Since collegiate athletes earned the right to exploit their names, images, and likenesses (NIL) last July, many companies have materialized to guide them in this new pursuit. These organizations include individual and group licensing agents specializing in NIL, marketplaces that matchmake athletes with corporate partners, platforms to educate athletes on the dos and don’ts of […]
Archive | Licensing
A Month for Mocktails
Each year, more consumers give “Dry January” a try, pledging to avoid alcoholic beverages for the month. Their reasons are varied: to start the new year on the right foot from a wellness perspective, to see how they feel when they drink less, or to cut calories as they begin a new diet. Many sober-curious […]
Eyes on the Sky
Interest in space-themed merchandise remains strong, thanks to a number of factors. In the past year, the inaugural commercial flights of the for-profit space tourism firms Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic, along with frequent news about the International Space Station, have attracted attention. Since early 2020, there has been a pandemic-fueled increase in enthusiasm […]
Characters Help Kids Relax for the Vax
Demand for most of the COVID-specific licensed products that came on the market early in the pandemic—masks, hand sanitizer, distancing signage, and the like—has declined, even as the crisis continues to drag on. And there have been few new COVID-driven licensing deals forged of late. That said, new developments in the ever-changing COVID landscape offer […]
Celebrities Try On Compression Gear
High-performance compression apparel is a relatively narrow, but increasingly mainstream, slice of the health and wellness space that has been the focus of a handful of collaborations and endorsement deals involving athletes and other celebrities over the past eight years. Compression garments made from a variety of materials—including many infused with copper—are purported to help […]
Flavorful Pairings and Pours
Corporate food and restaurant brands have been jumping on the bandwagon—along with properties of all sorts—when it comes to collaborating on limited-edition wine varieties. In the most recent cases, the flavors of the branded foods are infused into the wine itself, usually in a subtle manner that is intended to taste good but is attention-getting […]
Non-Fungible, But Also Non-Official
Using a blockchain—a decentralized, shared database—to track the history of a digital or real-life item creates a secure timeline of where that item has been throughout its lifespan, giving purchasers confidence about its legitimacy. As such, blockchain technology is a tool for everything from ensuring the authenticity of collectibles and luxury goods to demonstrating an […]
Diamonds and Pearls
The men’s jewelry category has been a fast-growing one for the last several years. As a result, designers of both fine and costume jewelry have been entering the men’s sector or expanding their men’s businesses. This year, for example, Tiffany’s added to its men’s assortment by creating its first engagement rings for men, while fine […]
A Home for the Holidays
Gingerbread kits are a perennial category for the holidays each year. Most of the products feature pre-baked cookie pieces in the proper sizes and shapes, as well as frosting, candies for decoration, accessories such as paper character figures, and everything else needed to make a finished gingerbread house or other structure for display. A variety […]
Counting Down the Days to Christmas
Advent calendars are getting more sophisticated each year, featuring increasingly elaborate packaging, daily surprises of higher value, and a growing range of themes and categories, from jerky, healing crystals, and nail polish to cat food, instant noodles, and wine. Licensors across property types have gotten into the game, typically either through in-house-produced examples or with […]