Vintage "Star Wars" merch skyrockets in value

Feb 2, 2024
It may have all started in a galaxy far, far way, but buying and selling vintage "Star Wars" merchandise is now a huge and growing market, worth millions of dollars.
"Star Wars" holds the Guinness World Record for the most successful film merchandising franchise in history.
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Netflix, Walmart team up to sell merch from "Squid Game" and other shows

Oct 11, 2021
A dedicated e-commerce hub will sell merchandise for Netflix's most popular shows, including a "Stranger Things" cassette player.
Walmart will be pairing with Netflix to launch a merchandise e-commerce hub.
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How did the Biden campaign create fly swatter merch so quickly?

Oct 8, 2020
A fly swatter is a very specific piece of promotional merchandise. Branding specialists explain how it works.
The now-famous fly rests upon the head of Vice President Mike Pence during Wednesday's vice presidential debate in Utah.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images

Stranger Things returns with product tie-ins galore

Jul 4, 2019
Cryptic product tie-ins for the show have been everywhere in recent months.
Fans pose at the many photo-op stations at the Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 3 Fun Fair at Santa Monica Pier on June 29, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.
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With Toys R Us gone, Hasbro's finding new retail shelves

Jul 23, 2018
Toymaker Hasbro will report second-quarter earnings later this morning. Earlier in 2018, the company reported that first-quarter revenue had fallen by 16 percent compared with the same period last year. It’s been a tough couple of months as retailer Toys R Us went bankrupt and closed hundreds of stores. But Hasbro is finding new shelves […]
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Why a trucker shortage really, really matters

Jun 15, 2018
The U.S. is facing a national trucker shortage. With the economy in an upswing, there’s more of a demand for goods than there are people to transport them. As carriers try to attract drivers with perks and pay raises, companies that rely on shipping say an unexpected rise in shipping costs has forced them to […]

Black Panther misses merchandise bonanza

Mar 9, 2018
The Black Panther phenomenon continues. The Marvel — really, the Disney — blockbuster opened in China today, bringing its estimated box office to $920 million worldwide. It’s the perfect time for retailers to cash in on the movie’s success with a slew of Panther-themed merchandise: toys, t-shirts, tote bags and more. Turns out, though, that […]

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Licensed merchandise is up $10 billion

Sep 1, 2016
There's even a license for an original paint color - Minion Yellow.
Spanish singer Abraham Mateo attends 'The Minions' photocall at the Hesperia Hotel in Madrid, Spain. The merchandise of popular movies like 'Minions' has amassed $10 billion, with licensed toys, shirts, games, mobile applications and more.

 
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A political swag season like no other

Aug 10, 2016
Voters are as passionate as ever--about the candidate they don't want to win
Campaign buttons supporting US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are displayed before a rally.
TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/Getty Images