The Licensing Letter

Retail Sales

Retail Sales, Partnerships & M&A

The U.S. Commerce Department released its first estimate for Q4 GPD, which increased at an annualized rate of 2.6%—and consumer spending, which was up by 3.8% and saw its fastest growth rate in over a year. A successful holiday season, however, means that retailers are also having trouble restocking shelves. A report from the Wall Street Journal suggests that businesses are … [Read more...] about Retail Sales, Partnerships & M&A

Most Valuable Brands: Celebrity & Sports Top-Earners

On average, a licensed property will generate $7.53 million in retail sales a year within the U.S./Canada—according to data from TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey and the Licensing Sourcebook. The most valuable brands—as determined by calculating the total number of properties owned by licensors in the Licensing Sourcebook relative to licensed retail sales in the … [Read more...] about Most Valuable Brands: Celebrity & Sports Top-Earners

46 Properties Make the $100+ Million Ent/Char List in 2016

Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com A grand total of 46 properties made the $100 million entertainment/character list for 2016 retail sales, with five new faces joining the pack. See the complete list here. All in all, the top properties generated $43 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise worldwide. Globally, that marks a $2 billion increase compared to … [Read more...] about 46 Properties Make the $100+ Million Ent/Char List in 2016

Up 7.6%, Entertainment/Character Leads 2016 Growth

In 2016, entertainment/character was the fastest-growing of all the major property types TLL tracks through its Annual Licensing Business Survey. Retail sales of entertainment/character-based licensed merchandise were up a stunning 7.6% to reach almost $12.8 billion. The rate of growth was slightly down from 2015, when retail sales grew 8.0% to reach almost $11.9 … [Read more...] about Up 7.6%, Entertainment/Character Leads 2016 Growth

Licensed Sales Up 2.7% Worldwide; U.S./Canada Leads in Growth

Retail sales of licensed merchandise went up 2.7% worldwide in 2016 to reach $167.5 billion, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Generally, licensed sales outperformed GPD by a wide margin—despite low consumer spending power, retail activity was high. In areas seemingly plagued by political and economic instability, retail some Survey respondents reported … [Read more...] about Licensed Sales Up 2.7% Worldwide; U.S./Canada Leads in Growth

44 Entertainment/Character Brands Make the $100 Million List

Karina Masolova, additional reporting by Glenn Demby and Marcy Magiera Forty-four entertainment/character properties make our list of brands that generate over $100 million in retail sales of licensed merchandise in the U.S. and Canada—accounting for a total of $41 billion in sales worldwide in 2015. See the full list here. Three brands cleared $1 billion in the U.S./Canada … [Read more...] about 44 Entertainment/Character Brands Make the $100 Million List

Top Retailers Tag Holiday Toy Favorites

The holiday shopping season is firmly upon us, with more retailers revealing their top picks for this year's holiday season. By the 7th of September—54 days before Halloween, 78 days before Thanksgiving and 108 days before Christmas and Hanukkah (which this year begins on Christmas Eve)—the two largest toy retailers in the U.S., Walmart and Toys 'R' Us, had announced the toys … [Read more...] about Top Retailers Tag Holiday Toy Favorites

Retail Sales of Licensed Wearables Up in Every Territory in 2015

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Worldwide retail sales of apparel/accessories/footwear tied to licensed properties were up a robust 3.9% at just below $66.1 billion in 2015. Wearables is a bellwether of overall licensing business due not only to its size, but because it provides an outlet for so many of the industry's most important property types including fashion, … [Read more...] about Retail Sales of Licensed Wearables Up in Every Territory in 2015

Music Licensed Goods Down 1.7% as Movie Merch Spread Out on Shelves

By Marcy Magiera U.S. and Canadian sales of licensed goods based on music properties trended down for the second consecutive year in 2015, though not as steeply as in 2014. Music licensed goods represented $2.45 billion in North American retail sales in 2015, a drop of 1.7%, according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. In 2014, sales of music licensed … [Read more...] about Music Licensed Goods Down 1.7% as Movie Merch Spread Out on Shelves