When we last covered the escape room phenomenon, in June of 2017, the industry was well established, but licensing was still relatively new to the sector. Things have changed since then, with a wide variety of entertainment/character licensing now in the mix and new examples still joining the fray on a regular basis. Some of […]
Garden Products In Bloom
Botanical and public display gardens have long had licensing programs in place. Some have been actively extending their brands and imagery for at least two to three decades, and in many cases their merchandise efforts have been on the rise in recent years. Their brands are well-positioned in the current landscape, given consumers’ growing interest […]
Baby Bump
By Karen Raugust on March 5, 2020 in Character/Entertainment, Corporate brands, Demographic groups, Licensing, Toys/Games
Branded video platforms for preschoolers have been active in the licensing business of late, especially in the toy segment: Treasure Studio signed Jazwares for a toy line based on the YouTube channel CoComelon. Founded in 2006, the channel has more than 72 million subscribers and 2.5 billion monthly views. The stories and characters seen in […]
Animal Attractions
By Karen Raugust on March 2, 2020 in Character/Entertainment, Experiential licensing, Licensing, Pet products
A handful of licensors are looking to the pet industry for new experiential opportunities. The moves make sense: Consumers’ love of and willingness to spend on their pets is well documented. And there is plenty of white space to fill in the experiential pet sector, which is relatively new territory for licensed properties. Some examples: […]
North Stars
Nordic design always plays an important role in the global lifestyle landscape. Like all evergreen design themes, however, the trend waxes and wanes over time. At the moment, Nordic design and lifestyle properties—especially those hailing from Finland—certainly seem to be on the upswing, especially when it comes to licensing and collaboration: Marimekko has been putting […]
Influencing Playtime
Influencers with large social media followings, especially on YouTube, have had a noticeable and growing presence at Toy Fair New York over the past few years. With some important exceptions, their role has been more about endorsements than products. Recently, however, there has been a spike in signature toy lines tied to influencers and their […]
Is It Time to Try TikTok?
The social media platform TikTok, known for its very short-form mobile videos, particularly in the areas of comedy, talent showcases, and lip syncing, has quickly become popular among young consumers, especially teens. The app, introduced in China in 2012 and around the world in 2017, ranked as the seventh most downloaded app of the decade […]
Considering Keto
The ketogenic (keto) diet has been gaining traction for several years. But, until fairly recently, prepared foods and beverages billed as keto-friendly have mostly been the purview of specialty marketers, especially in the health food and natural products space. A key trend late last year and in 2020 has been the entry of more general-market […]
The Noble Art of Licensing
Much has been written about the plans of Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to become financially independent. One step along the way has been a trademark application for the brand Sussex Royal in six categories (including clothing and printed matter), through the couple’s charitable foundation. Applications have been made in both […]
Help for Aches and Pains
Sports-related licensing deals and other ventures involving athletes and licensed sports IP are starting to proliferate in the emerging CBD category. Although each agreement is unique, any resulting products are apt to focus on addressing specific aches, pains, and injuries caused by sports or an active lifestyle. Some recent examples: • Former NFL Patriot Rob […]