The introduction of pumpkin spice-influenced products in restaurant chains, consumer packaged goods, and pop culture—a signal that summer is turning to autumn—begins earlier every year, with sightings as soon as mid-August. Naturally, licensed products and collaborations are in the mix. Some of the strategies for pumpkin spice-related initiatives include: Focusing on flavor. McDonald’s and Kraft […]
Tag Archives | Walmart
Protests and Politics
Pockets of the global licensing business are facing significant financial impacts due to political fights, trade spats, and social protests around the world. Unlike cases where companies take a stand on a political issue and prepare to face the expected backlash, these are situations that have nothing to do with any individual company’s actions. But […]
Influencing the Craft Category
Social media influencers specializing in handmade crafting and inspiration have, not surprisingly, had a growing presence in the licensing business. They mostly maintain a tight focus on crafting supplies, although some have extended into a few adjacent categories as well. Examples include: Lauren Riihimaki, or LaurDIY. Key licensees, brokered by The Brand Liaison, include Plaid […]
Building a Case for Blockchain
Blockchain is a decentralized ledger—essentially a database—for securely tracking and storing a string of sequential information. It offers the ability to create a transparent, tamper-proof, and trustworthy record of ownership, value, chain of custody, authenticity, and other attributes of an individual product over time, from raw materials through sale and resale. Pilots based on blockchain […]
Partners in Body Positivity
Despite the fast-growing incidence of new initiatives focusing on the plus-size and extended-size women’s apparel and accessories markets over the past several years, there is still a need for more fashionable choices for consumers at both the higher and lower end of the size spectrum. As a result, general-market fashion retailers and brands continue to […]
Beauty Contest
Just in the last week, three celebrity makeup artists have entered or expanded their presence in the competitive beauty and wellness space, announcing new retail-exclusive licensing or collaboration deals: Sir John, best known for his work with the likes of Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian, paired with South African retailer Woolworths Holdings for a limited-edition collaboration. […]
Affordable for Anyone
A number of celebrities have launched fashion collections over the past two years—especially in the latter half of 2018—that are firmly focused on affordability: Comedian Amy Schumer and stylist and costume designer Leesa Evans launched Le Cloud Collection with Saks Off Fifth in December. Some of the proceeds will go to Community Partners’ STYLEFUND project. […]
Hosts With the Most
TV and radio presenters—hosts of talk shows, reality TV series, game and competition shows, and the like—comprise a growing sector within celebrity licensing. Some recent examples of merchandise initiatives involving TV presenters include: Ellen DeGeneres, among the most active in the group, who recently announced a line of 60 fashion pieces at Walmart under the […]
Toy Story
As we approach the all-important fourth-quarter selling season for toys, it seems like a good time to take a look at what has been happening in the industry since Toys ‘R’ Us closed the last of its U.S. stores in June of this year, after declaring bankruptcy in September 2017: Other retailers are trying to […]
Q&A About TRU
Toys ‘R’ Us announced last week that it would shut all 735 of its U.S. stores under the TRU and Babies ‘R’ Us banners, after declaring bankruptcy last fall and subsequently posting poor holiday results. This move raised a number of key questions for toy companies, retailers, analysts, and licensing executives. Question 1: What happened? […]