-------------------- N E W S R E L E A S E -------------------- Auburn University - University Relations (334) 844-9999 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4/25/95 Bob Lowry AUBURN RANKED NO. 3 IN GROWTH OF LICENSED SOUVENIR SALES AUBURN -- Auburn University is ranked third in the nation in the year-to-date sales increase of Tiger gear such as T-shirts, baseball caps, bumper stickers and other souvenir items, according to The Collegiate Licensing Company. Atlanta-based CLC, which collects AU's royalty fees on the sales, said in an April 17 report that Auburn ranked only behind Nebraska, last season's national football champion, and Arkansas, the 1994 national basketball champion, in sales increase. Others in the top 10 in sales increases were Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona, Purdue, Connecticut, Boston College and Kansas State. In the top 15 schools in year-to-date total sales of merchandise, AU ranked 13th. Ahead of Auburn were No. 1 Michigan, Florida State, North Carolina, Penn State, Nebraska, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgetown, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Duke. The rankings are part of CLC's "Facts Fax," which is distributed weekly to the nation's top 30 retailers. Susan Smith, the licensing administrator for Auburn, says, annual royalties from the sale of hundreds of different types of merchandise displaying AU licensed trademarks generated nearly $620,000 in the first three quarters of 1994. The money is divided equally between academic and athletic scholarships. Bill Battle, the president of CLC, says he expects Auburn's merchandise to continue to be hot sellers. "I think there's growth left, and I expect Auburn University will hit the $1 million mark next year," he said. Auburn, like most universities, receives 7.5 percent of the wholesale cost of items displaying licensed logos, symbols or names. During the past five years, Auburn has earned more than $2 million from royalty fees, says Smith. # # # april95:aulicensing CONTACT: Smith, 334/844-5180.