Retail sales of licensed sports merchandise by distribution channel
Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on sports leagues and events increased 2.2% in the U.S. and Canada in 2012, according to The Licensing Letter. Retail sales of sports-licensed merchandise in 2012 were just over $13 billion, versus $12.79 billion in 2011.
That growth was driven by two of the three largest product categories in sports licensing, Apparel and Accessories, which saw growth of 5.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Together, those two categories accounted for 46.6% of total retail sales of sports-licensed goods in 2012. In addition, Consumer Electronics, a small but vibrant sector, grew 6.8%.
Other sports licensing categories that showed increases in 2012 included Food/Beverage, Footwear, Gifts/Novelties, Health/Beauty, Infant, Sporting Goods, and Toys/Games, all up between 1.8% and 3.5%.
Video Games, which account for 12.6% of the market for sports-based licensed merchandise, declined 5.1%, to $1.65 billion from $1.74 billion the previous year.