They're cute, they're furry, and they're branded with the name of a famous fashion designer. But, c'mon, $850 for a keychain?! That's how much you have to shell out for one of those hot Fendi Bag Bugs—assuming, that is, your name even gets called from the long waiting list of would-be purchasers. The Fendi Bag Bug is just the poster child of the luxury tchotchke, or … [Read more...] about Branded Baubles a Growth Area in Fashion Licensing
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Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Disney Junior cut a deal with Harper Collins Children’s Books for rights to a Fancy Nancy animated telepic and series adaptation, targeted to premiere in 2017. The deal also calls for a host of merchandising tie-ins to be handled by Disney Consumer Products, according to Variety. Fancy Nancy is a hugely popular series of children’s books about a little girl who craves the … [Read more...] about Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Licensing Campaign to Back Soccer’s Copa America Centennial
The producer of the Copa America soccer tournament is looking to licensing to help build awareness for the tournament's 2016 centennial. WeMatch, the partnership that holds the commercial rights to Copa America, will work with brand extension agency and soccer specialist One Entertainment to develop a U.S. and Canadian licensing program including apparel, accessories, toys and … [Read more...] about Licensing Campaign to Back Soccer’s Copa America Centennial
Retail Notes
Books-A-Million (aka BAM!) plans to expand its 257-store retail presence (second highest of any book retailer in the U.S.) by opening 30 new stores this year; Three months after announcing its intention to get out of canada, Target Canada completed inventory liquidation and closed the last of its 133 retail stores on April 12; According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, … [Read more...] about Retail Notes
Smell of Success
A pair of world famous celebrities are celebrating 10 years of fruitful fragrance licensing collaborations with the release of special 10th anniversary limited edition products that are both currently available: Instinct gold edition celebrates the tin anniversary of instinct, a collaboration between David Beckham (XIX Entertainment) and licensee Coty that has sold over 10 … [Read more...] about Smell of Success
Grumpy Cat Grows Her Brand
Digital celebrity Grumpy Cat continues to ride the cyber wave by making new license agreements with Dynamite Comics for a new comic book series to launch later in 2016, a kids’ activity app (Playrific) scheduled for the summer, and a gift line (Bay Northwest) for specialty shops in the Pacific Northwest. … [Read more...] about Grumpy Cat Grows Her Brand
New Channel for Chanel
Bowing to the inevitable, Chanel announced that it will begin engaging in e-commerce probably by the end of 2016. The move includes three of the Métier d’Art companies owned by Chanel’s Paraffection subsidiary, including glove-maker Causse, milliner Maison Michel and cashmere house Barrie Knitwear, all of which will sell online on separate e-commerce sites. It’s not a shift in … [Read more...] about New Channel for Chanel
Court Nixes Lawsuit Over NFL’s Photo License
A group of photographers sued the NFL claiming that its exclusive licensing deal with the AP and Getty Images allowing the League to use stock images royalty-free are an illegal throttling of competition. But the New York federal court disagreed and dismissed the case. The exclusive deals didn’t reduce output of licensed NFL photos on the market or raise prices for consumers, … [Read more...] about Court Nixes Lawsuit Over NFL’s Photo License
Minions Go Mobile
The Minions are multiplying. A new partnership between video game maker Electronic Arts, Minions producer Illumination Entertainment and Universal Partnerships & Licensing will bring the quirky yellow creatures and other characters from upcoming illumination films to mobile games, beginning with Minions Paradise. The game will be free to download beginning this summer, … [Read more...] about Minions Go Mobile
Jessica Simpson Brand Sold to Sequentia;
Sequential Brands Group has agreed to acquire a majority interest in the Jessica Simpson Collection brand, including master license rights, from Camuto Group. Although the price has not been disclosed, you can bet that it is significantly higher than the $15 million the late Vince Camuto paid for the master license in 2005. Camuto built Jessica Simpson into a $1 billion brand … [Read more...] about Jessica Simpson Brand Sold to Sequentia;