We Want to Hear From You In TLL Licensing Royalty Survey
Want to know the average royalty payments in the licensing industry? Since 1978, The Licensing Letter has been providing the inside scoop to licensing professionals on everything from marketing budgets, guaranteed minimums, and royalties paid in a wide range of product categories. Today TLL is launching its annual Licensing Royalty Survey for 2020, with an accent on how the industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to hear your opinion on one of the most difficult years in our industry, and what you think is coming for 2021 and beyond. The oldest survey in the industry, the TLL annual licensing survey is a key part of our data offerings for the industry, and the more answers we get, the better and more useful our data sets will… . . . read more
Cosmo Partners on New Tanning Line
DEVOTED CREATIONS AND COSMOPOLITAN PARTNER TO LAUNCH A NEW SUN CARE AND SELF-TAN COLLECTION ACROSS EUROPE AND THE US: COSMOSUN BY COSMOPOLITAN The popular magazine and media brand Cosmopolitan has partnered with 25-year sun care industry veteran Devoted Creations to launch CosmoSun by Cosmopolitan, a luxury sun care and self-tan line. “Cosmopolitan’s audience has always had a strong enthusiasm for outdoor fun and an equivalent level of attention to their skin’s health,” says Angela Kim, Director of Hearst Global Licensing. “So, we are pleased to finally present this line of sun care products. Especially now, with renewed eagerness in many countries to get outside and socialize with their loved ones, this partnership with Devoted Creation is timelier than ever.” In a deal brokered by IMG, the cruelty-free, vegan and nut-free collection is suitable… . . . read more
Special Report: Licensing In The Metaverse
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief This month in The Licensing Letter newsletter we’re covering what may be the biggest story in licensing over the past decade and for the decade to come; namely, the rise of licensing in what is known as the Metaverse. So, what is the Metaverse? Essentially, it refers to a virtual world that is entered into by human beings in the form of digital avatars, but where real commerce happens, just as in the real world. If you’ve ever seen the film Ready Player One, played the game Second Life, or read the novel Snow Crash, you already have some idea what the Metaverse is and how it works. What’s different today is that the Metaverse is being rapidly developed to replace what we… . . . read more
Toy Industry Not Doing Enough For Sustainability
A whitepaper published by sustainability consultant Sonia Sanchez says most toy companies are doing little or nothing to prevent ecological harm from the products they produce.Despite a massive upswell in consumer awareness of the need for sustainable products, the report Changing the World Toy by Toy says 81 per cent of producers are doing little or nothing to improve product sustainability. The whitepaper found that while 93 per cent of toy companies interviewed recognise that managing their impact was ‘very important’ or ‘vital’ for their success, only 13 per cent displayed a “comprehensive sustainability strategy.” A good example of the latter would be companies like Mattel, Hasbro and Spin Master, all of which have launched comprehensive sustainability programs. Mattel, for example, launched the Play Back program, which allows customers to return… . . . read more
The Top 50 NFL Player Sales List
It should come as no surprise that, after leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title, quarterback Tom Brady is again leading in NFL player retail sales heading into the new season. The NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List is the only verified list of retail sales by player, and this month’s quarterly sales rankings features a mix of new and familiar faces, including perennial best-selling players, rising new veterans, and exciting rookies making their debut heading into the 2021-22 season. Main Takeaways: 10 new players appear in the quarterly sales rankings; Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes continue to dominate, placing 1 & 2; Retail sales based on player licensing continues its momentum, following a record sales year in 2020. The NFL Players Association says its first list for 2021 is based… . . . read more
Ninja Life Hacks Partners On Crafts With Fashion Angels
The fast-growing publishing phenomenon Ninja Life Hacks has partnered with Fashion Angels for stationery, crafts, accessories and classroom decor products based on the leading book series. The deal allows Fashion Angels to design products featuring over 60 Ninja Life Hacks characters, including Confident Ninja, Focus Ninja, Positive Ninja and more. After thousands of requests from parents, teachers and educators for Ninja Life Hacks products, the company says the collection will launch on Amazon.com in spring 2022, ahead of National Mental Health Month in May. The collection is designed to cultivate a growth mindset, develop confidence and grit, and improve children’s social emotional intelligence. In addition to the initial e-commerce launch, the targeted distribution for the Ninja Life Hacks line includes both traditional retailers and teacher-favorite outlets like Lakeshore, Really Good… . . . read more