LIMA: Global Retail Sales of Licensed Goods Reaches $241.5 Billion

NEW YORK: The first-ever LIMA Annual Global Licensing Study has revealed that retail sales for products bearing the trademarked names and likenesses of cartoon characters, corporate logos and brands, major sports teams and more totaled an estimated $13.4 billion in royalty revenues and $241.5 billion in retail sales in 2014.

The U.S./Canada was by far the most dominant region, with more than $144 billion in retail sales, representing nearly 60 percent of the worldwide total. Europe, with more than $57 billion in retail sales, accounted for just under one-fourth of the total global market, while Asia accounted for nearly 10 percent of total retail sales.

By category, the licensing industry continues to be dominated by five major sectors: Character & Entertainment, Corporate Trademarks, Sports, Fashion and Collegiate. Together, they represented 89 percent of all licensing revenues in 2014. Character & Entertainment, by far the most dominant category with more than $107 billion, accounting for 44 percent in retail sales, was more than double the next highest category, Corporate Trademark ($53 billion, 22 percent). Fashion, with $29 billion in estimated retail sales or 12 percent of the total, was third, followed by Sports ($26 billion, 11 percent), Publishing ($12 billion), Collegiate ($4.6 billion), Celebrity ($3.3 billion) and Music ($2.3 billion).

“Licensing is a major marketing and retail force around the globe and our first-ever global survey clearly attests to its power and reach all over the world,” said LIMA President Charles Riotto. “With this comprehensive report, we are able to provide LIMA members with the data they need to more effectively grow their brands and their businesses.”