Open call Looking to hire or be hired? Contact our business development team to feature your listing on TLL. Just want to feature your new hires? Contact editorial. Warner Bros. Consumer Products names Julian Montoya as SVP Global Toys to develop brands such as DC, J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, and Hanna-Barbera. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Digital Networks Group … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Warner Bros.
Who’s News
Open call Looking to hire or be hired? Contact our business development team to feature your listing on TLL. Just want to feature your new hires? Contact editorial. John Louie is Warner Bros. Consumer Products' new SVP Intl.; he is responsible for development and management of Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Canada across all categories of business. Ben Pyne, Disney’s … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Collectibles, Preschool Snag Top Toys of the Year
Congrats to the winners of the 17th annual Toy of the Year Awards, hosted by the The Toy Industry Association (TIA). LEGO and Spin Master snagged three awards this year, while Funko and Mattel had two each. The Toy of the Year went to LEGO Friends Amusement Park Roller Coaster from LEGO, while the People’s Choice award went to Pop! from Funko. Seven out of the 14 total … [Read more...] about Collectibles, Preschool Snag Top Toys of the Year
Who’s News
Open call Looking to hire or be hired? Contact our business development team to feature your listing on TLL. Just want to feature your new hires? Contact editorial. The last couple of years have seen entire licensing teams displaced at top companies as they migrate across the corporate waters. We hope that the flocks have settled down for the winter—but just in case they … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Mergers & Acquisitions
Nine West Holdings enters into a definitive agreement to acquire women’s sportswear firm Kasper Group following its sale of the Easy Spirit wholesale business; the transaction is expected to close this month. Funko buys London-based manufacturer and distributor Underground Toys. Studio 100 acquires a 68% majority stake in m4e; the new group will bolster each company's … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
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
Mergers & Acquisitions
The leading bidder for collegiate sports marketing agency Learfield Communications is now TPG Capital. As the majority stake owner of CAA, TPG plans to merge the two agencies if its rumored $1.2–1.3 billion bid is successful. UBM, LIMA, and Alifish—the licensing and entertainment business unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba—join forces. In addition to online licensing … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
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