kepdawg
08-26-2006, 08:02 PM
UT breaks merchandising record
03:11 PM CDT on Saturday, August 26, 2006
By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – The University of Texas has broken the record for licensed merchandise by bringing in $8.2 million for the 2005-06 school year.
The Longhorns beat the previous record of $6.2 million set by Michigan in the 1993-94 school year, when the Wolverines’ basketball program became known as the "Fab Five" and began setting fashion trends in urban areas, according to officials at Collegiate Licensing Co.
Texas’ record total came in an unprecedented year of success in sports at the university, capped by a national title in football.
"It's kind of that perfect storm, and we were able to capitalize on it," said Craig Westemeier, UT director of trademark licensing. "Everything had to go just right, and it did."
According to Collegiate Licensing Co., Michigan finished second to Texas, with Notre Dame, Georgia and North Carolina rounding out the top five.
The record sales mark the first time UT has been first in royalties, knocking North Carolina from the No. 1 spot for the first time in five years.
Schools that use other licensing companies or are independent include Ohio State, Southern California and Texas A&M. Revenues from those schools were not included in the rankings.
Besides the Longhorns' first football title since 1969, a College World Series in 2003 also helped boost royalties by 103 percent. The money goes to entire university and not just the athletic department because the school owns the trademarks.
T-shirts were the top-sellers for UT, followed by hats. After the Longhorns beat USC in the Rose Bowl, the school's 450 licensees sold everything from key chains to mini football helmets to a Waterford crystal football. Even coach Mack Brown's photo on the Wheaties cereal box brought in money.
UT's standard royalty rate is 8 percent of each licensed item sold and 12 percent on national championship items.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
03:11 PM CDT on Saturday, August 26, 2006
By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – The University of Texas has broken the record for licensed merchandise by bringing in $8.2 million for the 2005-06 school year.
The Longhorns beat the previous record of $6.2 million set by Michigan in the 1993-94 school year, when the Wolverines’ basketball program became known as the "Fab Five" and began setting fashion trends in urban areas, according to officials at Collegiate Licensing Co.
Texas’ record total came in an unprecedented year of success in sports at the university, capped by a national title in football.
"It's kind of that perfect storm, and we were able to capitalize on it," said Craig Westemeier, UT director of trademark licensing. "Everything had to go just right, and it did."
According to Collegiate Licensing Co., Michigan finished second to Texas, with Notre Dame, Georgia and North Carolina rounding out the top five.
The record sales mark the first time UT has been first in royalties, knocking North Carolina from the No. 1 spot for the first time in five years.
Schools that use other licensing companies or are independent include Ohio State, Southern California and Texas A&M. Revenues from those schools were not included in the rankings.
Besides the Longhorns' first football title since 1969, a College World Series in 2003 also helped boost royalties by 103 percent. The money goes to entire university and not just the athletic department because the school owns the trademarks.
T-shirts were the top-sellers for UT, followed by hats. After the Longhorns beat USC in the Rose Bowl, the school's 450 licensees sold everything from key chains to mini football helmets to a Waterford crystal football. Even coach Mack Brown's photo on the Wheaties cereal box brought in money.
UT's standard royalty rate is 8 percent of each licensed item sold and 12 percent on national championship items.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.