US: Disney nears $30bn of licensed sales

Analysts predicts Disney's licensed product will hit $30bn globally this year.

Author:: Ronnie Dungan
Publish date:: Jun 13, 2008
Social count:: 0

Retail sales of licensed Disney merchandise is expected to break records and top $30 billion in global retail sales, up from $27 billion last year, and up from $13 billion just five years before that.

A big source of that growth includes the Disney Princess franchise, which brings together and revives the classic princess characters, and newer brands like High School Musical.

Disney is expanding on the success of the Princess franchise with a new Fairies franchise, and continuing to grow Pixar brands like Cars and Toy Story. These brands make Disney the world's top licensor, according to the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association.

High School Musical and Hannah Montana brought in some $400 million in 2007 but are expected to bring in $2.7 billion this year.

There are more tween franchises in the works including the Jonas Brothers' big TV movie, Camp Rock, which launches in the US on June 20th.

Mike Stagg has been named vice president of sales, UK and Ireland for Disney Consumer Products (DCP).

Walt Disney Company acquires Disney Stores in US and Canada from Hoop Retail Stores.

Thousands of sleeping bags and magic wands contaminated by excessive levels of lead paint are being recalled by Disney.

Disney's president says the firm will be reducing costs after first quarter results saw group turnover and profit both fall.

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Vivid is Britain’s biggest toy company and the 20 largest in the world. With offices across the globe, they sell an amazing portfolio of toys and games to over 60 countries. Vivid is best known for its association with blockbuster brands and is very excited about future opportunities around the world.

Liberty

Liberty House Toys have been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for the BiOBUDDi brand, and we are pleased to introduce this new unique, innovative and exciting range of 100% environmentally-friendly toy building blocks. We are seeking experienced sales agents with existing network in the toy retail market.

Our client is a privately owned French toy and games manufacturer which sells through distributors in forty countries. The company develops and sells innovative electronic interactive toys and games for the educational and gaming markets, and also takes suitable licenses. To progress its successful business development a Head of Product Development & Marketing is to to recruited.

The Contract System Coordinator is a newly created role to support the deal term entry process into Mattel’s new Contract Management System for its Licensing business. The role will support the Business Teams at the Deal & Amendment phase of the contracting process and act in conjunction with the System Administration team.