The “girl power” trend that has been so prevalent in entertainment, toys, and other products for the past few years is not limited only to children. There are also more female-focused initiatives geared toward teen and adult consumers—of both genders—especially in the video game, comic book, and other segments of “geek culture.” Examples include: Books […]
Archive | Licensing
Sporting Goods Makers Relish Pickleball
Pickleball, created in the U.S. in 1965, is one of the fastest-growing participation sports in North America. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, it uses an oversized ping pong–like paddle and a wiffleball-like ball. A group of specialist equipment makers and ecommerce companies has emerged to supply the pickleball needs of both professionals […]
Women’s Cosmetics of Color
At the beginning of the year, singer Thalía Sodi launched Adria by Thalía, a new haircare brand that offers seven SKUs of sprays, foams, and shampoos promoted as working well for all women’s hair types. The affordable brand is available at Walmart and select Target stores upon its launch. This venture follows a Thalía false […]
As Simple as Black and White
A black-and-white color palette—expressed in patterns, prints, or blocking—remains a top choice for designers in home furnishings, streetwear, hair accessories, and other sectors. Licensors and their licensees have been taking note of this trend in a variety of ways over the past year or more as they develop style guides and products: Many of Disney’s […]
It’s Not Just an Elf on the Shelf
A mini-explosion of Elf on the Shelf-like properties has occurred over the past couple of years. All are book-and-doll properties with many elements in common, although each has a slightly different objective, positioning, storyline, and target audience: My Buddy McSpuddy. Known in its home market of Ireland as the Irish Elf on the Shelf, My […]
From the Comfort of the Couch
Among all the news of exclusive licensing and collaboration deals involving retailers and etailers of all stripes, it can sometimes be forgotten that home shopping networks—or multichannel retailers, as they are sometimes known—continue to be important venues for many properties. These platforms, like bricks-and-mortar chains and pure e-commerce channels, often serve as exclusive distribution partners, […]
The ABCs of CBD
The licensing community’s interest in cannabis remains strong, but the emphasis of late has moved from products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to items containing cannabidiol (CBD). Both offer many of the same benefits, according to proponents, such as their ability to alleviate anxiety, ease pain, and reduce seizures. The primary difference is that THC, the main […]
Magical Mash-Ups
By Karen Raugust on February 21, 2019 in Character/Entertainment, Design and content themes, Licensing, Toys/Games
Ultra-cute, ultra-positive, and often-magical characters and images have permeated the toy industry and other categories of late and continue to represent a strong trend. Examples include unicorns in particular, as well as mermaids, rainbows, kittens, and the like. A newer, but already ubiquitous development consists of hybrids of some or all of the above, with […]
A Run on Pet Food
Interest in the pet food category has been on the rise over the past year, with a number of properties entering this space. For example: • Roobarb & Custard, a British animated TV series represented by Those Licensing People, paired with Two Near The Bone for a direct-to-consumer line of pet foods under the When […]
Labels for Rent
A subset of the subscription box sector consists of online personal styling services, sometimes known as rent-to-buy services or clothing rental boxes. In this model, subscribers set their preferences and, for a subscription fee, receive periodic boxes containing five to 10 items they might like, curated by the service’s staff stylists, to try for a […]