Marketplace Roundup
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Newest Pottery Barn Kids Catalog Features
Various MLB-Licensed Merchandise |
The latest issue of the Pottery Barn Kids catalog includes a new line of private-label goods licensed from MLB, some of which appear on the cover of the catalog, which has a circulation of 7 million. With home decor continuing to expand as a licensing category, several leagues including MLB have worked with William Sonoma's Pottery Barn catalog over the past year or so. But MLB is the first to crack the code with their kids catalog. Beginning in mid-February, MLB products will be in window displays at more than 90 Pottery Barn Kids locations nationwide for about three weeks. MLB team mascots will make store appearances to support the program. Among the items in the collection are bedding, pillows, lamp shades, and framed jerseys (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY).
WINDS OF RESISTANCE: White Sox VP & CMO Brooks Boyer in a Q&A with CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS' Ed Sherman said team sponsorship is a "real challenge" in the current economic climate. Boyer: "We've had some great partners like Pontiac and Motorola. Good people. However, they are in a situation where these times call for them to make tough decisions. One partner told us, 'We could come back to you, but to do it, 10 people would have to lose their jobs.'" Boyer added all MLB teams are "going through it." Boyer: "It's tough when you know that the loss of revenue could affect what you're able to do on the field. But it is a sign of the times" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/5).
ROUNDUP: The NBA has added a game of H-O-R-S-E to its NBA All-Star festivities next weekend. USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports the game will be changed to G-E-I-C-O, as the insurance company "will be the event's unavoidable sponsor" (USA TODAY, 2/6)....Univ. of Wisconsin (UW) Chancellor Carolyn Martin said that the school will end its relationship with licensee Russell Athletic when the contract expires in March. The contract during the '07-08 school year generated nearly $40,000 in revenue for UW (Madison CAPITAL TIMES, 2/5)....Umbro is doubling the size of its HQs in Manchester, England, and creating 220 new jobs. Nike, which acquired Umbro last year, was "persuaded to maintain its presence in Greater Manchester rather than consolidate Umbro with its other" U.K. operations (CRAINSMANCHESTERBUSINESS.com, 2/4)....Academy Sports & Outdoors has signed a multi-year deal to title sponsor the Women's Bassmaster Tour (Bass).
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