Ripley’s Believe It or Not! reenergizes its history with a two-year touring, digital content, and publishing partnership with action sports entertainment brand Nitro Circus. Ripley’s will be featured throughout Nitro Circus’ live shows and the Nitro World Games. As part of the agreement, Ripley Publishing also becomes the exclusive publisher for Nitro Circus, releasing its … [Read more...] about The Biz of Media, Ecommerce & Fashion
Articles
Who’s News—7/9/2018
Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Email the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter are appointed the new Chief Creative Officers of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, … [Read more...] about Who’s News—7/9/2018
Licensed Entertainment/Character Sales Hit $31.1 Billion Worldwide; Soft Goods Lead Growth
By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Entertainment/character-based licensed goods continue to grow at a faster rate than any of the other five major property types TLL tracks globally—as well as the 13 major properties we track within the U.S./Canada territory. In the U.S./Canada, entertainment/character-based licensing grew by $435 million in 2017 to reach $13.2 … [Read more...] about Licensed Entertainment/Character Sales Hit $31.1 Billion Worldwide; Soft Goods Lead Growth
Warner Bros. Fetes Magical Potter Merch
By Heather Perry; contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. TLL was recently invited to Warner Bros.’ showcase for its Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, and Wizarding World brands with merchandise from over 30 licensees. In 2011, Warner Bros. reported that the Harry Potter franchise had generated $7 billion in retail sales for merchandise such as wands, hats, … [Read more...] about Warner Bros. Fetes Magical Potter Merch
E-commerce Sales Surge as Specialty Purges Entertainment/Character
By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on entertainment/character properties grew to reach $31.1 billion worldwide, according to TLL's Licensing Business Survey. In the U.S./Canada, retail sales grew 3.4% to reach $13.2 billion. Across the board, Survey respondents reported that social media is now a dominant means of fan … [Read more...] about E-commerce Sales Surge as Specialty Purges Entertainment/Character
Content Watch: New Series & Activations
Differential Brands Group will acquire the majority of Hong Kong-based Global Brands Group Holding Ltd.’s North American licensing business for $1.38 billion in an all-cash deal expected to close Q3 2018. The acquisition is expected to boost Differential Brands’ annual revenues up to more than $2.3 billion. The assets at stake comprise all of GBG's North American children’s … [Read more...] about Content Watch: New Series & Activations
The Low-Down on Amazon Merch Collab
Ask any licensing executive what they think is the next big meteor to hit the business and you'll get one answer: Amazon. At this year's Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Amazon VP Nicholas Denissen gave a keynote address where he revealed an out-of-this-world Amazon projection—the global licensing industry will grow to $1 trillion in the next ten years. Part of that increase, of … [Read more...] about The Low-Down on Amazon Merch Collab
M&A Watch: Fashion Forward
Authentic Brands Group makes a successful $340 million bid for Nine West Holdings. Under the terms of the agreement, ABG will control all licensing partnerships and marketing plans for both the Nine West and Bandolino brands. Marc Fisher Footwear will operate the business' operations and Signal Products will oversee the handbag and SLG businesses. Perry Ellis Intl. is going … [Read more...] about M&A Watch: Fashion Forward
Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives
FC Barcelona is ending its 17-year partnership with Nike where it ceded its retail and licensing rights to FCBMerchandising. The football club forms a new company to manage its retail, licensing, and merchandising activity. The newly formed Barça Licensing and Merchandising will take over its rights on July 1 and oversee a $77 million merchandising business spanning three of … [Read more...] about Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives
Who’s News—6/19/2018
Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Email Jen at jen@plainlanguagemedia.com and we'll announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. John Haugh resigns President & CEO of New York’s Iconix Brand Group. Executive chairman of the company’s board of directors Peter Cuneo will serve as … [Read more...] about Who’s News—6/19/2018