By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Worldwide retail sales of apparel/accessories/footwear tied to licensed properties were up a robust 3.9% at just below $66.1 billion in 2015. Wearables is a bellwether of overall licensing business due not only to its size, but because it provides an outlet for so many of the industry's most important property types including fashion, … [Read more...] about Retail Sales of Licensed Wearables Up in Every Territory in 2015
Apparel
Disney Dresses Up with Fashion
If you think Disney licensing is all about mass merchant toys and T-shirts, think again. Fast fashion retailer Forever 21 this week rolls out a limited-edition Disney Pixar capsule collection of women's, men's and kids's clothing and accessories that feature character portraits of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Dory, Nemo, Mike Wazowski and others along with phrases that play off the … [Read more...] about Disney Dresses Up with Fashion
Apparel Fuels 3.1% Growth in U.S./Canada Fashion Licensing—Global Growth Is Even Higher
Growing competition; continued decline in the brick and mortar backyard; currency devaluation in Europe and Asia; a fourth quarter retail fiasco. 2015 was a tough year for the fashion industry. Yet, for all of the challenges, fashion licensing prospered in not only in the U.S./Canada but worldwide, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Global … [Read more...] about Apparel Fuels 3.1% Growth in U.S./Canada Fashion Licensing—Global Growth Is Even Higher
Shopping for School Supplies, Electronics Moves Online
Back-to-school shopping—including school supplies and electronics—is expected to grow dramatically in the ecommerce channel in 2016, mirroring the growing channel share for ecommerce in licensed product sales overall, as consumers shop for savings. While back-to-school shoppers are still heading primarily to bricks-and-mortar stores, they are increasingly purchasing … [Read more...] about Shopping for School Supplies, Electronics Moves Online
Stephen Curry & His Warriors Top NBA Sales List
By Karina Masolova Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry and defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors reigned as No. 1 on the NBA's most popular jersey and team merchandise lists for the 2015/2016 season. The team's NBA Finals 2016 win landed them on the top of the popular team merchandise list for the first time since January 2015. See the results below, which are based on … [Read more...] about Stephen Curry & His Warriors Top NBA Sales List
The NBA & Its Licensees Woo the Female Fan
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. As in the other pro sports leagues, the NBA and licensees are investing heavily in the female market. Women now account for 38% of the league's fan base and 40% of its licensed apparel purchasers. True, only 10% of those apparel products are actually for females, but that ratio has tripled since 2012. "The NBA has been working with its partners to … [Read more...] about The NBA & Its Licensees Woo the Female Fan
Rihanna Shows Strength for Puma, Foot Locker
By Marcy Magiera In the competitive world of licensed athletic gear, pop singer and fashion icon Rihanna is riding the demand for athleisure apparel to go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest athletes in the NBA. Athletic retailer Foot Locker on Friday posted its highest quarterly net income ($191 million, up 3.8%) and earnings per share ($1.39) in the company's history, but … [Read more...] about Rihanna Shows Strength for Puma, Foot Locker
Professional Bull Riders Take Licensing by the Horns
By Marcy Magiera This new wine really carries a kick. Two Horns red, a 2012 blend of California-grown Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet, is the official wine of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the world's premier bull riding organization. Produced by Gold River, Calif.-based CORDELINA Wine Company and and distributed across the Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions … [Read more...] about Professional Bull Riders Take Licensing by the Horns
Lady Gaga and Elton John Become the Latest to Launch a Macy’s Exclusive
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Limited-edition celebrity lines are an old hat for Macy's. But the upcoming Love Bravery line set to debut at 150 stores next week is a bit different. The exclusive apparel and accessories collection comes from not one, but two, slightly offbeat celebs who don't normally do many of these deals—Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John. Love Bravery is also a … [Read more...] about Lady Gaga and Elton John Become the Latest to Launch a Macy’s Exclusive
Giorgio Armani Becomes Latest High Profile Fashion Designer to Go Fur Free
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Respondents to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey have waxed poetic about the need for personal connection between brand and customer for years. But while the objective remains the same, the tactics are changing. Forging personal connections now requires engagement at the community level. "Today's consumer judges brands not just by quality but the … [Read more...] about Giorgio Armani Becomes Latest High Profile Fashion Designer to Go Fur Free