It was 1980 when the business of licensing got the spotlight it deserved. Now a $172.7 billion business based on 2003 worldwide retail sales of licensed merchandise (
License!
estimate), we salute the 25th anniversary of Licensing International Show with our cover: More than 60 companies, in addition to
License!'s
and LIMA's archived photos, submitted photos for our mosaic, created by Robert Silvers of PhotoMosaic; the background cityscape was photographed by Patrice Argant.
While you can take a walk through Licensing International Show's 25-year-history, I thought it apropos to provide a little retail history from some of the nation's top retailers: In 1980, Wal-Mart's sales were $1.2 billion, compared with 2005 sales of $285.2 billion.From 1964 to 1979, Federated Department Stores increased its number of stores by 400 percent, and annual sales quadrupled to $4.8 billion. In 2005, Federated acquired May Co. Combined, the retailer accounts for $30 billion in annual sales.In 1979, Target Stores became Dayton-Hudson Corporation's top revenue producer. In 1982, revenue was $5 billion; today, Target Corporation's sales are $46.8 billion.In 1978, the first Home Depot was opened in Atlanta, GA. Today, there are 1,800 stores, and sales are $73.1 billion.In 1981, Kmart opened door number 2,000. In 2004, Kmart and Sears joined hands, making the duo a $55.8 billion retailer.In 1980, sales at Kroger Company topped $10 billion. Today, sales are $56.4 billion.In 1977, Ahold entered the U.S. market for the first time, acquiring the BI-LO supermarket chain in the Carolinas and Georgia. In 1981, it acquired its second U.S. supermarket, Giant Food Stores. Today, the supermarket's sales are $46.2 billion.During the 1980s, Albertson's concentrated on building bigger stores with wider aisles; spacious parking lots; and specialty departments such as service delis, meat and fish counters, and salad bars, creating a one-stop shopping experience. Today, Albertson's sales top $40 billion.
Changes
Have a fantastic, concept-driven Licensing International Show...and happy reading!
JOYCEANN COONEY
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