All Artwork ©SEPS

   Retail Sales Numbers Disappointing!

Reuters released same store retails sales results for September 2015 and they fell short of estimates.  The US Census reported September results up 0.1% over August 2015 and up 2.4% over September 2014 but still short of estimates. Food Service and Furniture/Home furnishing both represented the largest increases in the retail groups. Department store sales continued to lag. Hopefully we will see this trend change in the October sales numbers and continue through the balance of the year.
 
Curtis exhibited for the first time this month at the Brand Licensing Expo London.

Our goal going into the show was to further develop our licensee base in Europe, as well as connect and hire additional agents in the European market. We feel like we were able to make headway in both or these areas. We had several positive meetings with potential new licensees in several product categories. We also met with retailers from that market and discussed the use of our archive on direct merchandising programs. We met with several agents throughout the show and hired additional agents to cover Germany, Poland, Russia and the Baltic area. We are also talking to couple agents in the UK and will be making a decision for that area soon. The trends we spotted at the show were floral and retro from the 60’s and 70’s. Our Leading Ladies and Men at the Top collections were on trend in that market. We were told the 50’s were trending down.
 
We are very pleased to announce that we have finalized a licensing agreement with Lintex Linens. Lintex Linens has been a leader in the textile sector since 1972. They have great relationships with major retailers at all levels and are excited about the potential our archive offers them.  They will be focusing first on kitchen textiles, bath and beach. We are confident they will be successful and look forward to a long relationship.
 
Kim Parker launched several new dinnerware patterns at the recent tabletop show in NYC.  Lifetime Brands is very pleased with the current placement of her collections and sell through. During the market, Macy’s committed to additional patterns and to further build the Kim Parker Brand at store level. They too are very happy with the sell through. Kim and Lifetime were pleased with the market and their success.
 
We are also excited about an upcoming Thanksgiving promotion with Butterball Turkeys.

Butterball will use “Freedom from Want” as the foundation for their “Throwback Thanksgiving” campaign. The image will be featured on the wrap of all their fresh turkeys as well as all the advertising to support the product. They will also run a “Throwback Sweepstakes” where participants will be asked to submit a picture of their Thanksgiving gathering. Prizes will be awarded.  
 
Other licensees will also be able to participate  in this promotion.  Art.com has agreed to join in by offering a 40% discount on any art purchase  to  Butterball web customers. Customers would simply select a specially created link on Butterball’s site, get the discount code from the special Post landing page and link to Art.com to shop!  Art .com is also providing a framed art print featuring “Freedom from Want “ as one of the gifts offered in the Butterball Sweepstakes. Butterball has over 10 million hits on the site the week before Thanksgiving and we are very pleased to be a part of this event. Keep a eye out for the Promo!
 
We are finished with our travel for the year and are still busy with follow up and image request from licensees. Please let us know how we can help you with your business! Give us a call.
 
 
Best,

Mike Waldner| Director of Licensing
1100 Waterway Boulevard | Indianapolis , IN 46202
phone (317) 489- 6973 | mwaldner@curtislicensing.com
Curtis Licensing | The Saturday Evening Post