Although Americans are starting to shop for their holiday gifts earlier in the year, that doesn't mean that they're finishing earlier. The National Retail Federation estimated that 155.7 million people would head to stores on Dec. 17th, the last Saturday before Christmas (compared to 99 million shoppers over the Thanksgiving weekend). Although the real figure is somewhat … [Read more...] about Super Saturday, Online Sales Brighten Holiday Ledgers
Retailers
Retail Roundup
Barnes & Noble will host its first Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball on Dec. 9th at stores throughout the U.S. The event will feature activities including a designated themed craft-making station, wizarding charades and games, a coloring station, photo opportunities, face painting, fortune telling, and Harry Potter lookalike showcases. Select stores will also feature treats … [Read more...] about Retail Roundup
Retail Roundup
Barnes & Noble will host its first Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball on Dec. 9th at stores throughout the U.S. The event will feature activities including a designated themed craft-making station, wizarding charades and games, a coloring station, photo opportunities, face painting, fortune telling, and Harry Potter lookalike showcases. Select stores will also feature treats … [Read more...] about Retail Roundup
Holiday Sales on Track for Steady Growth
After a dip in retail sales following the Nov. 8th elections, customers are getting back to business. Retailers are counting on tight inventories and extensive promotions early in the season to reduce the need to clear excess with margin-destructive markdowns late in the season. This holiday season, the S&P Global Ratings team estimates that retail sales for general … [Read more...] about Holiday Sales on Track for Steady Growth
Licensors Poised to Lose Millions in Royalties
The Hollywood Reporter reports that top entertainment and music companies like Discovery, CBS, Fox, and NBCUniversal are facing millions in lost royalties if a planned bankruptcy auction of Delivery Agent goes through. Delivery Agent was founded in 2005; the company runs digital platforms that sell licensed merchandise and has generated more than $800 million in revenue. After … [Read more...] about Licensors Poised to Lose Millions in Royalties
Cursed Child Blesses Retail
The numbers are in for the latest addition to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World franchise, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 & 2, and the book is strongly positioned to break records. The franchise will further grow with the upcoming film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, slated for release on November 18, 2016. Although the Harry Potter licensing program has … [Read more...] about Cursed Child Blesses Retail
Branded Stores
Women’s magazine Marie Claire is entering the retail business with its very own High Street store. Time Inc’s magazine is teaming up with online grocer Ocado to launch the new beauty store, which will open in London’s Tottenham Court Walk. Following the announcement of NBA Stores in the Middle East, the National Basketball Association has taps Spanish restaurant group AN Grup … [Read more...] about Branded Stores
How Do Millennials Use Their Mobile Devices to Shop?
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Almost all of this year's TLL Annual Licensing Business Survey respondents used two "M" words, often in the same sentence, when talking about key long-term trends in licensing and retail. And while they said it in different ways, they all made basically the same points: Millennials are the socio-economic group currently wielding the most influence … [Read more...] about How Do Millennials Use Their Mobile Devices to Shop?
E-commerce Sales Top $11 Billion in 2015; Led by Trademarks and Entertainment
By Karina MasolovaOver $11 billion in licensed merchandise was sold through e-commerce retail channels in the U.S. and Canada in 2015, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Factoring out automobiles and fuel, the U.S. Commerce Department estimates that 10.5% of all U.S. retail sales in 2015 were made online. In contrast, TLL estimates that … [Read more...] about E-commerce Sales Top $11 Billion in 2015; Led by Trademarks and Entertainment
Earnings Scorecard: Winners & Losers of the First Quarter
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. This month, the nation's largest retailers posted their earnings for the first quarter of 2016. And the numbers confirm what we already know: These are tough times for the retail industry. But just how tough are they? While the monster losses by Macy's, Target, Kohl's, Nordstrom and others stole the headlines, they belie the strong performance … [Read more...] about Earnings Scorecard: Winners & Losers of the First Quarter