The strength of the romance category in the publishing industry has led to several outbound licensing programs of late (as we have covered here and here). These include examples that have crossed into mainstream distribution, such as Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series, as well as many more specialist programs targeting bookish readers mostly through e-commerce and […]
The Return of Licensed Home 3D Printers?
Sales of 3D printers have been spiking, especially entry-level consumer models, according to a report from Context. It found that Q1 2026 revenues for global 3D printers grew 32%, fueled by the entry-level segment (machines priced at $2,500 or less) with growth of 54%. In fact, entry-level machines have become the largest market segment, at […]
Bringing in the Heavy Hitters
Pairings of sports entities and character/entertainment properties — for merchandise, experiences, content, and/or promotions — have traditionally featured entertainment properties with all-ages followings or properties that skew toward the teen-and-older demographic. The former include the likes of Hello Kitty and the other Sanrio characters, the Disney/Lucasfilm/Marvel family, the Minions, and the Looney Tunes, while the […]
Safety-First Footwear
Safety shoes and boots have long been an active niche within the licensed footwear space. These are products with features such as reinforced steel or composite toeboxes, non-slip soles, waterproofing, moisture-wicking, electrical hazard protection, and/or added cushioning, designed for use on the job site and beyond. Partnerships typically involve work boot and sneaker companies pairing […]
Cultivating Gardenwear
Over the past couple of years, fashion designers and celebrities — especially those with expertise in the home space — have been creating collaborative apparel, accessory, and tool collections specifically for gardeners. While the number of examples remains relatively low, the frequency is slowly growing. A few representative projects illustrate the trend: Most recently, British […]
Adding a Little Character to Brand-Management Portfolios
Private equity-backed brand-management groups, such as Bluestar Alliance, Marquee Brands, Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global, and others, have been increasing their footprint in the licensing business for decades, acquiring intellectual properties and adding value through a 100% licensing model. They overwhelmingly focus on fashion brands, but over the years have diversified to include some retail […]
A Complicated Commemoration
Big nationwide and worldwide milestones, such as the bicentennial of the founding of the U.S. (1976), the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America (1992), and the Y2K celebrations marking the changeover to a new century (2000) typically spur major licensing efforts. In fact, multiple organizations often launch competing initiatives, leading to some confusion […]
Heat Wave
Hot sauces have been one of the most licenseable property types in the food-to-food licensing space for some time, and there continues to be a steady flow of new collaborations and licensing deals, as well as new brands entering the business. This has led to an ever more diverse range of spicy flavor profiles and […]
Meeting Young Consumers on YouTube
Owners of character-based properties for children have recently been investing in the creation of robust YouTube channels that support their properties with new content and reach their young consumers in a place where they spend significant time. Examples of licensors that have recently launched, relaunched, or expanded YouTube channels or multi-channel platforms based on their […]
Shelf Décor by the Book
By Karen Raugust on June 1, 2026 in Character/Entertainment, Collectibles, House and home, Licensing, Publishing
The mainstream popularity of book nooks is credited to a Japanese artist known as Monde, who created realistic and detailed miniature Tokyo scenes to slide in among the books on a bookshelf, showing them at a design event in that city in 2019. Photos of his work immediately went viral. Book nooks have been gaining […]