A number of recent developments are blurring the lines between amateur and pro sports, both at the collegiate and Olympic levels. If the trend continues, it may open significant opportunities for the licensing community. California enacted the Fair Pay to Play Act, which allows college athletes to receive money for endorsements without jeopardizing their scholarships […]
Archive | Licensing
Creature Comforts
CBD product introductions are proliferating, and the pet industry remains a strong opportunity for licensed properties. These two facts—along with a love of animals and support for CBD in general—have led a number of celebrities to announce deals for CBD-infused pet products: • Willie Nelson. Nelson has long been associated with cannabis (under the Willie’s […]
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Licensing has become more data-driven over time, as the tools used to analyze sales and other information at a granular level improve, giving licensors and licensees insights into what is working and not working and enhancing the ability to tweak strategies quickly. Licensing executives have also increasingly been enhancing sales history with other more forward-looking […]
Upcycling Is The New Recycling
The number of licensed and collaborative initiatives that involve products made from recycled materials, or products that are recyclable themselves, has been on the rise for several years, with new examples proliferating quickly of late. One area of focus in the last year or so, and especially this fall, has been upcycling, a specific form […]
Playing to Win
With the holiday season coming up quickly, it seems like a good time to take a look at what toy industry players are doing to position themselves for success. In the midst of a changing retail landscape, evolving leisure time habits among kids, trade and tariff concerns, and other challenges, companies involved in the production […]
Culture Clash
The NBA has been facing some significant challenges in the Chinese market since Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey dipped his toes into the political situation between Hong Kong and mainland China by tweeting support for the Hong Kong protesters. The situation serves as an example of the ramifications of being perceived as culturally or […]
Designs on Pop Culture
Collaborations pairing fashion brands and entertainment/character properties tend to involve design labels that are fresh and cutting-edge and/or appeal to younger consumers. Think streetwear brands, emerging global design stars, or fast-fashion retailers. Recently, however, some very well established designers are increasingly participating in this strategy, creating collections tied to TV shows, video games, comic strips, […]
A Horrifying Licensing Opportunity
Halloween costumes have long been a key licensing category, especially for entertainment/character properties. Halloween makeup kits have also been on the rise of late, sold by not only Halloween costume companies but increasingly by theatrical makeup marketers and suppliers of replica armor, swords, and other realistic costume supplies. Products range from packages for casual trick-or-treaters […]
Gun Brand Licensing in a Polarized Landscape
By Karen Raugust on October 28, 2019 in Corporate brands, Licensing, Politics/social movements, Sporting goods
Last week, the U.S. government submitted a court filing that assigned responsibility to Academy Sports, a sporting goods discount chain with more than 250 stores in 16 states, for contributing to a church shooting in Texas in 2017. The retailer had sold the shooter the semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazine used in the shooting. The […]
Reason to Celebrate
Properties including Popeye and Garfield have recently signed deals for epiphany figurines to be sold in France. Announcements such as these serve as a reminder of regional licensing opportunities that may exist for products and services tied to local cultures and traditions. Epiphany figurines, also known as epiphany charms or fèves, are small, hand-painted porcelain […]