By Karina Masolova Reported third quarter (3Q) sales from toy giants Hasbro and Mattel exhibited an interesting break along gender lines, with boys' toys outperforming girls' amidst depressed worldwide sales thanks to unfavorable exchange rates. More gender balance may be on the way, however, with the girls' market expected to get a boost from the first interactive Barbie doll … [Read more...] about Mattel, Hasbro see Q3 Retail Sales Split Along Gender Lines
Target
Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Merchandising Campaign: Bigger & Earlier than Anything Before
The timing between movie release and merchandising is a perennial challenge in movie licensing. Historically, merchandise associated with an anticipated blockbuster appears on store shelves around six weeks before release. But several of the entertainment executives we interviewed last spring for The Licensing Letter's 2014 Annual Licensing Business Survey predicted that this … [Read more...] about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Merchandising Campaign: Bigger & Earlier than Anything Before
Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars
By Marcy Magiera When The Licensing Letter spoke to entertainment executives for our Annual Licensing Business Survey back in the spring, several sources predicted that movie-based licensed merchandise this fall would begin to appear in stores earlier than ever, with end-of-year movies loading merchandise into stores as soon as September. The expected leader of that trend: … [Read more...] about Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars
Target’s Pulitzer Problem
It seemed a major coup for mass merchant Target to have signed high- end designer Lilly Pulitzer for an exclusive fashion and home line. But it wasn’t all triumph for “Tar-jay” when the 250-piece Lilly Pulitzer collection launched April 19. Within hours (and in some stores, minutes), crazed customers had plucked the shelves clean. Online traffic was so great that Target’s … [Read more...] about Target’s Pulitzer Problem
Retail Notes
Books-A-Million (aka BAM!) plans to expand its 257-store retail presence (second highest of any book retailer in the U.S.) by opening 30 new stores this year; Three months after announcing its intention to get out of canada, Target Canada completed inventory liquidation and closed the last of its 133 retail stores on April 12; According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, … [Read more...] about Retail Notes
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
Target Stocks Kinky Toys
Mainstream retailers including Target and Amazon got in the mood for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie’s Valentine’s weekend opening by stocking an unconventional variety of officially licensed merchandise tied to the sexually charged property. More power to them. If Americans buy lingerie at Costco, why not sex toys at Target? But blogs including Jezebel took Target to task … [Read more...] about Target Stocks Kinky Toys