An article last week in The New York Times detailed how Disney theme parks’ adult superfans are embracing shoulder plush of Disney characters as their go-to accessory during their visit. The product was introduced in 2018 with a Baby Groot version, according to the article, and there will be 45 different versions across all the company’s […]
Archive | Licensing
Women’s Sports Reach New Merch Milestones
Interest in women’s sports remains strong, as does demand for merchandise tied to women’s leagues, teams, and athletes. But product supply, variety, and quality continue to lag behind the men’s game. A few key milestones in the past year have contributed toward reducing some of these deficits, however: In July, the Orlando Pride of the […]
Boosting Refillable Beauty Products
Refillable cosmetics, fragrances, and other beauty items have been available broadly for close to five years as the beauty industry looks to satisfy younger consumers’ desire for more sustainable options in a traditionally not very eco-friendly category, as well as meet their internal ESG (environmental, social, and governance) goals. The segment is gaining adherents—especially in certain […]
Clomping Through an Era of Clog Collabs
Crocs announced a long-term license with the National Football League this week, marking the first time the league has partnered with the footwear brand. Branded shoes and Jibbitz charms for 14 teams will launch first, followed by products for the other 18 teams; other categories such as bags will roll out later. This is just […]
Taking a Gamble on Licensed Casino Games
Anyone who has been to Licensing Expo in Las Vegas has likely noticed the important role licensed properties play in slot machines, with examples on display throughout the casinos. Recent announcements illustrate the importance of licensing in not only slots but all forms of casino gaming, as IPs already established in this sector expand into […]
They May Be Corny, But They’re No Joke
As consumers in the northern hemisphere anticipate the approach of autumn, peak season for hayrides, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and other agri-entertainment, it seems like a good time to take a look at a somewhat under-the-radar but not uncommon form of experiential initiative—namely, the corn maze. For consumers, seeing their favorite characters or other IP […]
Fine Art Meets Fashion Retail
The fashion industry has been turning more and more often to art and artists for new apparel collections that grab consumers’ attention. One segment within that sphere that has been expanding of late consists of pairings of classic fine artists, licensed through their estates or museums that hold artworks of theirs, with fashion retailers. A […]
Brain-Boosting Beverages
Nootropics are chemical substances, natural or synthetic, that are believed to improve concentration, memory, self-control, wakefulness, and mental acuity. They have been growing as an ingredient in powdered supplements (often in a collector’s bundle, with a shaker) and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, and have become an expanding area of interest for collaborations and celebrity investment. Nootropic […]
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Two trends that are driving many licensing and collaboration initiatives across categories of late—nostalgia and collectibility—are propelling the collectible doll market and creating opportunities for partnerships. Global retail sales of collectible dolls, including both vintage and new examples sold on the secondary and primary markets, are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate […]
Strutting Their Stuff
Supermodels may not be quite as active today in fashion, accessories, beauty, and related initiatives as they have been at times in the past, in terms of the sheer number of deals being done. But they still have a strong presence in the celebrity licensing and collaboration space, appearing regularly as the stars of new […]