The Licensing Letter

Art

Licensed Home-related Goods Up 3.4% WW in 2016

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of licensed home furnishings, housewares, and domestics grew by 3.4% globally, according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Growth was largely thanks to returns in consumer confidence and economic stability. Retail played a strong role in supporting the growth of a wide variety of brands, … [Read more...] about Licensed Home-related Goods Up 3.4% WW in 2016

Art Licensing Up 1.6%; Commercial Growth Steady

Sales of licensed art merchandise grew 1.6% from $5.67 to $5.75 billion in 2016, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. While 2015 was a bright spot with 2.1% growth from 2014—after years of sluggish or flat growth—this year's sales were slower. The sector’s steady growth was largely thanks to strong performance of commercial art properties, with … [Read more...] about Art Licensing Up 1.6%; Commercial Growth Steady

TLL’s Guide to Art-Based Properties

Art licensing includes two sub-categories: Art & Artists Fine artists and designers (living and deceased) who create images with products in mind, including textile and surface designers, as well as fine artists who create art for art’s sake, for whom licensing is a secondary concern. The first group accounts for the lion’s share of art licensing; these artists’ work is … [Read more...] about TLL’s Guide to Art-Based Properties

E-commerce Sales Top $11 Billion in 2015; Led by Trademarks and Entertainment

By Karina MasolovaOver $11 billion in licensed merchandise was sold through e-commerce retail channels in the U.S. and Canada in 2015, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Factoring out automobiles and fuel, the U.S. Commerce Department estimates that 10.5% of all U.S. retail sales in 2015 were made online. In contrast, TLL estimates that … [Read more...] about E-commerce Sales Top $11 Billion in 2015; Led by Trademarks and Entertainment

Art Licensing Up 2.1%; Commercialization is the Name of the Game

After years of flat or declining growth, sales of licensed art merchandise grew by 2.1% in 2015 from $5.55 to $5.67 billion, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. The sector’s rebound was largely thanks to “strong performance of commercial art properties which made up for sluggish sales on the fine arts side,” according to one … [Read more...] about Art Licensing Up 2.1%; Commercialization is the Name of the Game

Fine Art vs. Commercial Design

Compromising 75% of the greater arts property, the art and artists segment is fractured into a two-tier system—fine art versus commercial design. Fine art continues to enjoy strong sales thanks to the name recognition of famous artists, both alive and deceased. Ten years ago, fine art-based merchandise was largely limited to high end product niches like couture and decorative … [Read more...] about Fine Art vs. Commercial Design

Art Licensing Goes from Flat to Down 1.6%, as Fine Arts Thrive & Commercial Arts Struggle

While the overall licensing industry grew 2.5% in 2014, the art sector continued to struggle. After two years of flattish growth, retail sales of products based on licensed art properties in the U.S. and Canada actually fell 1.6%, from $5.64 billion to $5.55 billion, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Artist royalties also continued their … [Read more...] about Art Licensing Goes from Flat to Down 1.6%, as Fine Arts Thrive & Commercial Arts Struggle

Tattoo-inspired Home Decor

Alternative tattoo artist Paul Booth launched a limited-edition wall sconce collection available exclusively on his PaulBoothBrand.com website. The deal is small but it may be a harbinger of where art licensing is heading. Tattoo art has an originality and strong lifestyle appeal, especially but not exclusively to millennials, according to experts. … [Read more...] about Tattoo-inspired Home Decor

10 Things about the Current State of Art Design Licensing You Need to Know

If you couldn't make it to last month's SURTEX conference in NYC, here are key takeaways about the current state of licensing of surface designs for home goods, fashion, paper and other goods, courtesy of consultant Jeff Grinspan who put together the conference program: Although the industry is more competitive than ever, it's also rife with opportunity; More retailers are … [Read more...] about 10 Things about the Current State of Art Design Licensing You Need to Know