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
Apparel
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
Mass Retail Fashion Licensing Targets Men
Very quietly and with little fanfare, mass retailer Target launched Target Collective, a curated collection of Americanmade men's fashion products from six different designers: Billykirk (bags and accessories); Owen & Fred (soap and accessories); Taylor Stitch (casual wear); Duluth Pack (bags); Locally Grown (T-shirts and hats); and Terrapin Stationers (note cards). The … [Read more...] about Mass Retail Fashion Licensing Targets Men
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
Knights Joins Hanes
HanesBrands agreed to acquire Knights Apparel, a leading seller of licensed collegiate logo apparel, from affiliates of Merit Capital Partners. Knights sells apparel representing 400 of the largest U.S. colleges and universities, primarily to mass merchant retailers. The company complements Hanes’ Gear for Sports division, which is a leading seller of licensed collegiate … [Read more...] about Knights Joins Hanes
“Cinderella” Tie-In Campaigns Targets Women of All Generations
Women apparently never outgrow the desire to feel like a princess. At least that’s the message retailers JCPenney and Kohl’s are promoting as part of a multi-generational approach to tie-ins with Disney’s live-action “Cinderella,” which is due in theaters March 13. JCP created a commercial specifically for the Feb. 22 Academy Awards telecast showing a woman in several JCP … [Read more...] about “Cinderella” Tie-In Campaigns Targets Women of All Generations