TLL Staff The global brand licensing industry gathered in Las Vegas to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Licensing International Excellence Awards. The award winners were revealed during a ceremony preceding this year’s Licensing Expo, which runs May 20–22 in Las Vegas. Recognizing innovation and achievement across the licensing landscape, the awards spotlight … [Read more...] about Winners of 2025 Licensing International Excellence Awards Revealed
Hello Kitty
Kahoot! Welcomes Hello Kitty and Friends to Educational Gaming
By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Kahoot! has launched a collaboration with Sanrio to create free educational games inspired by the company's popular character IPs. Designed for both children and adult learners, the collection will include digital games that feature well-known characters like Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kerokerokeroppi and more. "We are excited to launch … [Read more...] about Kahoot! Welcomes Hello Kitty and Friends to Educational Gaming
Goodnotes Expands Branded Offerings with Sanrio-Themed Digital Stationery Collection
TLL Staff The popular digital note-taking app Goodnotes has announced the launch of a Sanrio-themed digital stationery collection on its in-app Goodnotes Marketplace. This collaboration marks Goodnotes' second global branded release in partnership with digital stationery leader Webudding, following the successful debut of a BTS-themed collection in May 2024. The Sanrio … [Read more...] about Goodnotes Expands Branded Offerings with Sanrio-Themed Digital Stationery Collection
Hello Kitty Treat Launches at Van Leeuwen for National Ice Cream Day
By TLL Staff Sanrio and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream have partnered to introduce a Hello Kitty 50th anniversary flavor for National Ice Cream Day. The limited-edition Hello Kitty flavor, titled Yummy Berry White Chocolate Truffle, is a blend of white chocolate ice cream with chunks of truffle brownies and swirls of raspberry jam that are made to resemble Hello Kitty’s signature red … [Read more...] about Hello Kitty Treat Launches at Van Leeuwen for National Ice Cream Day
Firefly: The Agency That Puts the Pop! in Pop Culture
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief As the editor of The Licensing Letter, you can imagine I get my share of spam. But no one has 'spammed' me like Cynthia Modders, the owner, founder and self-described ‘Super Fly’ at Firefly Brand Management. A few days after I mentioned in conversation that our family has a tradition of making weird recipes from Hormel’s canned … [Read more...] about Firefly: The Agency That Puts the Pop! in Pop Culture
Bokksu Releases Hello Kitty Snack Boxes for Kids
By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Bokksu is releasing its second snack box collaboration for the Hello Kitty and Friends brand as part of its ongoing partnership with Sanrio. The new limited-edition Hello Kitty Okinawa Beach Party Snack Box includes premium summertime-themed Japanese snacks, exclusive limited-edition Hello Kitty merchandise, and a printed snack guide and … [Read more...] about Bokksu Releases Hello Kitty Snack Boxes for Kids
Cuteness Overload: Barbie Partners with Hello Kitty
US toy giant Mattel has partnered with Sanrio to create a branding dynamo, combining the iconic Barbie line with the globally popular Hello Kitty brand for the first time. The two companies say they will collaborate on the development of a colourful and contemporary product line aimed at kids and adults that will span accessories, apparel, health and beauty, and footwear. The … [Read more...] about Cuteness Overload: Barbie Partners with Hello Kitty
M&A & Experiential
American households are loading up on credit card debt, according to data from the Federal Reserve and a related study by WalletHub. By the end of 2017, credit card debt in the U.S. reached $1.01 trillion, beating out the previous record of $984 billion at the end of 2008 and the start of 2009, the tipping point of the Great Recession. Just this past holiday season, WalletHub … [Read more...] about M&A & Experiential
Experiential Roundup
Nickelodeon and Spin Master take Paw Patrol to Visionworks locations as part of a back-to-school initiative. Kids who have completed their annual eye exam get a free gift, which includes a Paw Patrol activity sheet, crayons, stickers, and a character mask. Beginning this July, the retailer will also debut it first-ever kids’ line of Paw Patrol frames, designed and distributed … [Read more...] about Experiential Roundup
Hello Kitty Hits the Road
Hello Kitty, one of the properties widely believed to have been squeezed by Frozen’s wild popularity in 2014, is taking to the road to defend her turf. The Sanrio property, an almost $4 billion globally licensed brand in 2013, is at the center of Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival, the property’s first-ever North America touring show. The live entertainment show will … [Read more...] about Hello Kitty Hits the Road