April 6, 2018
Licensees are the linchpin that moves the consumer product business forward. By providing exceptional third-party services such as design, distribution and manufacturing, licensees complete the IP journey, allowing licensors' brand or property to find its way to the hands that matter most–the consumer.
License Global
has compiled a report that identifies some of the leading licensees across all categories. Included within these pages are 150 of the best-of-the-best in the business, from apparel all the way down to consumer electronics.
* The 150 Leading Licensees report is a combination of reader surveys and
License Global
industry intelligence and covers all major categories. It is not intended to be a comprehensive industry survey.
** Boxed listings are compiled from advertorial content.
Alfilo Brands
Categories:
Apparel, accessories, footwear, gifting, collectibles, homewares and stationery
Avec U.K.
Categories:
Homewares, arts and crafts, gifts, stationery, partyware, health and beauty and textiles
ABG Accessories
Jolene Cappadona, vice president, licensing
T: 908-558-1200 ext. 144
E:
Categories:
Headwear, cold weather accessories, rainwear, baby accessories and patented products featuring Stompeez and Flipeez
Founded in 1965 as Elegant Headwear by Julius Templer, the headwear and handwear manufacturer has today evolved to become ABG Accessories, with Templer's son, Joseph, at the helm.
ABG Accessories is a leader in its category for many reasons–design, quality and knowledge of the product based on its lengthy experience.
The company prides itself on making great products at a great price, and rises to the challenge of helping retailers meet their margins.
In addition to its many licensed ranges, ABG Accessories also looks to innovation to shore up its product offerings, including its patented brands Flipeez, Brelleez, Stompeez and more. Its on-trend products, designed by its in-house creative team, also help keep ABG ahead of the market.
Blues Clothing
Categories:
Outerwear, apparel, swimwear, nightwear and underwear
Bioworld Merchandising
Jennifer Staley, vice president, licensing
T: 888-831-2138
E:
Categories:
Men's, junior's and youth apparel; headwear; sleepwear; small accessories; socks; bags; Internet of Things (technology); jewelry; and casual footwear
Bioworld Merchandising is one of the industry leaders of licensed merchandise for some of the biggest entertainment brands in the world. It is one of the most trusted partners in the industry, relied upon to bring its brand partners new success. Bioworld specializes in the brand management, design, sale and distribution of the world's greatest brands.
Brand partners are looking to generate excitement, reach and build momentum with their brands across the apparel and accessory categories, and they trust Bioworld to be that partner. Bioworld tells a complete story from head to toe across men's, women's and kids, covering 12 different product categories, from apparel to accessories.
Bioworld sets a high standard for the industry in terms of product quality and differentiation. Every product should be exactly what the consumer expects. Its products are authentic interpretations of the brands fans love.
In the eyes of the consumer, there are no territory boundaries. Consumers are shopping the world to find the products they desire, and Bioworld is fulfilling this demand at the global level. Its infrastructure allows Bioworld to offer specific product lines to retailers in the U.S., Canada, EMEA, Asia and Latin America.
Children's Apparel Network
www.childrensapparelnetwork.com
Categories:
Children's and infant apparel
Cudlie Accessories
Categories:
Infant and toddler apparel, accessories, hard and soft goods
Concept One Accessories
Bernie Hafif, vice president, licensing and acquisitions
T: 212-868-2590 ext. 111
E:
Categories:
Accessories including headwear, cold weather accessories, luggage, bags, belts, wallets, pins, patches, buttons and lanyards
Concept One Accessories is a premier resource for licensed fashion and entertainment accessories. Its well-rounded portfolio and expansive product offering establish Concept One as the go-to resource for accessories across all channels of distribution.
Concept One holds licenses with top licensors and leading brands including Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Twentieth Century Fox, Ubisoft, Sony, Activsion, SEGA, Bungie, Microsoft, Budweiser, Corona, Ford, Chevy, Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, Sean John, FUL, RBX, U.S. Polo Association, Van Heusen, Izod, Macbeth Collection and more.
Essential Brands
Categories:
Apparel, accessories, homewares and private label programs
Fast Forward
Categories:
Backpacks, lunch kits, beverage bottles, handbags, luggage, accessories, small leather goods and stationery
FAB Starpoint
James Stocker, senior vice president, licensing
T: 212-947-9001 ext. 167
E:
Categories:
Handbags, backpacks, luggage, stationery, gifting, homewares and cold weather accessories
FAB Starpoint, a division of FAB NY, focuses on categories such as back-to-school, luggage and travel, handbags, cold weather, gifts and home décor geared toward the youth and adult accessory markets.
The company has built partnerships with all major licensors including Hello Kitty, Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Pokèmon, Warner Bros. and many others.
FAB's brands include Mojo Life, which is a backpack brand inspired by music, fashion and pop culture, that was launched in 2011. Since, Mojo Life has partnered with some of the industry's top properties to launch a back-to-college collection of co-brands with properties such as
Deadpool
, "Pac-Man" and "SpongeBob," to name a few. Other FAB proprietary brands include Canada Weather Gear, an all-weather, performance and utility backpack brand; and dELiA*s Girl, which is marketed to upscale tweens.
In 2010, FAB founder Steve Russo launched the Danielle Nicole brand alongside its founder and creative director, Danielle DiFerdinando. The line caters to a price conscious contemporary consumer with key price points ranging from $68–$199. In 2016, FAB and Danielle Nicole partnered with Disney's Princess franchise to create a co-branded line that appeals to the nostalgic and whimsical side of the contemporary consumer. The line currently sells at retailers such as TopShop, Asos, HSN, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Fred Segal and more. As a follow up, a capsule collection, "Rugrats" by Danielle Nicole, will be released this month, with more co-branding opportunities to come.
