GLP-1 is changing the way Americans and global consumers eat, and is just starting to give rise to opportunities for licensing and collaborations. The benefits of the hormone GLP-1 were discovered in the mid-1980s. The first FDA approval came in 2005, when Byetta became available for patients with type 2 diabetes; Ozempic followed much later, […]
Archive | Licensing
High-End Designers Tap Into Smart Devices
By Karen Raugust on March 2, 2026 in Accessories, Electronics, Fashion, Licensing, Luxury, Technology
In the mid- to late 2010s, fashion designers’ collaborations with wearable technology companies were thought to be key to growing this then-nascent industry. Fashion labels’ design expertise would help turn wearables into sleeker, more attactive devices, and their names would bring new customers to the segment. While many deals were announced at the time, they […]
Inside Scoop: Baked Goods and Ice Cream
Baked goods like cookies and cakes go hand-in-hand with ice cream as a taste treat. Several major players in the two categories have formalized these pairings in the last year through licensing deals bringing baked goods brands into the ice cream aisle or expanding existing efforts in the space: This month, Bimbo Bakeries USA’s Entenmann’s […]
A Return to Power for Celebrity Estates?
Back in the day, celebrity licensing focused more on celebrity estates, or “dead celebrities,” than on currently active celebrities, as is the case today. Working with estates was viewed as a way for licensees to capitalize on a famous person’s fame and following, while eliminating the risks of unpredictable behavior. Celebrity estates still have a […]
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 […]
LED Therapy Lights The Way For Licensing
Home-use LED light-therapy face masks are spiking in popularity, even given their high prices, with sales expected to grow at a pace of more than 10% per year through 2032, according to Allied Market Research. Consumers wear these devices, which use red, blue, amber, and/or infrared light, for 10 to 20 minutes three to five times […]
Cowboy Boot Collabs Are Riding High
Within the long-running western trend in fashion — sometimes called “cowboycore” — cowboy boots represent a niche that deserves a closer look. A steady stream of collaborations has come to light in this category of late, mostly limited editions, involving specialist cowboy boot marketers as well as broader footwear brands. Country singers have been particularly […]
Honey Brands Buzz With Licensing Potential
Honey consumption in 2024 saw year-over-year per-capita growth of 25% (from 1.6 to 2 pounds per person), according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service report released in July 2025. Total honey consumption in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 668.6 million pounds that year. Some of the drivers of this upward […]
Stylists Remain in Style
Stylists generally work behind the scenes to help celebrities look their best on the screen or the red carpet. But, backed by social media, TV appearances, books, and more, many stylists’ personal fame has grown. And as a result, they have been increasingly featured front and center in the world of fashion collaborations. Some examples […]
Will Sports IPs Bet on Prediction Markets?
Prediction markets are exchange platforms that allow users to buy and sell contracts whose value is tied to the outcome of specific future events. It is essentially investing in — many observers would say betting on — whether a certain event will occur, with values based on probabilities, supply and demand, and other factors. On […]