin, launching in spring 2018 at Kohl’s. Both collaborations mark Danskin’s first foray into co-branded kids’ lines.
The JoJo Freestyle by Danskin collection, available at Target, incorporates JoJo’s personality with her signature rainbow print, bows, and inspiring graphic quotes that include “Dream, Dance, Love.” JoJo by Danskin, available at Kohl’s in April 2018, will be accented with gold foil detailing and rhinestones in an array of pastel colors.
Walmart.com to House Lord & Taylor Premium Fashion Shop
Lord & Taylor will launch a flagship store on Walmart.com. Expected to launch in spring 2018, Walmart.com will introduce a specialized online experience offering premium fashion brands directly from the Lord & Taylor flagship.
“Our goal is to create a premium fashion destination on Walmart.com,” says Denise Incandela, head of fashion, Walmart U.S. eCommerce. “We see customers on our site searching for higher-end items, and we are expanding our business online to focus on adding specialized and premium shopping experiences, starting with fashion. We’re excited that Lord & Taylor is part of the team we’re working with as we continue to create a new Walmart.com.”
In conjunction with the launch of the Lord & Taylor flagship store on Walmart.com next year, Walmart is also evolving how customers will be able to shop fashion on the site, adding elements of discovery and inspiration. As part of this experience, Lord & Taylor will have a dedicated store on Walmart.com and the Walmart app that will reflect its premium fashions, reaching exponentially more shoppers than it currently does through lordandtaylor.com.
“As retail continues to change, this flagship store creates enormous growth opportunities for Lord & Taylor and our brand partners,” says Liz Rodbell, president of Lord & Taylor. “Our customers trust us to deliver high-quality fashion apparel and accessories, and we will soon be able to extend the reach of that offering to new customers through this flagship store. Walmart.com is a shopping destination that reaches a wide base of customers looking for premium fashion brands. They are a great company for us to work with as we continue to grow our digital presence.”
Over the past year, Walmart has aggressively expanded its online assortment. Walmart.com currently offers more than 60 million items on the site, compared to 20 million items last year. At the same time, Lord & Taylor continues to evolve its department store model, combining brick and mortar locations with compelling online destinations for a truly exciting all-channel experience.
Alibaba Marks Foray into Physical Retail with New Alliance
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Auchan Retail S.A., and Ruentex Group announced a strategic alliance that brings together their online and offline expertise to explore new retail opportunities in China’s food retail sector.
As part of this strategic alliance, Alibaba Group will invest a total of approximately $2.88 billion to obtain an aggregate direct and indirect stake of 36.16 percent in Sun Art Retail Group Limited by acquiring shares from Ruentex. Auchan Retail is also increasing its stake in Sun Art. The transaction will give Auchan Retail, Alibaba Group, and Ruentex approximately a 36.18 percent, 36.16 percent, and 4.67 percent economic interest in Sun Art, respectively. Auchan Retail will continue to consolidate Sun Art in its financials following the transaction.
Sun Art is a multi-format offline food retailer in China. As of June 30, 2017, Sun Art operated with a total gross floor area of approximately 12 million square meters in China. Sun Art currently operates 446 hypermarkets as large as 17,000 square meters in 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China under the “RT-Mart” (大润发) and “Auchan” (欧尚) banners. It also operates superstores and innovative unmanned stores under the “Auchan Minute” brand.
The alliance reflects Alibaba’s “New Retail” vision to leverage its internet-based approach and new technology, while working closely with retailer partners to provide a seamless online and offline experience to consumers in China. It also aligns with Auchan Retail’s Vision 2025 “Auchan changes lives”. Building on the strengths of the three partners, the alliance aims to introduce a new shopping experience to China’s 1.3 billion consumers.
Combining the resources of the three companies, the new alliance will enable Sun Art’s activities to benefit from Alibaba’s digital ecosystem. It will digitize and introduce new retail solutions at Sun Art stores, including online and offline integration together with modern fulfillment and personalized customer experience.
Sakar Launches New Speakers Inspired By Classic Games
Sakar International has launched a brand-new line of molded Bluetooth speakers utilizing classic game brands: Simon, Rubik’s Cube, Pacman, Space Invaders and Galaga.
The new line of Bluetooth speakers will feature interactive designs that will allow for a more experiential way to listen to music, according to the company.
The Simon speaker offers the same traditional design as the game, complete with light up colored sections. Space Invaders, Galaga and Pacman speakers simulate arcade game play with buttons and graphics. The Rubik’s Cube speaker mirrors the toy with horizontal rotating ability and light up tiles.
Sakar will be adding to its Iconic Games line later this year with additional products from phone cases and chargers to headphones and earbuds that all feature designs inspired by these and other classic brands.
Roald Dahl, Yoto Partner
Yoto, the smart speaker for kids, entered into a strategic content partnership with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate.
Yoto was created to maximize kids’ development skills without screen-time, by building and integrating specialist technology and content. Yoto allows children to unlock a carefully curated world of music, stories and learning via interactive cards which connect to a safe, secure world of audio content—with no screen-time worries.
Yoto, which launched on Kickstarter only two weeks ago, reached its funding target after only five days and is still available to pre-order.
Suitable for preschool children and inspired by Montessori principles, Yoto gives youngsters autonomy over what they listen to or play – from their favourite nursery rhymes to learning the alphabet through phonics. Yoto wants to revolutionise the way children listen and learn.
Yoto is pleased to announce that it will now be working with beloved Roald Dahl stories and characters to create audio story experiences and interactive picture displays that will engage and stretch young imaginations.
Working closely with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, they’re creating bespoke content for children of pre-school age and upwards. Ideas in development range from ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ stories, to BFG dream-mixing sleep-time aids – as well as snippets of all the titles that you’d expect from Roald Dahl.
Luke Kelly, MD of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Roald Dahl’s grandson, says “We share Yoto’s vision that all children deserve stories – and that technology, used in the right way, can unlock imaginations and help children to grow. Yoto is a visionary platform and we are excited to use Roald Dahl’s timeless stories to enrich their offer.”
(RED) Recruits SpongeBob for New Collection
Nickelodeon, in partnership with (RED), announced the availability of (SPONGEBOB)RED, a collection of products inspired by the animated character to help raise money for the Global Fund and awareness around the fight to end AIDS. New products in the collection are now available from aden + anais, Butter Super Soft, Chocolate Skateboards, Fatboy, Global Brand Groups, Junk Food, and Kidrobot. The (SPONGEBOB)RED collaboration was first announced in June as designs by Jeremy Scott debuted as a part of the Moschino Resort 2018 collection.
In tandem with (RED)’s new partnership with Amazon, the following (SPONGEBOB)RED items are available now on Amazon.com/RED: a special edition aden + anais dream blanket; an assortment of apparel for the whole family from Junk Food, including tees, hoodies and onesies; and a Kenny Anderson skate deck from Chocolate Skateboards. Available at select Bloomingdale’s and Bloomingdales.com are the following (SPONGEBOB)RED products: a special edition aden + anais dream blanket; a girls applique hoodie from Butter Super Soft; and two-piece patterned sleepwear from Global Brands Group. Additionally, two Fatboy (SPONGEBOB)RED Lamzac inflatable loungers are available on fatboyusa.com and a Kidrobot (SPONGEBOB)RED enamel pin set is available on kidrobot.com. The (SPONGEBOB)RED designs in the Moschino Resort 2018 collection are currently available at luxury retailers and Moschino stores.
The Nickelodeon and (RED) partnership extends through 2018, and Nickelodeon’s proceeds from all (SPONGEBOB)RED products will go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.