By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Unless you're a close follower of the beauty market, this week's launch of the Glossier (pronounced "glossy AY," as in "dossier") Phase 2 Set might have escaped your notice. But while the new makeup set is no game changer, Emily Weiss, the persona behind the Glossier brand is. Weiss and the digital company she founded three years ago are in many ways the … [Read more...] about Emily Weiss Gives Beauty a Millennial Makeover
Celebrity
Licensed Housewares at IHHS
Retail sales of licensed housewares goods in the U.S. and Canada grew a 1.5% in 2015 after a flat perfomance in 2014, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. And as consumer confidence in the economy grows, sales are only expected to increase. The International Home + Housewares Show (IHHS) in Chicago offers a glimpse of licensing activity in … [Read more...] about Licensed Housewares at IHHS
Freshness Eludes Celebrity Scents
By Marcy Magiera Despite a small rush of celebrity-licensed fragrances introduced to retail in the late summer and fall, the category still smells off, with marketers Elizabeth Arden, Coty and Parlux all reporting recent sales declines as a result of soft demand for mass market scents. Elizabeth Arden reported earlier this month that sales for its fiscal second quarter, ended … [Read more...] about Freshness Eludes Celebrity Scents
Is Rachael Ray the Next Big Celebrity Lifestyle Brand?
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. POP QUIZ "I'm not an interior designer. But I've developed my own take on all things home and creating a [home furnishings] collection that represents my daily life is a natural evolution for my lifestyle brand." Question Which celebrity said this? Taylor Swift Jessica Alba Reese Witherspoon Gwyneth Paltrow None of the above Answer None of … [Read more...] about Is Rachael Ray the Next Big Celebrity Lifestyle Brand?
Six New Streaming Shows with Licensing Potential
News of new kids' TV distribution deals made by Netflix and Amazon last week drove home a discussion we have increasingly been having with licensing executives about the ability of digital platforms to launch new properties (as well as boost business for existing brands). While hard data showing a positive causal relationship between viewership on digital platforms and … [Read more...] about Six New Streaming Shows with Licensing Potential
YouTube Creators Move to Series, Movies
By Marcy Magiera YouTube this week will roll out the first original programming for its three month-old subscription streaming service, Red, in a move that will generate more traditional long-form series and feature film exposure for some of its top properties. YouTube's strategy with Red is to fund the passion projects of some of its biggest homegrown stars as a way to … [Read more...] about YouTube Creators Move to Series, Movies
As Pet Pampering Grows, Licensing Goes to the Dogs
By Marcy Magiera For evidence of Americans' preoccupation with their pets, look no further than Super Bowl Sunday, when Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XII (in VR, no less) and Hallmark Channel's Kitten Bowl III will fill the hours leading up to the main gridiron event. Or the fact that a Petco survey during the fourth quarter showed that 82% of respondents intended to … [Read more...] about As Pet Pampering Grows, Licensing Goes to the Dogs
Licensing for Mobile Games Opens Up to New Players
The mobile game licensing paradigm is changing. Although powerful gaming apps like Angry Birds still rule the roost, new players are getting into the game—not just licensees who turn digital properties into non-digital products but also licensors who license their own property for apps and mobile games. While retail sales of licensed video games/software fell -26.4% to $2.93 … [Read more...] about Licensing for Mobile Games Opens Up to New Players
Visions of the Future from Stream Con
By Karina Masolova This Halloween weekend, New York saw its first digital content and creator convention, Stream Con NYC. The East Coast alternative to VidCon welcomed thousands of digital content fans, creators and professionals as they negotiated the future of branding and content consumption—and, of course, the implications for licensing. Celebrities from social media, and … [Read more...] about Visions of the Future from Stream Con
Social Media Ledger
By Karina Masolova At Brand Licensing Europe, keynote speaker Cassey Ho outlined the history behind her successful merchandising program (over 200 SKUs available from her online store and speciality boutiques). Her key points for building a successful brand—staying true to oneself, listening to the fan community—ring true for all digital celebs TLL identified as licensing … [Read more...] about Social Media Ledger