Inclusivity has been a big topic in the beauty industry of late, and a wide range of new lines, including licensed and collaborative examples, have focused on cosmetics and skincare that address the needs of consumers of all colors and skin types. The trend had been ongoing for some time but intensified in 2020 due […]
Gig-Economy Opportunities
The use of so-called “gig economy” businesses, such as food-delivery providers, ride-hailing services, and online travel-rental marketplaces, has been increasing significantly over the past several years, with use of food-delivery brands growing even more exponentially during COVID-19. The rising popularity of this business model has led to a more competitive landscape and a need for […]
The Great Outdoors
A number of interior designers, architects, and lifestyle brands have entered into licensing deals for outdoor furniture in the past year, with several marking their first entry into this category: Interior designer Alexa Hampton partnered with Woodard for her inaugural collection of outdoor furniture. Her other licensees include Theodore Alexander (indoor furniture), Visual Comfort and […]
Big Names in Beauty Shift to Skincare
Prior to the appearance of the coronavirus, celebrities had been increasingly entering the skincare category, a much less crowded segment of the beauty industry than color cosmetics (eye color, lip color, blush, etc.). The presence of celebrities in the beauty category in general, and the skincare segment in particular, has not waned at all since […]
First Impressions
Every once in a while, we shine a spotlight on recent deals involving products and categories that have rarely been a focus for licensing and may offer white space for licensors with relevant IP. Our first post of 2021 seems like a good time to take stock of some of the new and unusual licensed […]
A Pop of Color and Flavor
Bold and unusual flavors and colors have long been a staple of popcorn sold by independent shops and specialty snack marketers. Examples range from sweet (peppermint, cinnamon bun, s’mores, amaretto, birthday cake) to savory (hickory, dill pickle, prickly pear, porcini mushroom, baked potato). Three new popcorn lines announced in the second half of this year […]
Take a Seat
Gaming chairs represent one niche of the interactive-gaming peripherals and accessories segment that has seen strong interest from the licensing community. Billed as enhancing performance as well as comfort during game play, game chairs were first associated with esports-, gaming-, and gaming influencer-related IP, which still comprise the core of the market. But licensing activity […]
All-In On Acquisition
For some time, the companies that have been best able to navigate a challenging licensing landscape have tended to be either large, resource-rich entities or small independents. The former can control their supply chain and take advantage of synergies across industries, while the latter are able to offer unique, niche-oriented products and are agile enough […]
Signs of a Comeback
The last few months have brought news about the signing of several multi-faceted, multi-year toy deals, both in the U.S. and globally, many involving well-established properties: Spin Master joined the Wizarding World through a deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, with plans to produce playthings tied to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises. Merchandise […]
Culture Club
A number of cultural institutions—the bulk of which have traditionally handled their licensing and product development activities (if any) internally—have signed licensing agents in the past year, with most of the announcements coming since the beginning of the COVID era: The Metropolitan Museum of Art launched a global licensing program, announced in July, with Beanstalk […]