Sales of Disney Merchandise to Pass $30 Billion Mark

NEW YORK, June
11: Global retail revenues of licensed Disney merchandise is expected to exceed
$30 billion in fiscal 2008, Andy Mooney, the chairman of Disney Consumer
Products, announced at the Licensing Show yesterday, with the tween franchises
alone contributing $2 billion.

This year, Disney’s retail
sales hit $27 billion, more than double the $13 billion recorded in 2002. Tween
merchandise has been a driver for the company, with revenues of $400 million
this year expected to hit $2.7 billion from High School Musical and Hannah Montana in fiscal 2008.

The Disney girls
franchises, meanwhile, Disney Princess and Disney Fairies,
are expected to deliver $5 billion in global retail sales. For the boy demo,
the Disney/Pixar Cars franchise
is expected to generate $2.5 billion in retail revenues in 2008, for a total of
$5 billion since its box office premiere.

"It's the Disney
difference that accounts for this unprecedented growth fueled by unmatched
content and rich franchises nurtured across The Walt Disney Company," said
Mooney. "In just five years, retail sales of Disney products have doubled
and we have diversified our portfolio of brands with smash hits like High
School Musical, evergreens like
Disney Princess and expanding franchises in Disney/Pixar's Cars and Disney Fairies. Our product offerings now reach all ages. Simply
put, there is no better time to be aligned with Disney."

—By Mansha Daswani