Half a dozen singers, with roots across genres and eras, have launched or announced deals for home goods within the last year. Some do not have much of an obvious connection with the category, aside from a personal interest in design and décor and/or ties with hearth and home through their lyrics or reputations. Pop […]
Literary Layette
Children’s picture books without entertainment backing tend to be licensed on a limited basis, focusing on higher-end products sold through specialty stores. One active area is the infant-products category, where classic storybooks, with their nostalgic appeal and educational positioning, attract parents and grandparents, as well as consumers looking for baby gifts. To illustrate, three such […]
What’s in a Phrase?
Sports licensors, like intellectual property owners of all types, are looking for ways to expand their portfolio of licensable assets. As part of that trend, three sports clubs have filed trademark applications in the last six months or so for words or phrases that are closely associated with their teams: Liverpool Football Club in the […]
Fostering Acceptance
By Karen Raugust on January 25, 2016 in Branding/marketing, Character/Entertainment, Content, Licensing
Over the past few years, a handful of catalogs and marketing campaigns have featured models with special needs, such as Down’s syndrome or physical disabilities. In general, the intent is not to call attention to these conditions, but simply to better represent the diversity of the marketers’ customer base. Examples have ranged from a Target […]
From Page to Product
Magazine brand licensing, historically, faced a significant barrier in that the categories that made the most sense for brand extension were the same ones in which the magazines’ advertisers operated. Since those advertisers provided much of the revenue keeping the publications in business, competing face-to-face with them was usually out of the question. How times […]
Sticking with Tradition
Sometimes it seems as if every licensing deal these days takes the form of a capsule collection or limited edition, as licensors and licensees look to test a concept, reduce their risk, and generate excitement. But good old-fashioned brand extension is alive and well in many categories. Take the automotive industry as an example. This […]
Blurred Lines
A new consumer-directed pop-culture event, Play Fair, will be held for the first time alongside this year’s New York International Toy Fair in February. Presented by Lego and Nickelodeon and organized by the Toy Industry Association and LeftField Media, the event will allow families and collectors to see exhibits and displays, listen to authors and […]
Cooking with Cannabis
Celebrities have been at the forefront of licensing in the emerging consumer marijuana industry, with musicians leading the way. It is starting to look as if celebrity chefs will drive the next wave of branding activity in this sector. Recent chef-related ventures tied to cannabis and cannabis-infused edibles have taken many forms: Mindy Segal, cookbook […]
Connected Kids and the Dangers of Data Collection
Data breaches involving children’s toys and content have been in the news in recent months. These incidents serve as a reminder to the licensing community of the need for adequate protections when entering the fast-growing world of connected products for kids. In recent examples, hackers were able to: Infiltrate VTech’s Learning Lodge app store, allegedly […]
Pro Athletes’ Goal: Menswear Deals
Through social media, television exposure, and paparazzi pictures, many major league athletes have become known for their fashion sense off the field. As a result, several current and former athletes have entered the men’s apparel category, mostly through direct-to-retail licensing deals and often with a focus on tailored suits and related accessories: Former NFL defensive […]