The Licensing Letter

Industry Trends

Emily Weiss Gives Beauty a Millennial Makeover

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

NBA Licensing, Like Basketball Itself, Is About Star Power

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. No league relies more heavily on star power than the NBA. From Bird and Magic to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and current golden boy and reigning MVP Stephen Curry, charismatic superstars own not just the hardwood but the store shelves. The Fashion Factor The NBA has been called the world's most fashionable and fashion-conscious sports league. Stephon … [Read more...] about NBA Licensing, Like Basketball Itself, Is About Star Power

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?

5 Reasons MLB Hit a Licensing Grand Slam in 2015

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. 2015 was another strong year for sports licensing in the U.S./Canada. But while all leagues grew, few did better than Major League Baseball. Here are 5 reasons why: 1. New Stars As with other sports, baseball relies on stars to drive growth. The past few years has seen a changing of the guard as the Derek Jeters, Mariano Riveras and Big Papis (David … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons MLB Hit a Licensing Grand Slam in 2015

Big Fashion Licensors Taking Back Control of their Brands

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. The licensing model is one fashion trend that's unlikely to ever go out of style. But a growing number of fashion licensors—especially the bigger houses—are bucking the trend and taking back direct control of their brands. The most recent example is Puig, the Barcelona-based beauty company and owner of Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances, which earlier this … [Read more...] about Big Fashion Licensors Taking Back Control of their Brands

NFLPA Teams Up with TinyCo for “Family Guy” Game Promotion

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Most of the major pro team sports leagues in the U.S. use a two-tiered licensing model, in which the team owners, represented by the league, license the team names, logos and trade dress, and the players, represented by the union, license the players' names, likenesses, numbers and signatures. Historically, the lion's share of licensing revenue has … [Read more...] about NFLPA Teams Up with TinyCo for “Family Guy” Game Promotion

NASCAR Looks to Diversify Its Fan Base

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Last week's piece about NASCAR's efforts to reach out to women and minorities included a couple of inaccuracies that we'd like to correct: Average household income of NASCAR fans is $71,000 (via Nielsen Scarborough), not under $50,000 as we reported The note about Danica Patrick's taking the poll in her "first race," is incorrect. Although Danica … [Read more...] about NASCAR Looks to Diversify Its Fan Base

The State of Girls’ Toys

By Karina Masolova 2016 promises to be bigger than ever for licensed toys and games. Category sales reached almost $7 billion in 2014, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey, and are expected to grow this year. But amidst soaring success, girls’ toys have been seeing slumping sales, with giants such as Mattel and Hasbro reporting declines. To counter this, the … [Read more...] about The State of Girls’ Toys