The Licensing Letter

Warner Bros.

IT’SUGAR NoHo: Pink, Sweet & Raunchy

Every once in a while, we like to get out of the office and do some window shopping. Have requests for a future store check? Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com with the stores you'd like to see in the New York City area. This month, we checked out a confectionery retailer that seeks to indulge pop culture trends as well as a sweeth tooth. Founded in 2006 by … [Read more...] about IT’SUGAR NoHo: Pink, Sweet & Raunchy

Experiential Roundup: Garfield, Scooby-Doo, YooHoo & More

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Warner Bros. and Monlove are bringing Scooby-Doo and the gang on tour in 2020. The Canadian prodco is touring live show Scooby-Doo and the Lost City of Gold across 30 countries over 5 years. GarfieldEATS his way to Canada after the concept restaurant launched last year in Dubai in a partnership between Paws Inc. and venture … [Read more...] about Experiential Roundup: Garfield, Scooby-Doo, YooHoo & More

Who’s News—April 2019

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. 4/8/2019 CPLG promotes Brenda Draaisma to General Manager of CPLG Benelux, reporting in to Maarten Weck, who was recently named EVP & Managing … [Read more...] about Who’s News—April 2019

L.O.L. Surprise! Sweeps Toy & License of the Year Awards

This year, L.O.L. Surprise! by MGA Entertainment received the distinguished “Toy of the Year” and "License of the Year" awards at the 19th Annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. MGAE took home two more awards in the Doll and Playset (tied) categories for a total of four honors. Lego tied for the most number of awards with four of its own: Collectible, Construction Toy, Playset … [Read more...] about L.O.L. Surprise! Sweeps Toy & License of the Year Awards

What’s the [Toy] Story? Same as Last Year, Just Better!

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Straight from the floor of New York Toy Fair, TLL brings you the latest and greatest in toy trends. They just happen to be the same as last year's—only more nuanced, thoughtful, and developed. The good news this year: No one's freaking out about the ability of America's largest toy retailer to actually pay its vendors. More … [Read more...] about What’s the [Toy] Story? Same as Last Year, Just Better!

Marvel, DC Grow Market Share in Weak Comics Year

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Disney’s Marvel is expected to outshine Warner Bros.’ DC Comics in retail sales both in the comic book and licensed merchandise sectors this year as the comics market continues to battle flattish growth. Marvel Comics and DC Entertainment nabbed a combined 68.3% share of all comic book and graphic novel sales in 2018, up from … [Read more...] about Marvel, DC Grow Market Share in Weak Comics Year

Who’s News—January 2019

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. 1/14/2019 Margie Cohn, currently President of DreamWorks Animation Television, takes on the additional role of President of DreamWorks Animation. Cohn … [Read more...] about Who’s News—January 2019

Upcoming 2019 Flicks With Licensing Potential Dominated by Comics & Sequels

By: Karina Masolova, with additional research by Susan Adams. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Of the upcoming films that TLL has identified as having licensing potential, 27% are based on comics while 28% are original works. And 56% are sequels or reboots. See the full list of 189 films being released through 2025. Just over one-third of films on the list … [Read more...] about Upcoming 2019 Flicks With Licensing Potential Dominated by Comics & Sequels

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

Roundup: M&A, Experiential & Media

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. TLL rounds up the top news impacting licensing this week. Experiential Procter & Gamble strikes a deal with franchised house cleaning service The Maids for the use of its Mr. Clean brand in promotions, advertising, and sales materials. Omaha, Neb.-based company The Maids has locations in over 40 states and 3 Canadian … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A, Experiential & Media