The Licensing Letter

NRF

2019 U.S. Retail Growth Forecast Rosy; But Not Without Challenges

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com This year's batch of respondents to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey agree with the experts: the U.S. economy is good for business in 2019. But uncertainty threatens to tank that rosy optimism. Half of the respondents to the 2018-19 Annual Survey—just under 50%—say that their licensing business will improve in 2019, … [Read more...] about 2019 U.S. Retail Growth Forecast Rosy; But Not Without Challenges

2018 Holiday Spending Expected to be Strong

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. U.S. consumer confidence rose to an 18-year high in October, per The Conference Board. The index reading of 137.9, driven largely by a robust labor market, indicates that consumers expect the current strong pace of economic growth to carry over into early 2019. The NRF estimates that holiday spending will increase 4.1% this … [Read more...] about 2018 Holiday Spending Expected to be Strong

Retailer Watch: Sears, FAO Schwarz, TRU & NRF

By Karina Masolova. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Sears Holdings is joining the bankruptcy club, facing down $12 billion worth of debt (compared to $8.1 billion in assets). The retailer will undergo Chapter 11 reorganization and is expected to close 142 stores as part of those proceedings. Sears hasn't turned a profit since 2010 and has $134 million of … [Read more...] about Retailer Watch: Sears, FAO Schwarz, TRU & NRF

Consumer Research: Affluents, Students & More

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Along with Gen Z, Millennial spending power will account for 45% of the global personal luxury goods market by 2025, according to a recent study by Bain & Company. The global toy market is forecast to hit $139 billion by 2025, according to the market research firm Coherent Market Insights. Its latest report forecasts that … [Read more...] about Consumer Research: Affluents, Students & More

Who’s News — 1/22/2018

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.   LIMA welcomes Gisela Abrams (from Sesame Workshop) as SVP Global Partnerships and Sharon Weisman (from UBM) as Senior Director Global Business … [Read more...] about Who’s News — 1/22/2018

Who’s News

Open call Looking to hire or be hired? Contact our business development team to feature your listing on TLL. Just want to feature your new hires? Contact editorial. AMBI Group launches their Global Brand Partnerships division, to be led by Keith Snelgrove. The National Retail Federation hires Martine Reardon, former CMO for Macy’s, as a senior advisor for retail and … [Read more...] about Who’s News

Halloween Spending Up; Entertainment Tops Costume Choices

By Karina Masolova Halloween spending is expected to reach an all-time high this year, according to the National Retail Foundation (NRF)'s Halloween Spending Survey; total spending is expected to reach $8.4 billion, up 21.7% from $6.9 billion in 2015. The last time sales came close was in 2012, at a previous high of $8.0 billion. Over 171 million Americans expected to celebrate … [Read more...] about Halloween Spending Up; Entertainment Tops Costume Choices