Launches

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is one of the most anticipated magazines in the publishing year, but the Sports Illustrated Group, a subsidiary of Time Inc., was looking for more than just fleeting newsstand sales. So over the next few years, the magazine plans to turn the issue into a saleable asset.

To create buzz for new series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars ” Cartoon Network is hitting eight malls through Nov. 9 with activities targeting kids and tweens (adults can play too). The network picked malls to reach an across the board demo in one shot.

“We also wanted the opportunity to get foot traffic with the traditional Star Wars franchise fans now adults and some parents ” Brenda Freeman cmo-young adults and kids media at Turner Broadcasting’s Animation told Buzz.

Samsung earlier this month celebrated fashion designer Valentino with a seven-day exhibit in New York City that is now showing in London through Sept. 19. The exhibit entitled “The Red Thread: The Inspiration and Passion of Valentino Garavani ” coincided with Fashion Weeks in those cities and was the first in The Samsung Imagination Icon Series a cultural initiative showcasing the worlds of fashion art and design.

Procter & Gamble’s Secret deodorant is rolling out its new Because You’re Hot campaign with the help of a celebrity-endorsed amateur dance contest. Secret’s Show Us Your Moves casting call tour kicked off Aug. 23 in New York City at the Roseland Ballroom. The first 200 dancers to arrive got 30 seconds to show their stuff to celebrity choreographers Rich and Tone and to compete for a shot at a guest dancer spot in an upcoming Jennifer Lopez video. The kick-off event wrapped with a special performance by J. Lo who sat in on several of the tryouts.

As part of a commitment to reach more women MetLife last month launched MetLife Snoopy in Fashion a group designer fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. Designers including Heatherette Isaac Mizrahi Betsey Johnson Liz Claiborne and others participated creating one-of-a-kind runway outfits inspired by the Peanuts characters created by Charles M. Schulz.