Entertainment properties from the key Asian territories of Japan, China, and Korea have been strengthening their focus on international territories of late, both in other Asian countries and beyond. The classic Japanese preschool property Anpanman, a book-based TV series that is estimated to drive $1 billion or so in retail sales of licensed goods each […]
Seriously Comical
A large percentage of the top-performing entertainment/character properties in recent years come from the comic universe, most prominently from the two industry titans, Disney-owned Marvel and Warner Bros.-owned DC Comics. Other comic book publishers also are involved in outbound licensing. Their activity, which has long been a fact of life but seems to be on […]
Stop and Smell the Clothes
More licensed products made of fabric are incorporating scent as a differentiator. In some cases, the pairing is purely for novelty appeal. The limited-edition, eight-piece Wildfox Resort 14 Barbie Dreamhouse capsule collection of apparel and accessories, debuting last November, included some items with a sunscreen or cotton candy scent that lasted through 10 to 12 […]
Science to Go
Traveling science-themed educational exhibits, which live at the intersection of the STEM and experiential-licensing trends, continue to represent an opportunity for appropriate entertainment franchises. Successful properties in this realm are not always educational, or even strongly science-themed, as two of the most recent examples attest. The first is Fox’s Ice Age, which has some loose […]
Adding a Little Color
Licensed fragrances have been struggling of late, with sales for many lines falling faster than expected in a landscape widely considered oversaturated. The number of nail polish collaborations, so common over the past couple of years, has fallen off a bit as well, as that technique has become old hat. Color cosmetics, on the other […]
Cleaning House
Practical household products and tools may not be the most exciting or highest-profile area of licensing, but they are at the center of a burst of brand-extension interest of late. Some of the areas of focus include: Vacuums and floor care. Bissell retained agency IMC to expand its brand into home goods, DIY products, and […]
Style Above All
Celebrities from Sarah Jessica Parker to David Beckham to Taylor Swift are often referred to as style icons, especially in connection with their expansion, through licensing or collaborations, into apparel and accessories. Some celebrities have become so defined by their style that their identification as style icons often transcends any mention of the career that […]
Thinking Inside the Box
Licensors are increasingly experimenting with “membership boxes” as a means of product sampling, promotion, and revenue generation. Membership boxes are delivered to customers monthly or quarterly on a subscription basis. Each box contains a selection of products, themed around a particular topic or focused on a specific product category, with the price typically about half […]
Seeing the Writing on the Wall Coverings
A growing number of authors with adult fan bases (or the authors’ estates) are overseeing merchandise initiatives. The efforts are focused largely on their own names and likenesses, rather than on their book titles, plots, or characters. Each initiative takes a slightly different form. Some, for example, are novelty-based. George R. R. Martin, author of […]
Fan Fitness
Within the past year, professional sports licensors worldwide have been expanding their presence in the health and wellness sector. They are teaming with licensees across a variety of categories, including: Nutritional supplements. Manchester United signed a deal with IVC for a line of wellness products in China, starting with a line of supplements under IVC’s […]