The market for subscription boxes has been challenging for many companies. But the women’s beauty, wellness, and self-care area has been one of the bright spots. Recent examples of partnerships in this sector show its strength, as well as illustrating some of the key ways IP owners and celebrities are working with subscription box marketers: […]
A Need for More Space
Last summer, a number of licensors and their licensees created space-inspired products, promotions, and entertainment productions to capitalize on the high profile of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the first steps on the moon in July. Some were tied to the Apollo space program and some to other space-related properties and/or themes. While […]
An Opportunity for a Short Vacation
Pop-up travel destinations represent one form of experiential licensing that has been on the rise in 2019. These immersive initiatives, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, include pop-up hotel rooms, complete hotels, and rental homes: Hotel rooms. New York’s Club Wyndham Midtown 45 launched a themed room tied to […]
Pay for Play
A number of recent developments are blurring the lines between amateur and pro sports, both at the collegiate and Olympic levels. If the trend continues, it may open significant opportunities for the licensing community. California enacted the Fair Pay to Play Act, which allows college athletes to receive money for endorsements without jeopardizing their scholarships […]
Creature Comforts
CBD product introductions are proliferating, and the pet industry remains a strong opportunity for licensed properties. These two facts—along with a love of animals and support for CBD in general—have led a number of celebrities to announce deals for CBD-infused pet products: • Willie Nelson. Nelson has long been associated with cannabis (under the Willie’s […]
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Licensing has become more data-driven over time, as the tools used to analyze sales and other information at a granular level improve, giving licensors and licensees insights into what is working and not working and enhancing the ability to tweak strategies quickly. Licensing executives have also increasingly been enhancing sales history with other more forward-looking […]
Upcycling Is The New Recycling
The number of licensed and collaborative initiatives that involve products made from recycled materials, or products that are recyclable themselves, has been on the rise for several years, with new examples proliferating quickly of late. One area of focus in the last year or so, and especially this fall, has been upcycling, a specific form […]
Playing to Win
With the holiday season coming up quickly, it seems like a good time to take a look at what toy industry players are doing to position themselves for success. In the midst of a changing retail landscape, evolving leisure time habits among kids, trade and tariff concerns, and other challenges, companies involved in the production […]
Culture Clash
The NBA has been facing some significant challenges in the Chinese market since Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey dipped his toes into the political situation between Hong Kong and mainland China by tweeting support for the Hong Kong protesters. The situation serves as an example of the ramifications of being perceived as culturally or […]
Designs on Pop Culture
Collaborations pairing fashion brands and entertainment/character properties tend to involve design labels that are fresh and cutting-edge and/or appeal to younger consumers. Think streetwear brands, emerging global design stars, or fast-fashion retailers. Recently, however, some very well established designers are increasingly participating in this strategy, creating collections tied to TV shows, video games, comic strips, […]