Unless you live under a rock, you are probably aware that a new Star Wars movies comes out on December 18.
I'm a big Star Wars fan and look forward to watching this latest installment in a few days. Aside from just the box office revenues, the Star Wars franchise has become a HUGE money making machine.
Clothing
Just the other night, I was in the mall and noticed at least three separate retailers selling Star Wars themed clothes.
- Uniqlo
- Forever 21
- Folded & Hung (local PH clothing chain)
Aside from the above, a quick search online reveals that other clothing brands have official licensing deals to sell Star Wars themed clothes and shoes: Bossini, Under Armour and Adidas to name a few. I have no idea how such licensing deals are structured but I'm sure that it's a great way not just to add incremental revenue but also to promote the movie.
Toys
Toys are another great way to extend the earning potential of a movie franchise. And vintage Star Wars toys have become some of the most collectible toys around. This has fueled the current wave of toys being sold around the release of The Force Awakens.
Hasbro is probably the most popular maker of Star Wars toys but Lego I'm guessing is not far behind. And who can forget the BB8 droid from Sphero? That's one toy that is probably on the top of every fan's wishlist this Christmas.
Conclusion
These are just two things I have seen while walking around the mall but there are likely many other plans in the pipeline to extend the earning potential for such a hyped movie.
With all the promotion and commercialism surrounding the movie, my only hope as a big fan of the original trilogy is that the movie is actually good.
May the force be with you as you brave Manila traffic to go catch this on December 17. Yes, we get it one day earlier, yipee!.