TOTAL LICENSING
SURVIVAL OF
THE FITTEST
Roundtable
As we are all
How will the current economic and value but not at the expense of licensors and licensees are tightening
too aware, we’re
climate impact on the licensing in- quality”. their belts, finding ways to reduce op-
living through
dustry? Al Kahn: “Everything starts to back erating and overhead costs and are
extraordinary
Gustavo Antonioni: “With tighter up. The retailers are cutting back on becoming more and more risk averse.
times and today’s
budgets, consumers and retailers are orders and the number of properties In today’s market, cash is certainly
financial
more cautious, Both will be looking they’re going to support…less so on king! I think this mentality will contin-
for products that are increasingly rel- those unproven properties…they’ll ue through well into 2009, or at least
problems are
evant to their lifestyles. We believe be looking at a more narrow and deep until we see some resurgence in the
impacting
there will be less demand for untried position in terms of licenses, which overall economy and consumers start
businesses
or disposable products. People will will negatively impact us from a stand- spending again.
around the
either pay top price for items of lon- point of launching newproperties and The impact of this is that licensees and
world. For this
gevity and performance or low prices sustaining some revenue streams of retailers are only looking to license or
Roundtable, we
for items that will give them a quick existing properties”. carry the ‘sure thing’ – those proper-
have asked a
fix because even in hard times, people Maura Regan: “We have already be- ties that have proven performance and
number of major
will spend a little on small luxuries – gun to see the impact at retail on the multi-channel reach in the market – (ie
players in the
cosmetics is an industry segment that licensing industry. on a major TV broadcaster, big budget
business about
is expected to grow, so it’s important Consumers are thinking twice about movies, significant online placement
the different to incorporate this category into your purchases that are not necessities, and at major retail outlets).
ways that the product mix.” and overall sales have declined. This We need consumers to apply the ‘pull
issues can or will Jessica Dunne: “Like all industries, li- presents a unique challenge to the factor’ vs property owners or retail-
affect different
censing will be impacted as a result of licensing industry to rethink how to ers trying to push the products down-
sectors of our
consumers spending less because they create and distribute products that stream. Gone are the days when an
industry and,
are nervous about the future. We are consumers will want, and feel com- entertainment or character property
more positively,
already experiencing less foot traffic fortable purchasing”. will be able to get meaningful place-
how companies
at retail stores. Consumers are be- Travis Rutherford: “The current ment at retail if they do not have the
can successfully
coming more price conscious and will economic climate is already having ability to show meaningful long-term
adapt to the
respond to values. We need to ensure a major impact on the worldwide li- support, proven sell-through results
situation.
that we are providing differentiation censing industry – in all sectors. Major (either in another region, channel or
Their answers
shed some light
OUR PANELISTS
on how they are
planning to tackle
Gustavo Antonioni Al Kahn Maura Regan Bruno Schwobthaler, Senior
the issues
Commercial Brands Director CEO, 4Kids Entertainment VP and General Manager, VP Sales and Business
facing different
ITV Global Entertainment Global Licensing, Development,
Liz Kalodner Sesame Workshop Warner Bros. Consumer
sides of the
Jessica Dunne
Executive VP and General Products EMEA
industry today.
Executive VP Global Licensing
Manager, CBS Consumer Travis J Rutherford
Disney Consumer Products
Products Former Executive VP, MGM
98
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132