A handful of dollar stores and their international equivalents are using licensing and collaborations to stand out in an increasingly crowded market in which they face growing competition from a variety of different types of low-cost retailers. Many of these chains have raised their prices above the $1 mark, or similar milestones, which puts them […]
Tag Archives | Disney
Licensed Mahjong Sets Are Multiplying
Licensing and collaboration deals involving mahjong sets are proliferating as the pastime continues to gain popularity beyond its home region of Asia, including in the U.S. market. The properties dipping their toes into the category are expanding beyond the art, lifestyle, and fashion labels that first gained a foothold and remain common partners. Meanwhile, the […]
K-pop and Characters Unite
K-pop artists have long created cartoon-style characters as a way to promote their music and brands, with the creations appearing in music videos, marketing materials, and sometimes merchandise. Recently, K-pop soloists and groups alike have been pairing with existing characters — often from the Sanrio family — to create fashion and other products featuring themselves […]
Playing Around with Piano Partnerships
Collaborations and licensing deals involving musical instruments mostly fall into the realms of guitars, amps, and accessories, as well as drum kits and related products. Pianos and digital keyboards are not as common as a focus of collaboration deals. But these types of agreements do pop up from time to time, typically yielding very limited […]
Studios’ Altcasts Play the Long Game
Character-centric altcasts of pro sports events have become regular occurrences over the past five years, with three of the four of the biggest U.S. pro sports leagues; studios including Disney, Nickelodeon, and Warner Bros.; and networks including ESPN, TNT, and CBS all involved. These alternative viewing feeds are real-time simulcasts of pro sports games in […]
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 […]
Lighting The Winter Nights
By Karen Raugust on December 22, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Experiential licensing, Holiday, Licensing
Winter light displays in Japan, of which there are many, are festive events meant as destinations to bring people together in the dark winter months and to put forth an aura of hope and magic. The practice began in a big way in the 1990s. The peak time period each year occurs during the Christmas […]
Drone On
Drone shows have become a fast-growing experiential category for licensors looking for new ways to engage consumers and promote their properties and initiatives. Not only are drone shows appealing to fans as a relatively new type of experience in their own right, but they are also gaining popularity as an alternative to fireworks, which are […]
Starting the Semester in Fashion
As another school year begins, the Nikes and Adidas of the world are releasing fresh new items as part of their new and ongoing deals for collegiate sportswear and related merchandise. At the same time, streetwear and other fashion labels outside the realm of traditional collegiate licensing are increasingly pairing with universities for new fashion-forward […]
Rubbing Shoulders with Plush Greatness
By Karen Raugust on September 4, 2025 in Accessories, Character/Entertainment, Licensing, Toys/Games
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 […]