Still, GBK, which charges companies as much as $15,000 for the opportunity to give away merchandise, expects revenue from the event to decline $100,000 from last year.
This is often a difficult task, and this day was no exception, as I tried to dodge stock clerks pushing huge dollies of merchandise, expecting me to get out of their way.
The company is forecasting double-digit growth for its merchandising unit, and expects its television results to be flat with 2000, with a narrower loss in its Internet/Direct Commerce division.
The revenue from T-shirts and tour merchandise is expected to bring in $5m more.
The company said it had to discount more Valentine's Day merchandise than expected, had more returns than anticipated and found a budgeting error.
Merchandise is expected to last until late October or November and includes floor samples, one-of-a-kind pieces, slightly damaged stock and some items usually sold only to the trade.
Offsetting the decline in first-class mail, online sales of merchandise are expected to increase substantially over the next few years, bringing about a big increase in parcel shipments, many of which could be carried by the post office as priority mail.
"Considering the broad backlash on Alibaba regarding inauthentic merchandise, we expect added scrutiny given the social responsibility ethos at the core of its Etsy's brand," says Wedbush.
Boxes of Manny merchandise are expected to arrive at the ballpark this morning.
Total spending on back-to-school merchandise is expected to reach $26.7 billion, but when combined with back-to-college spending, the total will climb to more than $72 billion.
