The amusement/theme park business is ramping up, and for licensed brands, it's only getting better. Global theme park spending totaled $40.4 billion in 2015, up 7.4% from 2014, according to the Intl. Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). The IAAPA points to a 5.2% increase in attendance, the largest gain during the past five years, as the biggest reason for … [Read more...] about Licensing in the $40.4 Billion Theme Park Business
Celebrity
Licensed Fragrance Back on Track?
Since we last looked at licensed fragrances, the business has certainly changed—and it seems that it might be looking up, at least for established celebrities and fashion brands. Revlon finalized its purchase of Elizabeth Arden on Sept. 7, 2016, forming a beauty enterprise with net sales of approximately $3 billion worldwide. In the latest financial reports—Q3 ending Sept. 30, … [Read more...] about Licensed Fragrance Back on Track?
Trump, Hilary, and… Cannabis?
By Karina Masolova With election day fast approaching, there's another vote Americans are preparing to make. Nine states have ballot measures for cannabis legalization—a sector worth $60–100 million in licensed retail sales in 2015, according to TLL estimates. Although we've reported on the state of licensed cannabis products and accessories throughout the year—with 2016 … [Read more...] about Trump, Hilary, and… Cannabis?
TLL Survey: Nascent Digital Celebs Sector Rivals Entertainment/Character for Growth
Relative to the rest of licensing, retail sales of goods licensed by digital celebrities grew with the speed of a viral video in 2015, spiking 8% to approach $1 billion in 2015 according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. The fledgling subcategory of the celebrity property type grew more during the year than any full-fledged property type except for the … [Read more...] about TLL Survey: Nascent Digital Celebs Sector Rivals Entertainment/Character for Growth
What Not to Do: Kardashians Score a Win in Fight Against Licensee
By Karina Masolova The Kardashian sisters got a pretrial court order barring Haven Beauty from using their names and trademarks—effectively opening the door for new licensees to step in, since the Kardashians want to ultimately terminate their licensing agreement. The Aug. 23 ruling, from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (2Die4Kourt v. Hillair … [Read more...] about What Not to Do: Kardashians Score a Win in Fight Against Licensee
Vegan Cosmetics: The Newest Wave in Fashion Brand Building
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Quality is no longer enough. Today's consumers also want their brands to have a moral and social conscience. Few sectors have been more responsive to this demand than fashion. Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this is the proliferation of vegan makeup brands. The Appeal of Vegan "Natural, organic and clean are the buzzwords across the beauty … [Read more...] about Vegan Cosmetics: The Newest Wave in Fashion Brand Building
YouTubers Ride Streaming Services Toward Mainstream
Top digital celebrities including Grace Helbig, Cameron Dallas and Miranda Sings (aka Colleen Ballinger) continue to edge their way toward the linear, aka "old", media still favored by the licensing community. These three and others are making the jump from social media platforms led by YouTube and Vine to longer-form programming on streaming services Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. … [Read more...] about YouTubers Ride Streaming Services Toward Mainstream
360 Degrees to Every Brand
More than ever before, consumers are demanding access to brands on multiple platforms. This is nothing new: companies around the floor have been aware of the need to develop what are now being called "360 programs," where linear and digital entertainment, live experiences like shows and theme parks, social media, advertising and consumer merchandise are all essential parts … [Read more...] about 360 Degrees to Every Brand
Licensed Cannabis the Next Big Thing
This year’s Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition New York (CWCBExpo NY) welcomed a disparate crowd as businesses sought to stake a claim in an industry estimated to be worth $5.7 billion in the U.S. in 2015, according to ArcView Market Research and New Frontier. While TLL estimates place retail sales of licensed legal cannabis at less than 1% of all industry sales, … [Read more...] about Licensed Cannabis the Next Big Thing
Celebrities With Licensed Marijuana Products
At $2.7 billion, legal marijuana is the fastest growing industry in America; it’s also a potent social cause. So it’s not surprising that so many celebrities have jumped into the business. Here’s a rundown of leading celebrities who’ve been branded for marijuana products. For the latest, see TLL's feature on celebrity chefs who have signed for branded marijuana. Also see TLL's … [Read more...] about Celebrities With Licensed Marijuana Products