May the Fourth be with you on this Star Wars Day. To celebrate, it seems like a good time to take a look at the common phenomenon of property-centric “holidays” like this one, of which there are many. These pop culture events often simply commemorate the date the property first launched. But often the hook […]
Archive | Holiday
Artists Capture the Spirit of the Horse
Lunar New Year is a big opportunity for limited-edition merchandise and collaborative marketing campaigns. Global marketers, in particular, often launch initiatives aimed at consumers in China and the rest of Asia, as well as worldwide, with many property types and product categories involved. One active segment this year — as in most years — consists […]
Lighting The Winter Nights
By Karen Raugust on December 22, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Experiential licensing, Holiday, Licensing
Winter light displays in Japan, of which there are many, are festive events meant as destinations to bring people together in the dark winter months and to put forth an aura of hope and magic. The practice began in a big way in the 1990s. The peak time period each year occurs during the Christmas […]
Say It With (Plush) Flowers
By Karen Raugust on February 13, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Gifts/Novelties, Holiday, Licensing
Plush bouquets are an increasingly popular gift for Valentine’s Day—as well as for Mother’s Day and other gift-giving occasions—and character/entertainment licensing plays a role in the sector. The product consists of plush figures assembled in a plush wrapper, like a bouquet. Some of the plush items are specially designed to combine character likenesses with flower […]
Soccer Clubs Charm Fans with Year of the Snake Designs
As we near the start of this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations on January 29, we take a look at an active area of collaboration tied to the holiday, namely European soccer/football clubs who mark the moment with special jerseys and other apparel designs in partnership with their official jersey licensees or other companies. These […]
Bringing Joy to the World
As we approach peak holiday season, here is a look at a few Christmas-themed properties whose focus on the year-round world of the North Pole gives their licensors an opportunity to potentially expand beyond the finite annual selling seasons typical of most holiday properties. While they are in various stages of their life spans, all […]
Let’s Get This Party Started
’Tis the season for capsule collections focused on women’s partywear designed for fancy holiday gatherings. The assortments typically include items such as glamorous mini-dresses, slinky floor-length gowns, flowy slacks, fashion-forward sweaters and jackets, spike heels, tuxedo suits, and clutches. They are made from materials such as silk, faux fur, satin, metallics, animal prints, sheer fabrics, […]
QSRs Scare Up Some Halloween Fun
As the days count down to Halloween, a deal between Chipotle and Spirit Halloween for novelty costumes has added to the options consumers have had at their disposal to dress up as their favorite fast-food dishes come October, whether for trick-or-treating or holiday parties. In fact, quick-service restaurant chains offering costumes depicting fan-favorite foods has […]
Christmas Characters Are Comin’ to Town
Seasonal merchandise programs tied to perennially favorite Christmas films, TV shows, and books have been strengthening in recent years, with more products available as each holiday season rolls around. This year, the collections seem to be particularly prominent, fueled by a couple of anniversaries, customers’ still-growing taste for pairings of licensed properties and seasonal themes, […]
Happy Galentine’s Day
Today is Galentine’s Day, a celebration invented by Amy Poehler’s fictional Leslie Knope in season two of the TV series Parks and Recreation, which some marketers and consumers have started observing in real life. It takes place each year on the day before Valentine’s Day and is all about celebrating female friendship. Some of the […]