Tomorrow (February 12) marks the start of the Lunar New Year. As brands increasingly mark this occasion with collections of products—especially in China and other parts of Asia, but in other regions as well—some look to the year’s Chinese zodiac symbol for inspiration. This creates opportunities for licensed properties that happen to be associated with […]
Archive | Licensing
Beautiful Inside and Out
The beauty industry has been increasingly fostering a connection between consumers’ health and wellness and their outward appearance. As one component of that trend, more cosmetics, skincare, nailcare, and haircare marketers are adding ingestible supplements with specific formulations as part of their traditional lines of creams, powders, eye and lip color, and other items for […]
Denim DTRs
In the last two weeks, three of the biggest names in blue jeans announced they had signed deals to extend their brands into new categories with the help of leading retailers. All of the agreements put a premium on sustainability: On January 29, Levi Strauss & Co. said it was partnering with Target to launch […]
Poetry in Motion
Poetry seems to be having a moment in U.S. culture, especially after Amanda Gorman’s reading of her poem “The Hill We Climb,” to great acclaim, at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Consumer products are part of the trend: Both Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate of the U.S., and Yrsa Daley-Ward, an […]
Fighting the Good Fight
Mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes have been actively entering into partnerships for apparel and other categories, or launching their own merchandise programs, in 2020 and 2021: Conor McGregor launched an apparel collaboration early this month with Roots of Fight, including t-shirts as well as a hoodie, a thermal shirt, and sweatpants. The collection was available […]
Accessorizing with Tech
Properties of all types have extended their names and designs into mobile phone cases and other accessories for personal electronics. With the ubiquity of smartphones in daily life, such licensed products have become important means of social expression for consumers. Tech accessories have also taken their place as a fashion statement, and that fact was […]
Licensing Insights from CES 2021
Licensed products did not have a particularly high profile at the first-ever all-virtual Consumer Electronics Show, held last week. But several speakers offered interesting news and insights related to the licensing business. Most of these tidbits were related not to consumer products, but to apparel: The WNBA saw a 350% increase in merchandise sales last […]
A New Wrinkle In The Cosmetics Category
Inclusivity has been a big topic in the beauty industry of late, and a wide range of new lines, including licensed and collaborative examples, have focused on cosmetics and skincare that address the needs of consumers of all colors and skin types. The trend had been ongoing for some time but intensified in 2020 due […]
Gig-Economy Opportunities
The use of so-called “gig economy” businesses, such as food-delivery providers, ride-hailing services, and online travel-rental marketplaces, has been increasing significantly over the past several years, with use of food-delivery brands growing even more exponentially during COVID-19. The rising popularity of this business model has led to a more competitive landscape and a need for […]
The Great Outdoors
A number of interior designers, architects, and lifestyle brands have entered into licensing deals for outdoor furniture in the past year, with several marking their first entry into this category: Interior designer Alexa Hampton partnered with Woodard for her inaugural collection of outdoor furniture. Her other licensees include Theodore Alexander (indoor furniture), Visual Comfort and […]