A new Fila Sport line debuting in fall 2008 will be featured exclusively in Kohl's department stores. The announcement follows a string of exclusive brand launches for the chain, including the recent Vera Wang and Food Network lines. The deal is a chance for Fila to turn around lackluster U.S. sales, says Kohl's president Kevin Mansell, noting that the brand has been highly successful in Asia. Fila's U.S. business was sold early this year to Fila Korea Ltd. after languishing for four years under a company owned by Cerberus Capital Management. A report in the Baltimore Examiner …

Six episodes of an IFC cable network show called "Framed" will feature athletes who endorse Reebok footwear and apparel, interviewed by celebrities--Reebok-related and otherwise--in fields like music and movies. The celebrities will also direct the episodes in which they appear. For example, the singer Nelly will interview the basketball player Allen Iverson. The soccer player Thierry Henry will be interviewed by actress Paz Vega. And the comedian Carlos Mencia will interview the baseball player David Ortiz. In creating "Framed," Reebok, a unit of Adidas, joins a lengthening list of marketers that are branching into branded entertainment. The …

Papa John's is rolling out a service that lets customers order pizza pies via text message. Customers first create an account online where they save as many as four different "favorite" orders. Once that's complete, they can send a text message at any time using the shorthand "FAV1," "FAV2," "FAV3" or "FAV4." A big part of Papa John's motivation is marketing. The company hopes that text-message ordering will provide a new channel to hit customers with such things as coupons and updates on new menu items. Another catch for consumers: As with all text-message services, standard text-messaging …

Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Common is replacing ex-NBA star Magic Johnson as the celebrity spokesperson for Lincoln. The rapper will mainly plug the Lincoln Navigator luxury SUV in ads across a variety of media, at events and online. Marc Perry, multicultural marketing manager for Lincoln, says Common appeals to consumers in their late 20s to mid-30s and will help meet the marketer's plan to make the Navigator and the Lincoln brand overall "hipper and a little cooler." Lincoln hopes Common will help Navigator overtake General Motors' Cadillac Escalade as the most popular luxury SUV among African Americans, Perry …

High chairs normally retail for $80 to $120, but Bloom's stylish and functional baby chairs retail for $180 to $500. "There's nothing more emotional or more important or closer to you than what product is going to be used on your baby," says Simon May, one of the four dads behind the 2-year old company that expects global sales of $15 to $20 million this year. Bloom is just one example of how entrepreneurs are profiting from the current wave of selling child-related products and services by appealing to parents. Other examples include clothing designers, writers, even …