Epic Rights and Pan Inc. will develop music artist and celebrity merchandising and branding opportunities in Japan together. Epic executives Lisa Streff and Dan Levin will manage the day-to-day business with Pan Inc. American eSports organization Cloud9 has raised $25 million in Series A financing from companies and parties including WWE, the Beverly Hills Sports Council, … [Read more...] about Around the World—10/30/2017
Amazon
New Media: Streaming, TV & Movies
Entertainment properties distributed primarily through streaming services aren't the biggest source for consumer products licensing—linear TV programs reign, for many reasons. But licensees are getting wise to the potential behind streaming. For one, technology can offer new ways to market and sell goods à la traditional TV shopping, albiet in less obstructive ways. For … [Read more...] about New Media: Streaming, TV & Movies
M&A & Promotions
CORRECTION: On Sept. 9, we reported a new “patent cross-licensing” deal between Scientific Games and Intl. Game Technology (IGT). The agreement only covers "game features" patents, and does not, as our earlier story might have suggested, cover other types of intellectual property such as brand licenses. Learfield and IMG make their union official, formally announcing a … [Read more...] about M&A & Promotions
Retailer Alert: Holiday Sales, TRU & New Innovations
The economists have weighed in, and it looks like holiday sales will be strong this year. Deloitte projects that holiday sales between November and January will rise 4% to 4.5% from a year earlier to as much as $1.05 trillion. Online sales will rise at a much faster pace, gaining 18% to 21% to as much as $114 billion, or 11% of the total holiday retail sales. AlixPartners … [Read more...] about Retailer Alert: Holiday Sales, TRU & New Innovations
Retailer’s Top Toys of the 2017 Holiday Season
By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The top toy lists from Toys 'R' Us, Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Kohl's are out! Just over one-third of the top toys of the holiday season are licensed offerings. This year, we've identified which toys are licensed, their respective manufacturer, and which are exclusive to the retailer. See the complete list below. In 2016, … [Read more...] about Retailer’s Top Toys of the 2017 Holiday Season
M&A & Theme Parks
The VF Corp. acquires global workwear company Williamson-Dickie for approximately $820 million. Williamson-Dickie's brands—Dickies, Workrite, Kodiak, Terra, and Walls—will join VF’s Imagewear coalition, which includes Wrangler, Riggs Workwear, and Timberland Pro. The transaction is expected to be complete in Q4 of this year, and Williamson-Dickie CEO Philip Williamson will … [Read more...] about M&A & Theme Parks
To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover
While some brands are embracing the Amazon marketplace, others are waging war against the ecommerce giant. Brands must make a choice: Deal with the black and/or grey markets, or else become part of the white market. Online/ecommerce grew in distribution channel share by three-tenths of a percentage point last year to reach 11.7% of all licensed sales in the U.S./Canada—or … [Read more...] about To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover
Mergers & Acquisitions
Phoenix Asset Management increases its stake in Hornby Hobbies to over 70% after increasing its stake to over 50% last month. Italian toy manufacturer Giochi Preziosi sells its 50% stake in Prenatal Retail Group to Artsana, giving Artsana full ownership of European retail brands brands Toy Centre, King Jouet, Prenatal, and Bimbostore. The deal is estimated to be worth 105 … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
The State of Licensing In Mobile
Sanrio and Bandai Namco Entertainment team up for Hello Kitty ♥ PAC-MAN, a mobile game app and a limited edition merchandise collection including t-shirts, caps, socks, tote bags, pins, and collectible figures. SEGA Networks and WWE partner for WWE Tap Mania, a worldwide mobile game app that features a roster of past and present WWE Superstars facing off in the ring in … [Read more...] about The State of Licensing In Mobile
Walmart Steady as Top Retailer in the U.S.
Walmart remained steady in its No. 1 spot as the top retailer based on sales, while Amazon climbed and Target dropped, according to Stores Magazine’s annual Top 100 Retailers list, released by National Retail Federation (NRF) and Kantar Retail. Innovation in shopping options is key to remaining on top, with Stores Magazine citing "creative disruption" and "reinventing physical … [Read more...] about Walmart Steady as Top Retailer in the U.S.