Licensing Blog

Welcome to our Licensing Blog, which takes a light hearted look at our mysterious world.

STOP PRESS: England closes because of snow!(Posted: 12-02-2009)

Scott of the Antarctic!                                     The kids used their time off school well

On this subject, what is it with insurance quotes? I had those lovely people from Lloyds TSB give me a quote this week for all our business and buildings cover, and it was 3 times my existing renewal fee! Either they are ripping people off, or we are seriously under-insured. I know which I think it is.

I was hoping to make some licensing-based observations about the London Toy Fair and the Spring Fair. Sorry to say I didn’t make the former because problems in the office dictated otherwise, and didn’t make the latter, like so many more of us, because of the snow. Encouraging press releases abounded during the early part of that week, telling us that Spring Fair was still open for business. Of course it had to be, but I really feel for the exhibitors – I have shown at many events over the years that have been, shall we say, not too well attended. It’s not too much fun, is it? All that business you were hoping for that just didn’t materialise.

I was also wondering how merchandising for our main national sports has been performing over the last week. Winning games allied with good performances (which if you are winning are not always essential) equals increased sales of replica kit. Winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and the Ashes in 2005 saw England rugby and cricket shirt sales go through the roof. However, in the past week we have seen England bowled out for 51 in the West Indies, another lacklustre, uninspired performance at Twickenham in beating a very generous Italy, and a 2 – 0 defeat in Spain by a team that, as always seems to be the case, showed England what it is to pass the ball to each other and maintain possession once you’ve got it. I bet the sports retailers won’t be breaking the bank over the upcoming half term holiday.

My business banking manager rang to discuss our annual review and finished the conversation by telling me her and her family were going to Barbados for their half time holiday. RBS are going to happily use the tax payers money that we gave them (by the way, were you asked if  your money could be used for this?) to pay bonuses to 16,500 of their 17,000 staff. It was just the other 500 who cocked up. Things in the financial sector can’t be too bad, can they?

I’m off to Lowestoft. Enough said.