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 […]
Archive | Licensing
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 […]
Augmenting Appliance Sales Through New Licensing Deals
A number of brand-extension licenses in the consumer appliance sector have been forged or changed hands in the last year and a half, in different parts of the world: This month, Kenmore & Brands licensed Curtis International to manufacture, distribute, and market Kenmore-branded refrigerators, small kitchen appliances, commercial appliances, and other appliance categories in North […]
A Push for Designer Baby Strollers
The recent announcement that luxury stroller maker Bugaboo is partnering with designer Stella McCartney is a reminder of the importance of fashion collaborations in this slice of the baby products industry: Dutch marketer Bugaboo’s new multiyear license with McCartney includes strollers made from recycled and biological materials, with the first products launching this month. The […]
Cute Characters Cheer On Korean Baseball
Cross-licensing programs pairing characters and sports properties have been on the upswing globally, with more teams and leagues and more character IPs getting involved. In South Korea, such initiatives are regular features of the pro baseball season each year. Merchandise almost always depicts the characters wearing the uniforms of the respective teams. The product assortment […]
Pro Leagues and Teams Appreciate Hard Work(wear)
Workwear brands have increasingly become key partners for pro leagues and their individual teams, especially over the past few years. The leagues are looking to be ever more fashion-forward, and workwear fits right in with streetwear trends, while also maintaining continued loyalty from consumers who rely on these rugged pieces at the job site. There […]
A Bold Blend of New Wine Collaborations
The recent news connecting alcoholic beverages, including wine, with certain negative health effects, coupled with an ongoing increase in the number of consumers opting for alcohol-free lives, has had an impact on category sales. Alcoholic beverages in the U.S. saw dollar sales decline 2.6% in the first half of this year compared to the first […]
Adding Originality to Immersive Experiences
As the market for live experiences based on licensed properties and brands becomes more crowded, it is ever more difficult to stand out and to “surprise and delight” the fans. These recent examples have done just that by building on and adding slightly new twists to widely accepted experiential configurations: KFC Wine Bar. Pop-up wine […]
Making Waves with Personal Watercraft
Personal watercraft (PWCs) are not on many property owners’ licensee lists. But those licensors that are active in the category are a surprisingly diverse group, encompassing luxury brands, athletes and musicians, fashion labels, and even entertainment IPs: This week, Bombadier Recreational Products’ Sea-Doo announced that it was partnering with the late Formula 1 driver Ayrton […]
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 […]