The Licensing Letter

Apparel

Ellen DeGeneres Debits Lifestyle Site

Talk TV queen Ellen DeGeneres—ranked America’s favorite TV personality for the past three years by The Harris Poll—became the latest celebrity to launch a website lifestyle collection. eD, on eDbyellen.com, includes home goods, apparel and accessories priced from $25 to $395, all with DeGeneres’s signature casual but tailored and detailed style. Although currently available … [Read more...] about Ellen DeGeneres Debits Lifestyle Site

Nike Scores NBA Deal

As expected, Nike will replace Adidas as the National Basketball Association’s official on-court apparel provider, starting in the 2017-2018 season. The eight-year deal is reportedly valued at $125 billion a year, or $1 billion in total. That’s an estimated 245% more than Adidas paid. Of course, Nike is already an NBA licensee and, according HoopsHype, has endorsement deals … [Read more...] about Nike Scores NBA Deal

Larger Fashion Lines a Plus for Retailers

Demand for plus-size women’s clothing is expected to increase strongly through 2019, according to researcher Ibis World, due to factors including rising per capita disposable income, a decline in healthy eating, greater designer collaboration, and greater availability of premium products. The trend is showing up in licensing: In November, plus-size fashion retailer Torrid will … [Read more...] about Larger Fashion Lines a Plus for Retailers

Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic

Mall retailer Hot Topic is going all out Avengers as the exclusive merchant for a new fashion line tied to Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. A Captain America halter dress, a Thor sailor dress, a Stark Industries bomber jacket, and more from Her Universe and Disney Consumer Products will be available beginning May 12. … [Read more...] about Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic

Home McFurnishings

McDonald’s has taken its brand to the fashion realm by launching its first ever lifestyle collection in Sweden. If you’re so inclined, you can buy items from the Big Mac collection such as clothing, wallpaper, bed sheets and other items emblazoned with prints of the chain’s signature sandwich, from the company’s Swedish website. … [Read more...] about Home McFurnishings

Adidas Sells More, Makes Less

The good news for Adidas is that sales of brand products in the fourth quarter increased 11% thanks to double-digit sales growth in the sport performance training and running categories. Adidas Originals and Adidas NEO product sales also jumped more than 10% during the quarter. Reebok sales grew by a more modest 1%. Overall, Adidas’s sales for the year are up by 6%. The bad … [Read more...] about Adidas Sells More, Makes Less

Left Shark Hits Shelves

Less than a month after her attorneys put Shapeways’s unlicensed Left Shark figurines out of business, Katy Perry (Bravado Intl. Group Merchandising Services) has launched her own, official products featuring the choreographically clutzy fish that became an instant Internet sensation during the Super Bowl halftime show. There are two official Left Shark offerings: a print … [Read more...] about Left Shark Hits Shelves

Classic Character Capers

Classic entertainment characters just keep chugging along. Some recent deals involving retro TV and other classic entertainment brands: Sony Pictures Consumer Products is conjuring up a licensing campaign tied to the 50th anniversary of classic Barbara Eden-Larry Hagman sitcom, "I Dream of Jeannie.” Products reportedly include a video slot machine from IGT; a commemorative … [Read more...] about Classic Character Capers