By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. The Super Bowl is big every year. But this year's 50th anniversary installment will be the biggest Super Bowl ever, at least from a consumption perspective. Just consider these numbers from the National Retail Federation: 188.9 million—Estimated TV viewers (as compared to 183.7 million last year) 17.7%—Percentage of viewers citing commercials as most … [Read more...] about Super Bowl Spending to Top $15.5 Billion
Retailers
Tis the Season for Acquisitions
By Karina Masolova Companies were treating themselves this holiday season, with number of acquisitions making headlines. Here are some of the top buys: Sequential Brands Group restructured its agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in a new 10 year contract to acquire all outstanding shares of the media company. Sequential expects to generate nearly $3.75 billion in … [Read more...] about Tis the Season for Acquisitions
Growing Ecommerce Sales Make This an Average Black Friday
By Karina Masolova Retail sales for Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day saw a channel shift expected to stay strong throughout the holiday season. Ecommerce sales were up, accounting for roughly a quarter of sales over the two-day period. And needless to say, over the weekend and into Cyber Monday, computer- and mobile-based sales only grew. Internet analytics firm comScore … [Read more...] about Growing Ecommerce Sales Make This an Average Black Friday
Entertainment, Sports Licensed Goods Lead Black Friday Deals
Hot holiday properties Frozen and Star Wars, and collegiate and NFL licensed merchandise, will be decking the halls of many retailers on one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Some of the nation's largest retailers over the past week moved to control the flow of information about their Black Friday promotions by "leaking" their own Thanksgiving weekend ad circulars … [Read more...] about Entertainment, Sports Licensed Goods Lead Black Friday Deals
Licensee Accusation: Asics Deliberately Tried to Drive Us Out of Business
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. What Happened: Asics gave Windsor Financial Group, LLC, financing and exclusive rights to open and operate 13 Asics stores, including flagships in Boston and New York. The deal was supposed to run for 20 years but a couple of years in, Asics terminated the agreement. As a result, Windsor had to close the stores and eat the millions of dollars it had … [Read more...] about Licensee Accusation: Asics Deliberately Tried to Drive Us Out of Business
Mattel, Hasbro see Q3 Retail Sales Split Along Gender Lines
By Karina Masolova Reported third quarter (3Q) sales from toy giants Hasbro and Mattel exhibited an interesting break along gender lines, with boys' toys outperforming girls' amidst depressed worldwide sales thanks to unfavorable exchange rates. More gender balance may be on the way, however, with the girls' market expected to get a boost from the first interactive Barbie doll … [Read more...] about Mattel, Hasbro see Q3 Retail Sales Split Along Gender Lines
California Surfing Brand Quiksilver Files Chapter 11
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. California surfing and skateboard clothing chain Quiksilver Inc. became the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy. The company began licensing the Quiksilver brand in 1976 for wetsuits, helmets and other clothing for "mountain and ocean lovers" and rode the surfing and skating fashion wave of the late 1990s and early 2000s to expansion along with brands … [Read more...] about California Surfing Brand Quiksilver Files Chapter 11
Hulk Car Races Across Retailers’ Holiday Toy Lists
On the evening of Labor Day, 105 days before Christmas, Toys ‘R’ Us unveiled its Holiday Hot Toy List for 2015, and was quickly followed by Target and Kmart. It wasn’t, however, the earliest “hot holiday toys” proclamation. That distinction went to Walmart, which dropped its list just before the end of August. When helping shoppers build their holiday lists, apparently, you can … [Read more...] about Hulk Car Races Across Retailers’ Holiday Toy Lists
Xcel Designs Nimble Supply Chain for Stores
By Marcy Magiera Xcel Brands, owner and licensor of the Isaac Mizrahi, C. Wonder, H Halston and Judith Ripka fashion brands, is experimenting with new ways to help retailers manage inventory. Under its new Quick Time Response supply chain program, Xcel will design and manage the manufacturing of products under the IMNYC (Mizrahi), H Halston, and C. Wonder Limited brands for … [Read more...] about Xcel Designs Nimble Supply Chain for Stores
Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars
By Marcy Magiera When The Licensing Letter spoke to entertainment executives for our Annual Licensing Business Survey back in the spring, several sources predicted that movie-based licensed merchandise this fall would begin to appear in stores earlier than ever, with end-of-year movies loading merchandise into stores as soon as September. The expected leader of that trend: … [Read more...] about Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars