By: Karina Masolova. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Long before an Olympic Games begins, its officially licensed merchandising program is pivotal in generating excitement. The selection process and final announcement of an official mascot, the launch of unique merchandise, and the sale of souvenirs all serve to project the host city's message on to the … [Read more...] about Olympics Licensing: PyeongChang, Tokyo & Beijing
Sports
Experiential Activations
A new cross-media fitness campaign from Disney and Aspics features a series of "super work-out" videos, in-store activations, and a footwear collection all meant to celebrate the release of Incredibles 2. Mixed martial arts organization UFC and AirAsia, its sponsor and presenting sponsor of UFC Fight Night Singapore, launch the first UFC-branded livery on an AirAsia Airbus … [Read more...] about Experiential Activations
M&A & Restructuring
Newell Brands continues its restructuring efforts under an expanded accelerated transformation plan, which includes the divesting of two more brands and applying all after-tax proceeds (an estimated $10 billion) from its divestitures to debt. Jostens and Pure Fishing are added to the chopping block along with non-core businesses Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Rubbermaid … [Read more...] about M&A & Restructuring
Worldwide Retail Sales of Licensed Merchandise, by Property Type
Download an image of this chart here. Retail Sales of Licensed Merchandise, by Property Type, Worldwide, 2016–2017 Note: Numbers may not add up exactly due to rounding. (Figures in Millions) Property TypeRetail Sales, 2017Retail Sales, 2016Change, 2016-2017Share, … [Read more...] about Worldwide Retail Sales of Licensed Merchandise, by Property Type
Sports: A Closer Look
Licensed retail sales of sports-based merchandise grew 4.3% in 2016 to reach $15.4 billion in the U.S./Canada—the sixth straight year of sustained growth. This year, it remains to be seen if this kind of momentum can be sustained, at least in the first quarter—in part because the impact of the two biggest sporting events, the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics, remains … [Read more...] about Sports: A Closer Look
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
Sports-based Brands & Goods Score a Goal
By: Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of sports-based licensed merchandise grew 3.5% worldwide in 2016—and in the U.S./Canada, growth exceeded 4% to reach $15.4 billion in licensed retail sales. Soccer is one of the fastest-growing segments, growing over 10% year-over-year in retail sales. Fanatics secures a $1 billion investment from Japanese … [Read more...] about Sports-based Brands & Goods Score a Goal
NFLPA’s Top Players
By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Overall, sports is the second-strongest property type we track. Retail sales grew 4.3% in 2016 to reach $15.4 billion, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Collegiate-based brands also enjoyed strong sales in 2016 at 2.5% growth, reaching $3.5 billion in sales. NFL sales, in particular, were up 3.7% in 2016, as … [Read more...] about NFLPA’s Top Players
Around the World—10/30/2017
Epic Rights and Pan Inc. will develop music artist and celebrity merchandising and branding opportunities in Japan together. Epic executives Lisa Streff and Dan Levin will manage the day-to-day business with Pan Inc. American eSports organization Cloud9 has raised $25 million in Series A financing from companies and parties including WWE, the Beverly Hills Sports Council, … [Read more...] about Around the World—10/30/2017
New Media: Streaming, TV & Movies
Entertainment properties distributed primarily through streaming services aren't the biggest source for consumer products licensing—linear TV programs reign, for many reasons. But licensees are getting wise to the potential behind streaming. For one, technology can offer new ways to market and sell goods à la traditional TV shopping, albiet in less obstructive ways. For … [Read more...] about New Media: Streaming, TV & Movies