DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Mattel are teaming for a new girls’ property, DC Super Hero Girls, which will launch this fall across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories. Designed to appeal to girls 6 to 12, DC Super Hero Girls focuses on DC Comics’ female characters before they discovered their full … [Read more...] about DC Plugs Into Girl Power
Articles
Target’s Pulitzer Problem
It seemed a major coup for mass merchant Target to have signed high- end designer Lilly Pulitzer for an exclusive fashion and home line. But it wasn’t all triumph for “Tar-jay” when the 250-piece Lilly Pulitzer collection launched April 19. Within hours (and in some stores, minutes), crazed customers had plucked the shelves clean. Online traffic was so great that Target’s … [Read more...] about Target’s Pulitzer Problem
Who’s News
Former Beanstalk exec Suzanne Jacober becomes director of business development for content marketing agency McMurry/TMG and will focus on identifying Fortune 1000 brands ripe for leveraging.Margaret Loesch replaces Jeff Weiss on the board of directors of Genius Brands International. Weiss is stepping down as president and chief operating officer of American Greeting but staying … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Entertainment/Character Licensing Grows 6.0% in 2014, Most of Any Property Type
After declining every year from 2008 through 2012, entertainment/character licensing in the U.S. and Canada roared back to life in 2013 by posting 3.6% growth. Now the sector has proven that the turnaround was no fluke by achieving an even more robust 6% increase in 2014. According to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey, entertainment/character now … [Read more...] about Entertainment/Character Licensing Grows 6.0% in 2014, Most of Any Property Type
Licensing to Lottery Games Offers Rich Royalties and Brand Exposure
For over a decade, the casino and lottery gaming industry (including slots, lotteries, bingo, etc.) has provided a rich source of licensing opportunities. Although licensing activity has ebbed and flowed, today, in almost every state where lotteries are legal, you'll find at least one game that's branded with the name of a famous consumer product. The Advantages of Lottery … [Read more...] about Licensing to Lottery Games Offers Rich Royalties and Brand Exposure
Branded Baubles a Growth Area in Fashion Licensing
They're cute, they're furry, and they're branded with the name of a famous fashion designer. But, c'mon, $850 for a keychain?! That's how much you have to shell out for one of those hot Fendi Bag Bugs—assuming, that is, your name even gets called from the long waiting list of would-be purchasers. The Fendi Bag Bug is just the poster child of the luxury tchotchke, or … [Read more...] about Branded Baubles a Growth Area in Fashion Licensing
Home McFurnishings
McDonald’s has taken its brand to the fashion realm by launching its first ever lifestyle collection in Sweden. If you’re so inclined, you can buy items from the Big Mac collection such as clothing, wallpaper, bed sheets and other items emblazoned with prints of the chain’s signature sandwich, from the company’s Swedish website. … [Read more...] about Home McFurnishings
Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Disney Junior cut a deal with Harper Collins Children’s Books for rights to a Fancy Nancy animated telepic and series adaptation, targeted to premiere in 2017. The deal also calls for a host of merchandising tie-ins to be handled by Disney Consumer Products, according to Variety. Fancy Nancy is a hugely popular series of children’s books about a little girl who craves the … [Read more...] about Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Licensing Campaign to Back Soccer’s Copa America Centennial
The producer of the Copa America soccer tournament is looking to licensing to help build awareness for the tournament's 2016 centennial. WeMatch, the partnership that holds the commercial rights to Copa America, will work with brand extension agency and soccer specialist One Entertainment to develop a U.S. and Canadian licensing program including apparel, accessories, toys and … [Read more...] about Licensing Campaign to Back Soccer’s Copa America Centennial
Retail Notes
Books-A-Million (aka BAM!) plans to expand its 257-store retail presence (second highest of any book retailer in the U.S.) by opening 30 new stores this year; Three months after announcing its intention to get out of canada, Target Canada completed inventory liquidation and closed the last of its 133 retail stores on April 12; According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, … [Read more...] about Retail Notes