The Licensing Letter

TLL

2014 Optimism Revisited: Licensing’ Opportunities Rooted In Speed-to-Market, New Distribution, Globalization

Fall is the season when licensing executives tout their optimism about next year. That’s because most have abandoned their optimism for this year. It’s akin to the old adage about the Army—the best base is the one you were at last or the one you’re going to, never the one you’re at. Much turns, of course, on the retail outlook. By fall, retailers have started to sense the … [Read more...] about 2014 Optimism Revisited: Licensing’ Opportunities Rooted In Speed-to-Market, New Distribution, Globalization

BeFit Nutriceuticals

Most of the licensing activity in the fitness category lately has been around tech devices (Fitbit, Case-Mate, Garmin’s Vivofit), fashion designers (Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff), and entertainment properties (The Biggest Loser). Now, Lionsgate’s BeFit, a YouTube channel with 1.3 million subscribers, has licensed Top Secret Nutrition to develop a line of BeFit supplements. … [Read more...] about BeFit Nutriceuticals

Keurig’s Supervalu(e)

Licensing agreements don’t usually get credited for triggering new stock highs (even on a day when the overall market hits an all-time high), but grocery chain Supervalu has licensed Keurig Green Mountain to market Supervalu’s Java delight brand of coffee in its K-Cups for hot brewing systems, an announcement that sent Keurig’s stock to its own new high. The stock is up more … [Read more...] about Keurig’s Supervalu(e)

Online Shopping

Almost one third of online shoppers shop on a mobile device at least as much as they do on a computer, according to Contact Solutions. Additionally, 10% of shoppers prefer mobile apps to other means of access for online shopping. That said, 16% of consumers struggle with mobile shopping apps at least half the time and half of those abandon the cart when that happens. Consumers’ … [Read more...] about Online Shopping

Variations on a Retail Theme

Five years ago, Toys 'R' Us opened 350 holiday express pop-up stores during the fourth quarter. The program was vastly scaled back the following year and has pretty much disappeared. And while TRU wasn’t the first to implement a pop-up concept, its efforts in 2009 gave rise to a wide array of much smaller—often single-unit pop-ups—that have been as much about promotion as … [Read more...] about Variations on a Retail Theme

Sequels and Spinoffs and Standalones, Oh My; Studios are Developing a Wealth of Licensable Projects Through 2020

Sixty-nine sequels, 32 comics spinoffs, three new mummies, and two standalone spin-offs that don’t quite count as sequels, but should have some familiarity from their links to existing properties. That’s the quick tally of feature film releases with strong licensing potential from May 2015 through 2020. The semi-annual chart, which starts on page 3 of this issue, includes 118 … [Read more...] about Sequels and Spinoffs and Standalones, Oh My; Studios are Developing a Wealth of Licensable Projects Through 2020

PGA Tour Adds More Superstores

PGA Tour Superstore is adding three more outlets in Orlando, Florida; North Scottsdale, Arizona; and Southlake, Texas in 2014 and plans to more than double its current retail footprint over the next five years, according to the Tour. PGA tour Superstore currently has 19 locations ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet each. The retailer plans to have up to 50 locations by … [Read more...] about PGA Tour Adds More Superstores

Get Your Paul Frank Bento Box

Room Copenhagen, which has been producing LEGO beverage and storage products for several years, and Pantone plates, mugs, trays, and desk accessories, just added the Paul Frank license from Saban for the U.S. Items are centered around lunch kits, travel cups, and similar items, displayed here at this week's media preview for the International Home & Housewares Show. For the … [Read more...] about Get Your Paul Frank Bento Box