By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief What a difference a couple of months can make. In January The Licensing Letter was forecasting rapid growth in the global economy, with a major recovery for many sectors in the licensing industry. TLL was pegging growth expectations at between 3.9 to 4.9% in 2022, as pandemic restrictions lifted around the world. TLL did list a number of … [Read more...] about Licensing Forecast: War In Ukraine Puts Damper On 2022 Economic Outlook
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McDonald’s Honored With Licensing Sustainability Award
McDonald's Restaurants received a standing ovation Thursday as the company was named winner of the Licensing Sustainability Award. The award was unveiled at the SPLiCE New Year Solutions conference in Los Angeles. The award itself is granted four times a year as a joint project by the Society of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence, which represents the world's largest … [Read more...] about McDonald’s Honored With Licensing Sustainability Award
Play Lab: How Fisher Price Develops Toys That Kids Love
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Play and entertainment giant Mattel is marking a 60-year anniversary by unveiling the secrets behind the success of its acclaimed Fisher-Price division. And while the topic is not exactly what the Licensing Letter typically covers, we were fascinated by the process Fisher-Price uses to develop toys that young kids love. To sum it up in a … [Read more...] about Play Lab: How Fisher Price Develops Toys That Kids Love
Celebrity Licensing: David Beckham Joins New Team In Deal With Authentic Brands
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The star athlete turned entrepreneur David Beckham has signed a strategic partnership with licensing juggernaut Authentic Brands Group. ABG is now a co-owner of the Beckham brand, and will also manage the brand for licensing and overall business purposes. In return, Beckham has become a major shareholder in ABG. The deal signifies the … [Read more...] about Celebrity Licensing: David Beckham Joins New Team In Deal With Authentic Brands
Licensing Sustainability Award Winner To Be Announced March 3rd
The winner of the second Licensing Sustainability Award will be named at the upcoming SPLiCE New Year Solutions conference in Los Angeles on March 3. The LSA is an award honoring programs within the licensing industry that either reduce pollution and waste, protect the environment, and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The LSA is a joint project by SPLiCE and The Licensing … [Read more...] about Licensing Sustainability Award Winner To Be Announced March 3rd
LEGO, Disney, Jazwares Clean Up In Toy Of The Year Awards
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief LEGO dominated this year's TOTY award list with seven wins, but Jazwares' Squishmallow line won Toy of the Year, winning three separate awards. "Squishmallows takes the crown!" the company tweeted at the news. "This would not be possible without the support of our phenomenal partners, retailers, Jazmanians & our millions of … [Read more...] about LEGO, Disney, Jazwares Clean Up In Toy Of The Year Awards
Toy Licensing: Hasbro Unveils Massive Slate of New Products
By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Hasbro, Inc. has announced a large lineup of new content and products across its portfolio to continue its purpose-driven brand blueprint strategy. These products will include categories such as action, gaming, fashion, preschool consumer products and more. Since acquiring Entertainment One in 2020, Hasbro has increased its global … [Read more...] about Toy Licensing: Hasbro Unveils Massive Slate of New Products
Celebrity Licensing: Justin Bieber Collab Boosts Fortunes For Tim Hortons
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief When the donut chain Tim Horton's signed a deal last November with pop superstar Justin Bieber (pictured here in a promotional photo), it brought together two Canadian icons, collectively as popular as maple syrup or ice hockey. Now, Restaurant Brands says the licensing collaboration between Tim Horton's and Justin Bieber boosted sales by … [Read more...] about Celebrity Licensing: Justin Bieber Collab Boosts Fortunes For Tim Hortons
Take Five Minutes To Complete The Licensing Salaries and Compensation Survey
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The Licensing Letter has just released its annual Licensing Salaries and Compensation Survey, covering 2021 and 2020. TAKE THE SURVEY HERE. This year the survey specifically covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the salaries and job security for the professionals working in our industry. And while The Licensing Letter has … [Read more...] about Take Five Minutes To Complete The Licensing Salaries and Compensation Survey
Streaming Success Prompts ViacomCBS Rebranding to Paramount
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The meteoric rise of streaming services during the pandemic has prompted ViacomCBS to change its name to Paramount. That news was releases during the ViacomCBS earnings call with investors this week, which also revealed the company's Paramount+ service has attracted 32.8 million subscribers. That includes 7.3 million subscribers who signed … [Read more...] about Streaming Success Prompts ViacomCBS Rebranding to Paramount