More than in any other season, the share of licensed retail sales during the end-of-year holiday shopping period is the highest of the year. Look out for TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey to hit your inboxes to share your perspective on how well (not not) 2017 went—but in the meantime, we look back on the general retail market. Considering that current estimates peg … [Read more...] about U.S. Holiday Retail Sales Outpace Expectations
Articles
Year in Review: A Study in Contrasts
In 2016, we tracked 2.7% growth worldwide from the previous year to bring licensed retail sales up to a record $167.5 billion. The U.S./Canada was responsible for over 60% of that total (with almost $106.6 billion in sales) and provided much of the impetus for growth worldwide—the territory grew 3.2% in licensed sales from the previous year. This year, we saw the largest Black … [Read more...] about Year in Review: A Study in Contrasts
Emerging Content
As we enter into the new year, here are the latest new brands with licensing potential as well as ways to exploit them. Hasbro is planning a new animated TV series for 2019 based on its Micronauts line of collectables. The mini superhero brand will see a live-action movie in 2020 following the TV series, which is aimed at 6–11 year-olds. Hulu teams up with executive producer … [Read more...] about Emerging Content
Who’s News — 1/8/2018
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. Wicked Cool Toys hires Herb Mitschele as EVP Global Sales & Operations Warner Bros. appoints Walter Hamada as President of its DC-based film … [Read more...] about Who’s News — 1/8/2018
Can Disney Digest its Newest Acquisition?
Disney acquires a number of key 21st Century Fox assets in a transaction valued at $66.1 billion—the deal is expected to close in 12 to 18 months, provided that it passes antitrust scrutiny. CEO Bob Iger has extended his contract to 2021 (or an extra two years) to help the entertainment giant digest its newest purchase. To be more exact, an incomplete list of the assets … [Read more...] about Can Disney Digest its Newest Acquisition?
Who’s News — 12/18/2017
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. CJ Kettler is the new President of King Features Syndicate. Kettler is charged with bringing King properties—including Popeye, Betty Boop, Prince … [Read more...] about Who’s News — 12/18/2017
Planned Video Game Releases With Licensing Potential
Throughout the year, we feature upcoming video game properties with potential for licensing. All of the release dates on the list have been checked against multiple sources, but there is still a high probability that dates will change. The further in the future a game launch is, the more likely its release date is to move. … [Read more...] about Planned Video Game Releases With Licensing Potential
The Horror: 44% of Upcoming Licensable Video Games Sequels
Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com We've updated our list of upcoming video games with licensing potential, and it counts 80 titles launching from 2018 and beyond. See the complete list here. Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on video game/interactive/online-based brands reached $607 million in 2016, up 3.5% from the previous year for the … [Read more...] about The Horror: 44% of Upcoming Licensable Video Games Sequels
174 Million Americans Make the Biggest Black Friday Yet
Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The largest, most anticipated shopping event of the year has come and gone—a week of sales centered around Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Overall, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that over 174 million Americans shopped during the five-day holiday weekend. On average, shoppers spent $335 on … [Read more...] about 174 Million Americans Make the Biggest Black Friday Yet
NFL Makes a Play for Times Square
Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The NFL Experience is now open in Times Square, New York City. The permanent exhibit joins a host of new branded offerings that are helping make Times Square relevant again—including National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical. The $30 million venture is one of the first of its kind, powered … [Read more...] about NFL Makes a Play for Times Square