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Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on fashion properties in the U.S./Canada grew 1.5% to reach $21,776 million in 2017, per TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey.
On the distribution side, the fastest-growing channel in 2017 for the U.S./Canada was ecommerce at 4.3% growth. Unlike most of the other five major property types TLL tracks, ecommerce accounts for a smaller share of total fashion sales at just 8.3% share of all licensed retail sales.
The largest category, discounters and value, inched ahead with 1.1% growth to reach just over $8.5 billion in retail sales for 2017. The second- and third-largest channels, specialty stores at 25.9% and department and mid-tier retailers at 23.9%, likewise observed relatively stunted 1.6% and 1.5% growth compared to 2016, respectively.
While most licensed channel trends mirror that of the broader fashion business, mail order is an exception. With the rise of subscription-type services, fashion apparel and higher-end HBA consumer goods have not only observed an uptick in online-based sales but also the relatively retro catalog, mail order, and TV shopping channels. This trend is expected to subvert in the coming years.
Note: Numbers may not add up exactly due to rounding. | |||||
(Figures in millions) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Distribution Channel | Retail Sales, 2016 | Retail Sales, 2017 | Change, 2016-2017 | Share of Sales, 2017 | |
Discounters and Value | $8,408 | $8,501 | 1.1% | 39.0% | |
Specialty Stores | $5,555 | $5,644 | 1.6% | 25.9% | |
Department and Mid-tier | $5,126 | $5,203 | 1.5% | 23.9% | |
E-Commerce | $1,737 | $1,812 | 4.3% | 8.3% | |
Mail Order | $279 | $272 | -2.5% | 1.2% | |
TV Shopping | $236 | $234 | -1.0% | 1.1% | |
Other | $107 | $110 | 2.5% | 0.5% | |
Total | $21,449 | $21,776 | 1.5% | 100.0% |