With retail sales a little short of $1 bil- billion in revenues. WWE Smack- Australia is the third largest market af-
lion a year now, the WWE merchandis- Down vs. RAW2008 has sold more ter the US and UK and growth contin-
ing phenomenon looks set to contin- than 5.7 million units since its release ues in the market. “WWE action fig-
ue. In fact, over the last twelve months in November 2007 and is available on ures accounted for 16.8% of the Aus-
or so, the brand has enjoyed explosive PlayStation3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nin- tralian toy market and Australian con-
growth, in particular throughout Eu- tendo Wii and DS and the Xbox 360 sumers bought over 400,000 WWE
rope and Asia where the program is platforms. In addition, WWE Smack- dvds in 2007”, explained Walker.
headed up by Ross Walker, Director of Down vs. Raw2008 was also released Further afield, the program is also
International Consumer Products. on wireless handsets, simultaneous to enjoying explosive growth. “Japan is
“Our sales in the EMEA territories the console and handheld releases. an amazing market for us”, continued
have grown 34% up against last year”, WWE’s television programming can Walker. “So much so, we’ve recently
commented Walker. “Spain has gone now be seen in more than 130 coun- opened an office in Tokyo. We re-
up by 141%, Portugal by 149%, Ger- tries around the world. Each year, ally do see Japan as one of our great
many by 49% and South Africa by 58%. more than 7,500 hours of WWE pro- growth opportunities”.
And these are just some of the figures. gramming is broadcast in 23 languages India and Eastern Europe are also on
The UK, which is undoubtedly one of throughout Europe, the Middle East, Walker’s radar. “Our TV shows have
our leading markets is up 113% over Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, now been sold into Eastern Europe
last year”. and Latin America. and we see great potential in the mar-
The program has grown from 100 li- Tour merchandise, of course, contin- ket. The Indians love wrestling and
censees around the world eighteen ues to be successful. In the UK and again there are opportunities to grow
months ago to over 160 now. And Europe alone, merchandise sold dur- this market as it gradually develops in
the list continues to grow. “Our sales ing the Raw and Smackdown events terms of consumer products”.
continue to rise and we have new li- exceeded $2.6 million. With sales enjoying the kind of in-
censees coming on board all the time”, Staying with the UK, WWE are part- crease that many other brands can
continued Walker. nering with Woolworths for the sec- only dream about, it would be easy
Of course a major move was the an- ond Champions of Wrestlemania, a to assume that WWE has reached its
nouncement that Mattel will take over four-week cross-promotion that, when peak.
as Master toy licensee in 2010. On the it first ran two years ago, was featured Not at all, if you listed to Ross Walker.
video game side, WWE video games in 250 stores across the country. “We’re in a growth phase”, he ex-
have sold more than 37 million units “Woolworths is a key partner for plained. “There are still so many mar-
since 1999, generating more than $1 WWE in the UK”, continued Walker. kets to grow and develop”.
58
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152