A number of brand-extension licenses in the consumer appliance sector have been forged or changed hands in the last year and a half, in different parts of the world: This month, Kenmore & Brands licensed Curtis International to manufacture, distribute, and market Kenmore-branded refrigerators, small kitchen appliances, commercial appliances, and other appliance categories in North […]
Archive | House and home
Influencing Home Décor Choices
Influencers who have built their fame mostly through social channels have amassed targeted and loyal followings that are attractive to marketers of consumer goods. As a result, these digital-origin celebrities have become ubiquitous as collaborators in their specific areas of expertise, whether that be fashion, beauty, or cooking. A case in point: the home furnishings […]
Cultivating Gardenwear
Over the past couple of years, fashion designers and celebrities — especially those with expertise in the home space — have been creating collaborative apparel, accessory, and tool collections specifically for gardeners. While the number of examples remains relatively low, the frequency is slowly growing. A few representative projects illustrate the trend: Most recently, British […]
Shelf Décor by the Book
By Karen Raugust on June 1, 2026 in Character/Entertainment, Collectibles, House and home, Licensing, Publishing
The mainstream popularity of book nooks is credited to a Japanese artist known as Monde, who created realistic and detailed miniature Tokyo scenes to slide in among the books on a bookshelf, showing them at a design event in that city in 2019. Photos of his work immediately went viral. Book nooks have been gaining […]
Specialist Fashion Brands Jump On Bedding
Designers and labels from the world of fashion have long been key players in licensed home textiles. A recent burst of licensing and collaboration deals have involved companies known for their expertise in specific sectors of the fashion industry, such as innerwear, headwear, and footwear. These niches may not, at first glance, seem to be […]
In and Out of the Kitchen
Several celebrity chefs have recently forged agreements with retailers to extend their names into home goods. Some are entering the category for the first time. Others are expanding existing deals focused on cookware and dinnerware by adding lifestyle categories such as bedding and furniture that take them well beyond the kitchen: Chef and TikTok influencer […]
First-Timers Add Freshness to Soft Home
Facing challenging times, players in the soft home sector have been turning their attention even more toward licensing, looking for brands that will resonate with consumers while setting them apart within the category. Their pro-licensing outlook offers opportunities for IP owners, including those that are taking advantage of the trend by entering the home textiles […]
In the Mood for Mahjong
Mahjong, the classic Chinese tile-based strategy game, has been surging in popularity in the U.S., especially among female-skewing gen X and millennial consumers. There are many global versions of the game, with most in the U.S. playing an American version that differs slightly from the original. The trend has been fueled by exposure on TikTok […]
Extreme Refreshment
Ice baths, cold water therapy, and contrast therapy, which combines cold-water or ice baths with saunas, have collectively been increasing in popularity over the past few years to become one of the top wellness trends globally in 2025. This is true for ice baths in particular. Wellness spas are adding ice baths to their offerings, […]
Every License Has Its Day in Pet Products
Licensing has been a big business within the pet products and services industry for at least a decade, and has had a presence for many years before that. While new deals do not come up as frequently today as they did five or so years ago, IP owners and pet products marketers continue to partner […]