The Licensing Letter

Walmart

NECA & Walmart Launch Digital Collectibles Platform

AutoT Portal to Launch With Exclusively Licensed Lithographs by Artist Bob Ross By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Walmart has taken a bold step into the world of digital collectibles, partnering with NECA to launch a new platform called AutoT. The National Entertainment Collectibles Association and Walmart have already created what they say is a "first of its kind … [Read more...] about NECA & Walmart Launch Digital Collectibles Platform

Walmart Releases Top Toy List for Xmas 2022

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Walmart has given wannabe licensees a cheat sheet for Christmas, listing its choice for the top 55 toys for 2022. Walmart's 2022 Top Toy List is released every year to help families making decisions on their Christmas shopping, but it's also a great tool for licensees looking for their next big deal. This year's Top Toy List highlights 55 … [Read more...] about Walmart Releases Top Toy List for Xmas 2022

Ariella Maizner Partners With IMG To Develop Theme Brand

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Fashion designer Ariella Maizner has partnered with IMG to expand her popular THEME brand into new products and categories. IMG will accomplish this brand expansion through selective licensing partnerships and retail collaborations. The multi-year agreement will see IMG work with Ariella to extend the THEME brand with partnerships in … [Read more...] about Ariella Maizner Partners With IMG To Develop Theme Brand

Ninja Life Hacks Launches Emotional Learning Products at Walmart for Mental Health Month

Ninja Life Hacks has announced the launch of licensed learning products at Walmart featuring their superhero characters such as Positive Ninja and Angry Ninja. Walmart will promote the products as its focus May, National Mental Health Awareness Month. The company will also support the effort with free downloadable print resources. Ninja Life Hacks is a breakout children’s … [Read more...] about Ninja Life Hacks Launches Emotional Learning Products at Walmart for Mental Health Month

We Can All Look Better, Thanks to Queer Eye Licensing Deal

Sartorially challenged men and women everywhere can rest easy, knowing a new licensing agreement will bring the Emmy award winning fashion sense of Queer Eye to an ecommerce portal near you.  Scout Productions, the company behind the hit series, announced on November 5 a multi-layered licensing program of new products and the launch of QueerEyeStore.com, bringing fans all … [Read more...] about We Can All Look Better, Thanks to Queer Eye Licensing Deal

Discount, Ecommerce Channels Add $1.3 Billion in U.S. & Canada Licensed Sales

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The discount/mass and online/ecommerce channels alone added an additional $1.3 billion in licensed retail sales in 2018, according to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey. That's exactly 91.0% of the $1.5 billion growth in licensed retail sales from 2017. [field "chart1"] The share of retail sales of licensed … [Read more...] about Discount, Ecommerce Channels Add $1.3 Billion in U.S. & Canada Licensed Sales

M&A: New Faces, Same Places

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Penske Media Corp. (PMC) purchases the last remaining 49% stake in Rolling Stone from BandLab Technologies, giving it full ownership over the magazine brand, including all event and licensing rights, as well as the parallel entity Rolling Stone Intl. Other PMC properties available for licensing include Variety, Deadline … [Read more...] about M&A: New Faces, Same Places

Retail Watch: Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Other Trends

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Here are the top trends and data points to help you digest this five-day holiday weekend. This story has been updated for Dec. 3, 2018 to incorporate additional data, especially for Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that holiday sales, both in-store and online, will increase anywhere from 4.3% to … [Read more...] about Retail Watch: Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Other Trends

One-Quarter of Top 2018 Holiday Toys are Licensed

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Roughly 29% of the top 2018 holiday toys are licensed, according to lists created by Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Kmart. In 2017, retail sales of licensed toys/games sank -4.4% to $7.7 billion in the U.S./Canada, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. This was largely due to the impact of the Toys 'R' Us … [Read more...] about One-Quarter of Top 2018 Holiday Toys are Licensed

Media Magnates

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group vaults itself into the entertainment business after having acquired VStar Entertainment Group this July. The combined entity currently has 29 shows in production, including branded offerings for Nickelodeon's Bubble Guppies and Paw Patrol. In 2019, Cirque will launch the first of six … [Read more...] about Media Magnates