The fast-fashion sector, which was built on low-priced, in-and-out collections that have been perceived almost as disposable, has been one of the most distressed in all of retail. Not only were many chains impacted, like the rest of the apparel industry, by consumers turning away from fashion during the COVID stay-at-home orders. They also face […]
Archive | Licensing
Charity Work
A growing number of licensing deals and collaborations in the U.S. and internationally feature a charitable component, as consumers, especially young adults, choose to purchase from companies they perceive to be ethically and socially responsible. In many ways, this type of charitable tie-in has replaced traditional nonprofit brand licensing in the U.S. Of course, there […]
Pride Collections for All
By Karen Raugust on May 24, 2021 in Demographic groups, Design and content themes, Diversity/Inclusion, Licensing, Politics/social movements
As we approach Pride Month, companies on the long and still-growing list of marketers celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride each June have been releasing their plans for this year. As always, these include a variety of typically rainbow-hued lifestyle collections for adults, with a focus on accessories, beauty, footwear, and especially apparel. One new wrinkle that has […]
Seeing Eye to Eye
Eyewear remains relatively unimpacted by the pandemic when it comes to the pace of deal making. (Industry players say sales declined dramatically at the beginning of the crisis before rebounding to pre-pandemic or better levels in the fall of last year, according to a report in WWD.) Several key fashion, footwear, and luxury labels have […]
FMX 2021: Insights on AR, VR, and LBE
By Karen Raugust on May 17, 2021 in Digital, Experiential licensing, Innovation, Interactive gaming, Licensing
FMX 2021, a conference focusing on animation, visual effects, games, and immersive media, was held May 4-6, 2021. The digital event featured three case studies of interest to the licensing community: the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park land; Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix-Up, an app-centric augmented-reality, multiuser, multimedia experience with a live community […]
Gender Equity and Esports
Video gaming is a popular activity among females, who represent 41% of gamers, according to the Entertainment Software Association, and 35% of professional esports players, according to Interpret. But the world of professional esports has been a notoriously unwelcoming space for women. They experience discrimination and harassment and lack the opportunities offered to the male […]
Taste of Japan
Boxes of food—DIY meal kits, restaurant takeaway meals, and direct-to-consumer gift boxes filled with treats—have gained traction during the pandemic, thanks to their convenience, simplicity, and experiential characteristics. In the past couple of months, a mini-trend has emerged within this segment as purveyors of Japanese food in the U.S., U.K., and Europe have paired with […]
Color Schemes
A number of museums have recently worked with licensees or collaborators on products that feature a work of art’s color palette as the core design element. This is in contrast to incorporating a full representation of the original work or a pattern or element inspired by it, which is the traditional route taken by most […]
Digital Cooking Brands Turn Up the Heat
Digital-native cooking brands have been expanding their licensing activities in the last year. The properties tend to appeal to a young-adult demographic that needs accessible information and inspiration to prepare healthy and good-tasting meals. They have large and active fan bases across YouTube, Instagram, and other social channels, as well as on their own websites […]
Beauty Competition
The beauty segment has been one of the most active for inbound licensing and especially collaboration deals over the past several years, with the pace picking up during the pandemic. The category is seen as a prime opportunity for celebrities, classic characters, films and TV series, museums, corporate brands, and IP from virtually every other […]