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As retail shelves in China and the rest of Asia are becoming saturated with character properties, both local and global, retailers and manufacturers are starting to look for other types of brands and properties. “There's a feeling that China is really into fashion,” says Marilu Corpus of Philippines-based Click! Licensing, which represents properties such as Paul Frank and … [Read more...] about Asian Licensees Seek More Diversity in Property Types

Lisa Valentino is named Chief Revenue Officer at Conde Nast Entertainment. Valentino was previously with ESPN. . . . Bill Uzell joins Canal Toys as CEO for its North and South American operations. … [Read more...] about Who’s News

The makers of Coinye West, a virtual currency based on a similar premise as BitCoin, found themselves in a legal tussle yesterday as rapper Kanye West filed a cease-and-desist to stop the currency. According to a filing, the Coinye West cryptocurrency is "substantially similar to the Kanye West mark in sight, sound, meaning and commercial impression. Interviews with the … [Read more...] about The Buck Stops With Coinye

Licensed characters are found on a range of products specific to Asia, from foods to Chinese New Year products and décor. The latter are ubiquitous in stores here now, leading up to the start of the Year of the Horse at the end of the month. This money envelope features LINE Friends, characters licensed by the Japanese social networking and text messaging company LINE. LINE … [Read more...] about Asia-specific Licensed Products Lead Up to Chinese New Year

Japanese characters are ubiquitous in shops in Hong Kong, as illustrated by this display of erasers, seen in a small stationery and book shop near Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island. In general, Hello Kitty is dominant on store shelves and in the markets, followed closely by Rilakkuma (shown at the bottom of the photo), Doraemon (the blue cat), and other Sanrio characters (not … [Read more...] about Beyond Hello Kitty

Indonesia is poised to be the next growth market in Asia, or “the next Brazil,” as one speaker called it at the 3rd annual Asian Licensing Conference, which runs in conjunction with the Hong Kong Licensing Show this week. While still small in terms of retail sales of licensed goods -- $57 million in 2012, up 8.1% over 2011, according to International Licensing: A Status Report … [Read more...] about Indonesia as the ‘Next Brazil’

When you think of direct-to-retail and retail-exclusive licensing, your mind probably goes to key players such as Walmart, Target, or Kohl's, or category-specific examples such as Michael's or Bed Bath & Beyond. But more retail chains have been entering the fray. In fact, many of the DTR and retail-exclusive licensing ventures that have come to light in the last couple of … [Read more...] about Licensed Exclusives Move Beyond the Usual Suspects

If past episodes of misbehavior (as some see it) or hate speech (as others see it) or free speech (as still others perceive it) are indicative, here are possible scenarios for Duck Dynasty's licensing program in the wake of Phil Robertson's now infamous GQ interview: Full supporters, whose opinions align with Robertson's, might be inclined to purchase more merchandise; … [Read more...] about Publisher’s Note: If The Duck Calls…

While newspapers are struggling to survive in the digital age, classic newspaper comic strips are living on in the physical world through licensed products. Licensors that have appointed licensing agents in the second half of this year include Trinity Mirror, which signed Lisle International Licensing for representation of Andy Capp in the U.K. market, and John Hart Studios, … [Read more...] about Classic Comic Strips Live on Through Active Licensing Programs

If you were thinking that the market for chef-licensed merchandise was saturated, a raft of new deals and new product introductions in the last three months may make you reconsider: Padma Lakshmi, cookbook author and host of "Top Chef," launched a tabletop collection of porcelain and glassware at Bloomingdale's with licensee Prima Designs. Ming Tsai, star of the public … [Read more...] about More Chefs Introduce Licensed Lines Across Retail Channels