The Licensing Letter

Toys and Games

Show Me the Money: Toycos Report Depressed Sales FY2018

With a few exceptions, every major publicly-traded toyco reported a drop in sales of licensed toys/games. TLL breaks down how the year went for Mattel, Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, Lego, and Funko. The bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of Toys"R"Us (TRU) stores (which immediately impacted the U.S., U.K., and Australia in 2017) remained a drag on 2018 performance thanks to store … [Read more...] about Show Me the Money: Toycos Report Depressed Sales FY2018

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!

Going Corporate: 2019 Toys/Games Built on a TM

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Lest TLL neglects to honor those corporate trademarks/brands with influence in the toys and games space, here are some of the top highlights amongst those branded offerings we spotted on the floor at New York Toy Fair: The Smithsonian expands its a widening line of STEM toys aimed at older kids from Sakar. The line includes … [Read more...] about Going Corporate: 2019 Toys/Games Built on a TM

Store Check: Holiday 2018 at Rockefeller Center

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. FAO Schwarz has returned to New York City with a brand new flagship store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The toy store spans 2.5 levels with over 20,000 sq. ft. of FAO's signature toys, interactive experiences, and themed partner areas. In addition to holiday exclusives, the store's collaboration with specialty candy retailer … [Read more...] about Store Check: Holiday 2018 at Rockefeller Center

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

M&A: Fashion, Toys & Other Business

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. As Levi Strauss prepares to open its largest store in the world in the form of a new Times Square flagship, it is also gearing up for an IPO that would value the company at up to $5 billion. The 145 year-old jeans manufacturer had gone public once before, in 1971, and is now privately held by the descendants of the family of … [Read more...] about M&A: Fashion, Toys & Other Business

Roundup: M&A & Legal

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Spanish soccer league LaLiga and Relevent, a multinational media, sports and entertainment group, craft a 15 year-long, equal joint venture to promote soccer in the U.S. and Canada. LaLiga will bring the first regular season clubs match to the U.S., dubbed LaLiga North America. LaLiga North America is LaLiga's exclusive … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A & Legal