In the last couple of months, a number of marijuana brands have announced their intent to license their trademarks for food and drinks, vape pens and other smoking accessories, apparel, concentrates, creams, and other closely related categories. Examples include: JuJu Royal Premium, founded by Julian Marley. Dropleaf holds the rights for the trademark and Marley […]
British Museums Expand Their Empires
British museums, long active players in the licensing and merchandising landscape, continue to build their licensing efforts: The Imperial War Museums retained Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management to extend its merchandise program into North America. The National Gallery, London is introducing its brand and archives into international markets with agency JELC after beginning a licensing […]
Feeling Fit
The world of licensed products tied to fitness experts is set to expand, with a number of these celebrities recently retaining licensing agents. Just in the last month, for example: Joe Wicks, creator of The Shift, Shape, and Sustain Plan, signed Global Merchandising Services to extend his name and The Body Coach brand into sporting […]
From Platform to Product
The role of Internet- and mobile-based content distribution and social media platforms in the licensing business traditionally has been twofold. First, the sites provide distribution and awareness for licensable properties. Second and more recently, they have been offering assistance and guidance to help the IP owners they distribute launch their own licensing efforts. A third […]
Flying High
Sales of drones in the U.S. more than doubled in 2016, according to the NPD Group, with sales of higher-end products (retailing for $300 and up) growing the fastest in terms of dollar revenue and consumer-level models (priced from $50 to $100) seeing unit sales spike during the holiday season. The latter accounted for 42% […]
Success in the Classroom
Three licensors have recently forged deals for educational content to be used in K-12 classrooms in the U.S., with two of them announced just last month. Together they suggest the range of properties that can have relevance in the classroom, as well as the variety of program types that are possible: The National Wildlife Federation […]
A Crush of Collectibles Brands
Even as mini-collectible toys have become a key category for entertainment/character licenses of all types, properties with roots in the world of collectibles are also increasingly launching outbound licensing programs. Some of the newer entrants into the market include: Splashlings from TPF Toys, licensed by Shaftesbury/Smokebomb. Licensees announced to date include Boston America, Children’s Apparel […]
On Unicorn Foods and Other Social Media Trends
Over the past few years, licensors and licensees have been looking to social media, especially YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, for product development ideas. For example, a licensor might note that fans are creating their own room décor featuring one of its characters, and seek licensees for craft kits, wall art, or other as-yet-unexploited products that […]
The Far Reach of Fanatics
Earlier this month, Fanatics revealed that it was purchasing VF Corporation’s sports business, which includes Majestic Athletic, a leading licensee of the U.S. pro sports leagues. This is just the latest step in the company’s continuing march toward sports-licensing domination over the past couple of years, and it seems like a good opportunity to take […]
A Tasting Menu of Chef-Related Deals
The landscape for chef-based licensed products is among the most crowded of all celebrity-licensing segments. A wealth of chefs who have gained fame through restaurants, cookbooks, instructional TV cooking shows, and competitive cooking reality series have extended their brands, and others are entering the fray. This segment can be challenging. New licensors are trying to […]