By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The metaverse licensing company Virtual Brands Group is on a roll. After winning a coveted Licensing Excellence award for its collaboration with Forever 21 and Roblox, Virtual Brands Group and Forever 21 have landed a metaverse collaboration with Mattel's Barbie. The new limited-edition collection includes a range of on-trend vintage style … [Read more...] about Metaverse Licensing: Barbie Joins Collaboration With Forever 21 and VBG on Roblox
Specialty Stores
Forever 21 Tries To Enter China Market For Third Time
The fashion brand Forever 21 is rebooting its efforts to establish a presence in China, according to a story broken by Women's Wear Daily. This is the third time Forever 21 has tried to enter the Chinese retail market. The first time was in 2008, but the attempt was short-lived and unsuccessful. The company tried again in 2011 but pulled out in 2019 after disappointing revenue … [Read more...] about Forever 21 Tries To Enter China Market For Third Time
Aardman Announces Hilarious New License Deals
The hilarious Animation studio Aardman has announced several new licensing deals for two of its most famous brands, Wallace & Gromit, and the spinoff Shaun the Sheep. The Wallace & Gromit series of short stop-action animation practically reinvented the genre, and brought the mild-mannered gadget freak Wallace and his much smarter dog Gromit to international fame. Shaun … [Read more...] about Aardman Announces Hilarious New License Deals
Who’s News: Parmar Promoted To MD Of Toymaster
Toymaster, the UK's national association of toy stores, has promoted Yogi Parmar to the role of Managing Director. Parmar has worked with Toymaster for several years, and recently has served along with Colin Farrow as the company's joint interim managing director. Toymaster chair Chris Blatcher says Parma is a long-serving, popular, and much respected leader of the Toymaster … [Read more...] about Who’s News: Parmar Promoted To MD Of Toymaster
Eddie Bauer Being Acquired By Authentic Brands
Retail and consumer products giant Authentic Brands and its partially owned subsidiary SPARC Group have reached an agreement to buy the outdoor clothing chain Eddie Bauer in a deal expected to close June 1. Deal terms have not yet been disclosed. Authentic Brands Group LLC is a global force in retail with more than 6,000 outlets worldwide, generating roughly $14 billion in … [Read more...] about Eddie Bauer Being Acquired By Authentic Brands
What Consumers Will be Looking for in a Post-COVID World
By Alicia Rosa Brand Central Insights Consumers are starting to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. This new vaccinated world will be a testing ground to see if the pandemic-driven trends and habits will stay. At Brand Central Insights we’ve been able to look at the trends from the last year at a bird’s-eye view to see what’s going to stick around for the long … [Read more...] about What Consumers Will be Looking for in a Post-COVID World
Beijing Lashes Out at Western Fashion Brands
WAR OF WORDS OVER HUMAN RIGHTS SPILLS OVER INTO LICENSING, AS CHINA HITS BACK AGAINST H&M, ADIDAS, NIKE, AND MORE Stung by accusations of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, Beijing is lashing out at Western fashion brands that have criticized the Chinese government. Already, Chinese state TV has called for a boycott of the Swedish retailer H&M, following … [Read more...] about Beijing Lashes Out at Western Fashion Brands
Toys R Us Is Back in Business … Again
Big news for those in the toy and toy licensing industry, as brand management company WHP Global announced Monday it has acquired the controlling interest in Tru Kids, the parent company of Toys R Us, Babies R Us and the Geoffrey the Giraffe brand. Toys R Us has struggled to survive in a world beset by a rapid shift to e-commerce, and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017. … [Read more...] about Toys R Us Is Back in Business … Again
LEGO Caps Breakout Year With 13% Growth
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The LEGO Group has been on a tear throughout fiscal 2020, launching new and innovative products, signing key licensing deals, and continuing its run as one of the world's top kids' entertainment companies. That success has also translated into growing revenue, as the European tosco reported a 13% increase in revenue to $7 billion, at a time … [Read more...] about LEGO Caps Breakout Year With 13% Growth
Twin Studies Predict Strong Recovery For Licensing and Retail
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Two key reports released over the past two weeks illustrate the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the licensing and retail industries … but they also paint an encouraging picture for the economic recovery of both sectors as vaccination programs roll out in America and around the world. License Global released its report—COVID-19: What … [Read more...] about Twin Studies Predict Strong Recovery For Licensing and Retail