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 […]
Tag Archives | Care Bears
Fans See Good Hair Days Ahead
As more fans of pop-culture characters spend time creating sophisticated costumes to wear at conventions, fan fests, Halloween parties, or other get-togethers with like-minded friends, haircare brands have increasingly targeted cosplayers, professional and amateur, as a niche but loyal market for products such as hair paste and semi-permanent hair coloring. Licensing is increasingly coming into […]
Crossover Events Age Down
By Karen Raugust on June 30, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Content, Demographic groups, Licensing
In the character and entertainment world, crossover events pairing two different universes have long been regular occurrences in sectors such as comic books, superhero movies, and tween and adult sitcoms and dramas. This technique has historically been rare in the preschool and younger elementary-grade landscape, but that has changed in a big way in the […]
Asian Retailers Expand Reach
Retail chains from Japan and China that specialize in affordable, stylish merchandise, especially home goods, gifts, and stationery, are expanding quickly on a global scale. Known for their Asian design sensibility—which has become popular worldwide—they turn products over quickly to encourage return visits and give fans new surprises each time. They are often open to […]
Camp Sites
Since the coronavirus pandemic started, licensors, licensees, and retailers have been hosting virtual versions of normally live annual events that are important to students and families and cannot occur face to face. After going digital with prom and graduation, they are now addressing the next big virtual adventure: summer camp. Among the companies with ties […]
Getting Cosy with Emoji
The trend for emoji-related intellectual properties becoming available for licensing, which started to gain traction a year or more ago, initially focused on newly created brands. Examples included those with roots as emojis, such as LINE Friends from Japan, Tuzki from China, or The Emoji Company’s Emoji trademark, as well as those inspired by emojis, […]