Interior designers and architects lend their names and designs to licensed and collaborative products for use in all nooks and crannies of the home. One category that may not be top of mind but which has long relied on collaboration as a key strategy is home hardware, notably door and cabinet handles, especially of the […]
Archive | House and home
Accessibility: Making a House a Home
By Karen Raugust on August 1, 2022 in Demographic groups, Diversity/Inclusion, House and home, Licensing, Retail
Marketers have been expanding their offerings of merchandise designed for consumers with disabilities, especially in categories such as apparel and Halloween costumes, over the past three years or so. Licensed and collaborative examples have occasionally been part of the mix as well. The idea is to create solutions that are accessible, but also stylish and […]
In Fashion At Home
Well-established fashion designers often eventually enter the home goods space, but it can be a challenging business for them, whether they extend their labels through licensing or some other business model. As a result, expansions of this type tend to be cyclical. Currently the technique seems to be on the upswing, if the number of […]
Flower Power
The fresh cut flower category, while still a relatively niche opportunity, has seen an increase in licensing activity over the years, with fashion and lifestyle designers among the property types that are most active in the space. Logically, most of those doing deals are either known for integrating floral patterns into their apparel and home […]
New Ways to Feather the Nest
Retailers of all types have been expanding their home assortments since shortly after the start of the pandemic. This is a logical move, as consumers have been doing more DIY projects; redecorating their nests to create comfortable sanctuaries; reconfiguring to accommodate home offices, schooling, and outdoor entertaining; and sometimes filling the blank slate of a […]
Gnome Décor
Gnomes have been an integral part of home décor, and popular culture in general, for decades, always an evergreen presence with waxing and waning popularity over time. Sales are currently in the midst of a long uptrend, with the latest resurgence ongoing since the mid-2010s. Google Trends, which measures interest based on the number of […]
Clean and Green
Celebrities have long been at the forefront of incorporating green products into their branded, collaborative, and signature lines, especially in the beauty and fashion categories. Recently, the home cleaning space has been a hotspot for celebrity-driven, eco-friendly supplies that avoid harmful chemicals and incorporate organic and plant-based ingredients: Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen launched Safely, […]
Worth Their Weight
Licensed merchandise and content designed to reduce stress and anxiety have been on the upswing, from mindfulness content (e.g., Headspace’s Sesame Street video shorts) to role-play costumes designed to explore emotions (e.g., Fun World’s new Ninja Life Hacks range). While the pandemic certainly heightened the desire for goods such as these, the trend was ongoing […]
Digital Cooking Brands Turn Up the Heat
Digital-native cooking brands have been expanding their licensing activities in the last year. The properties tend to appeal to a young-adult demographic that needs accessible information and inspiration to prepare healthy and good-tasting meals. They have large and active fan bases across YouTube, Instagram, and other social channels, as well as on their own websites […]
Cooking Up Kitchen Collaborations
Most kitchen- and food-related housewares and appliance categories have experienced strong growth over the past year, thanks to consumers’ reenergized interest in cooking during the pandemic. Not surprisingly, a number of new and expanded licensed collections have come to light since the crisis began: This month, actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore and Walmart […]