The amusement/theme park business is ramping up, and for licensed brands, it's only getting better. Global theme park spending totaled $40.4 billion in 2015, up 7.4% from 2014, according to the Intl. Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). The IAAPA points to a 5.2% increase in attendance, the largest gain during the past five years, as the biggest reason for … [Read more...] about Licensing in the $40.4 Billion Theme Park Business
Disney
Mergers & Acquisitions
Global Brands Group purchases a majority stake in Sean John, Sean “Diddy” Combs' men’s lifestyle brand, as well as Combs’ hip-hop fashion brand Enyce. Sean John, which has annual retail sales of $450 million, operates under a completely licensed model; current licensees and an exclusive retail partnership with Macy's will be retained. Cherokee Global Brands (owner of Cherokee, … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
44 Entertainment/Character Brands Make the $100 Million List
Karina Masolova, additional reporting by Glenn Demby and Marcy Magiera Forty-four entertainment/character properties make our list of brands that generate over $100 million in retail sales of licensed merchandise in the U.S. and Canada—accounting for a total of $41 billion in sales worldwide in 2015. See the full list here. Three brands cleared $1 billion in the U.S./Canada … [Read more...] about 44 Entertainment/Character Brands Make the $100 Million List
Superheroes Revisited: Batman Overtakes Spider-Man
The age-old question is re-examined: DC or Marvel? We've restated the 2014 retail sales figures for Batman, Avengers, and Superman to reflect the relative rankings between the four superhero brands on the $100 million-plus list. This is how the top superheroes rank up in 2015 for licensed retail sales in the U.S./Canada: Batman (No. 11 on the $100 million list) Spider-Man … [Read more...] about Superheroes Revisited: Batman Overtakes Spider-Man
Halloween Spending Up; Entertainment Tops Costume Choices
By Karina Masolova Halloween spending is expected to reach an all-time high this year, according to the National Retail Foundation (NRF)'s Halloween Spending Survey; total spending is expected to reach $8.4 billion, up 21.7% from $6.9 billion in 2015. The last time sales came close was in 2012, at a previous high of $8.0 billion. Over 171 million Americans expected to celebrate … [Read more...] about Halloween Spending Up; Entertainment Tops Costume Choices
Preschool: A Passport to the Worldwide Market
By Karina Masolova As one of the first categories in which properties originating outside the U.S. became part of global culture, the worldwide preschool sector essentially provides licensors with a passport to the global licensed consumer products market. The trend is only accelerating as the over-$10 billion market for licensed preschool products expands. See the complete … [Read more...] about Preschool: A Passport to the Worldwide Market
Pumping Up Brands
By Karina Masolova Despite our love for athleisure and all things healthy, a recent study by Nautilus shows that Americans and Europeans fail when it comes to general health and fitness knowledge (scoring an average of 42% and 39%, respectively). But it can't be denied that fitness is a big business, even if it is more aspirational than not. The 2016 update to Inc.'s 5000 list … [Read more...] about Pumping Up Brands
Who’s News
Genius Brands Intl. promotes Stone Newman to President Global Consumer Products, Worldwide Content Sales & Marketing and hires Jo Kavanagh-Payne as SVP Global Distribution. PBS promotes Dawn Ciccone to VP Brand Licensing, where she leads PBS KIDS brand licensing. Amanda Hill is elevated to CMO of A+E Networks. Chris Heatherly is now EVP Worldwide Games & Digital … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Rogue Film’s Miniature Launch
By Karina Masolova In a move reminiscent of last year's Force Friday unboxing events, Disney revealed the new toy line for upcoming film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story via a series of fan-made videos on Star War's YouTube channel. Unlike last year however, the toys—from Hasbro, LEGO, Funko, Jakks Pacific, Mattel and Disney Store—are brought to life in scripted stop-animation … [Read more...] about Rogue Film’s Miniature Launch
Disney Dresses Up with Fashion
If you think Disney licensing is all about mass merchant toys and T-shirts, think again. Fast fashion retailer Forever 21 this week rolls out a limited-edition Disney Pixar capsule collection of women's, men's and kids's clothing and accessories that feature character portraits of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Dory, Nemo, Mike Wazowski and others along with phrases that play off the … [Read more...] about Disney Dresses Up with Fashion