The Licensing Letter

Furniture and Home Furnishings

Living Coral: 2019 NSS, NY Now & Surtex Edition

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com CORAL, as in: Conscientious, Organized, Retro, and Animated Living. From the floor of the 2019 National Stationery Show (NSS), Retail Renaissance NY Now, and Surtex, TLL brings you the latest in home, stationery, and surface design trends. This year, all three shows were held simultaneously in New York City's Jacob Javits … [Read more...] about Living Coral: 2019 NSS, NY Now & Surtex Edition

Licensed Home-related Goods Up 3.4% WW in 2016

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of licensed home furnishings, housewares, and domestics grew by 3.4% globally, according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Growth was largely thanks to returns in consumer confidence and economic stability. Retail played a strong role in supporting the growth of a wide variety of brands, … [Read more...] about Licensed Home-related Goods Up 3.4% WW in 2016

Chinese Housing Boom Propels Licensed Home Sales

The Chinese real estate market continues to grow into 2017, despite government measures to curb home prices and avoid a housing bubble. Average home prices are projected to increase 4.1% year-on-year and property investment could grow by 5.4% in 2017, according to Reuters, citing a state-owned newspaper report. Meanwhile, new construction is expected to grow by 6.2%, according … [Read more...] about Chinese Housing Boom Propels Licensed Home Sales

Apparel Fuels 3.1% Growth in U.S./Canada Fashion Licensing—Global Growth Is Even Higher

Growing competition; continued decline in the brick and mortar backyard; currency devaluation in Europe and Asia; a fourth quarter retail fiasco. 2015 was a tough year for the fashion industry. Yet, for all of the challenges, fashion licensing prospered in not only in the U.S./Canada but worldwide, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Global … [Read more...] about Apparel Fuels 3.1% Growth in U.S./Canada Fashion Licensing—Global Growth Is Even Higher

Lady Gaga and Elton John Become the Latest to Launch a Macy’s Exclusive

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Limited-edition celebrity lines are an old hat for Macy's. But the upcoming Love Bravery line set to debut at 150 stores next week is a bit different. The exclusive apparel and accessories collection comes from not one, but two, slightly offbeat celebs who don't normally do many of these deals—Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John. Love Bravery is also a … [Read more...] about Lady Gaga and Elton John Become the Latest to Launch a Macy’s Exclusive

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?

Pantones Colors Fashion, Décor Pink and Blue

If a color—or two—can reflect the mood of a people, it could be that we're all just lightening up. Color house Pantone has for the first time named a blending of two shades, Rose Quartz (Pantone 13-1520) and Serenity (Pantone 15-3919), as its Color of the Year for 2016. The positively pastel pink-blue combo stands in stark contrast to the hue of 2015: Marsala, a dark, earthy … [Read more...] about Pantones Colors Fashion, Décor Pink and Blue