Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Two years ago, we launched TLL's first survey on the language of licensing to explore changing trends in terminology, business tactics, industry trends, and the way we navigate them. (Click here to access the 2016 story.) Now the second iteration of the Language of Licensing (LoL) Survey is upon us, and a question we did not … [Read more...] about Speaking of Merchandise: Is it Mer-tch or Mur-kuh?
Articles
A New Kind of Constellation, Stage Shows & Sporting Events
Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. As part of its 10th year anniversary celebrations, Toho's Godzilla gets a constellation courtesy of NASA and scientists with NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. While the most well-known 88 constellations, such as Orion and Cassiopeia, are devised by International Astronomical Union (IAU), the staff of NASA’s Goddard … [Read more...] about A New Kind of Constellation, Stage Shows & Sporting Events
Sales of Sports-based Licensed Goods Up 2.7% Worldwide in 2017
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Worldwide licensed retail sales of sports-based merchandise reached $21,154 million in 2017, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. The bulk of that growth came from the U.S./Canada, where sales swelled 3.2% to reach $15,915 million—or three-fourths of the total worldwide figure. International sports-based … [Read more...] about Sales of Sports-based Licensed Goods Up 2.7% Worldwide in 2017
Retailer Watch: Sears, FAO Schwarz, TRU & NRF
By Karina Masolova. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Sears Holdings is joining the bankruptcy club, facing down $12 billion worth of debt (compared to $8.1 billion in assets). The retailer will undergo Chapter 11 reorganization and is expected to close 142 stores as part of those proceedings. Sears hasn't turned a profit since 2010 and has $134 million of … [Read more...] about Retailer Watch: Sears, FAO Schwarz, TRU & NRF
Media Magnates
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group vaults itself into the entertainment business after having acquired VStar Entertainment Group this July. The combined entity currently has 29 shows in production, including branded offerings for Nickelodeon's Bubble Guppies and Paw Patrol. In 2019, Cirque will launch the first of six … [Read more...] about Media Magnates
Who’s News—October 2018
Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. 10/16/2018 Universal Brand Development names Marisa Marti to the newly created role of VP Intl. Softlines for consumer products. Nickelodeon appoints … [Read more...] about Who’s News—October 2018
NYCC 2018: A Bigger, Badder Nostalgia Rush
By Karina Masolova. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Now in its 13th year, New York Comic Con (NYCC) emerged bigger than ever before as an estimated 250,000 attendees occupied the Jacob Javits Center and off-site locations like the Hammerstein Ballroom and Madison Square Garden (for large panels) as well as 10 blocks north at Pier 94 (hosting Anime Fest … [Read more...] about NYCC 2018: A Bigger, Badder Nostalgia Rush
European Licensed Sales Reach $33.6 Billion in 2017
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Licensed retail sales in Europe grew 2.2% in 2017 to reach $33.6 billion, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Visit the Licensing Data Bank for more charts and data here. At just under 20% share of total worldwide retail sales, Europe slightly under-paced the global growth rate of 2.4% growth in 2017. Within … [Read more...] about European Licensed Sales Reach $33.6 Billion in 2017
U.S./Canadian Brands Contribute $111 Billion to Worldwide Licensed Sales
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Worldwide licensed retail sales reached $171 billion in 2017; of that, $111 billion (or 65%) can be attributed to brands originating from the U.S./Canada, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Respondents to the 2018 Survey overwhelmingly cited American brands when asked which region's brands increased the … [Read more...] about U.S./Canadian Brands Contribute $111 Billion to Worldwide Licensed Sales
M&A: Shakedowns in Fashion & Food
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Inspire Brands agrees to acquire Sonic Corp. in a $2.3 billion deal. The restauranteur's portfolio includes 4,700 Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rusty Taco locations worldwide. This deal boosts Inspire's total to 8,200 locations, making it one of the 10 largest U.S. restaurant companies by that measure. Inspire will continue … [Read more...] about M&A: Shakedowns in Fashion & Food