Global Brands Group
Categories:
Apparel, accessories, footwear, health and beauty and more
High Point Design
Morris Chehebar, vice president, sales and licensing
T: 646-484-3848
E:
Categories:
Hosiery, including socks, novelty socks, knee-high socks, boot socks, athletic socks, tights, leggings, leg warmers, slipper socks, Fuzzy Babbas and more
For nearly 40 years, High Point Design, a division of The Moret Group, has serviced hosiery buyers throughout North America with best-in-class products, capitalizing on its proprietary innovations.
With a dedicated team of in-house professionals that include merchandisers, account specialists and retail planners, High Point services its key retail relationships with unmatched execution and program management.
High Point Design shops the globe bi-annually, seeking out new fashion trends in the women's, men's, boys' and girls' categories, developing market reports for each that are custom tailored for its retail partners.
Within High Point Design's portfolio are many of the country's top entertainment licenses, which the licensee brings to life through its creativity, fashion intelligence and deep research to establish the DNA of the license, which particularly shines in the company's licensed character segment of the business.
As a division of The Moret Group, and with headquarters in New York City's fashion garment district, High Point Design is a nimble company backed by the stability of, and access to, the infrastructure of a very large corporation.
Merlin Entertainment
Categories:
Toys and games, novelties, leisure entertainment and live entertainment
MiWorld Accessories
Categories:
Apparel, health and beauty, FMCG and gifting
Monogram International
Categories:
Accessories, gifting, collectibles, homewares, stationery, toys and games and novelties
Mad Engine
Lorne Bloch, vice president, licensing
T: 858-525-1096
E:
Categories:
Men's, junior's, boy's, girl's, toddler and infant accessories, loungewear and licensed and private label apparel
Founded in 1987, Mad Engine is celebrating 30 years in 2017. In its three decades, the company has grown into one of the leading licensed apparel wholesalers in the world.
Mad Engine's footprint spans the globe, with multiple locations dedicated to customer service, manufacturing, distribution and quality assurance.
As a vertical operation, Mad Engine is well equipped to meet the needs of every customer, from independent boutiques to mass market retailers. With an ever-expanding roster of more than 150 licenses and a talented team of artists and designers, Mad Engine strives to deliver innovative product in every category to thousands of customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Mad Engine recently acquired Lifted Research Group and Neff. These acquisitions mark Mad Engine's entry into the branded apparel arena.
Ripple Junction
Scott Andersen, vice president
T: 513-559-3900
E:
Categories:
Men's and junior's t-shirts, fleece, cut-and-sew apparel, headwear, socks, bags and small accessories
Twenty-five years ago, two dudes at a Grateful Dead show were listening to the band perform "Ripple," when one said to the other: "If we create some great t-shirts, we can probably earn enough to travel with the band for a while."
And thus, the pop-culture-obsessed juggernaut known as Ripple Junction was born. What started as an idea at a Dead show has, over the last 25 years, grown into one of the premier licensees, manufacturers and retailers of officially licensed apparel. Playing fair with licensors and retailers has allowed the company to expand its license portfolio to include hundreds of brands from the film, music, games and TV categories. A small sample of recent Ripple Junction property favorites include "Bob's Burgers," "Rick and Morty," "Riverdale," "Doctor Who," WWE and a host of anime shows and comics.
As its business has grown over the years, so have its product offerings. It launched with shirts, but now Ripple Junction has added jackets, fleece, cut-and-sew apparel, hats, pins, socks and mugs to its product portfolio. And the offering will only continue to grow over the years to come as it fulfills its commitment to constantly bring joy to pop culture fans.
Always looking to the future, Ripple Junction is positioning itself to lead the officially licensed apparel business from the front, pioneering new ways to delight both B2B and B2C customers as it continues to be the supplier of products that WOW!
Sentiments
Categories:
Home textile and pet products including beds, toys, and feeders for dogs and cats.
Sakar International
;
Liza Abrams, senior vice president, global licensing and marketing
T: 732-248-1306
E:
Categories:
Youth electronics, health and wellness/grooming, optics, digital imaging, audio/mobile accessories, karaoke and musical instruments
Sakar International is a leading provider of consumer electronics and accessories. Founded in 1977, Sakar’s core categories include audio and mobile accessories, digital imaging and optics, karaoke, youth electronics, musical instruments and health and wellness. Sakar also owns several brands including Vivitar and Altec Lansing, both of which are distributed globally.
Sakar has a broad portfolio of licenses on the youth entertainment side including all of the major studios and global toy companies across their brands as well as newer licensors, lifestyle kids’ brands and adult corporate and consumer electronics brands. Some of newer licensed lines the company will be launching this year include
LEGO Ninjago
, Hatchimals, “Beat Bugs” and Discovery Kids, to name just a few.
Sakar’s strength is in its inventory power, global reach, deep distribution networks, brand portfolio and consumer electronics category assortment, as well as its award-winning packaging and display innovations. The company is also known for being nimble, for its speed to market, and for providing value and great quality to its customers.
With headquarters in Edison, N.J., showrooms in New York City and offices around the world, Sakar is truly global. Its product managers and key creatives travel constantly, attending trade shows, shopping retailers around the world and following fashions to ensure that its products, technologies, packaging and displays are on-trend.
Silver Buffalo
Greg Alprin, executive vice president
T: 212-268-4754
E:
Categories:
Drinkware, hydration, tabletop dinnerware, barware, sports bottles, coffee accessories, melamine, throws, canvas wall art, wood wall art, metal and tin wall art, wall wobblers, key rings, lanyards, buttons, magnets, journals, notebooks and note pads
Born in 2006, Silver Buffalo is a trend-setting manufacturer and distributor of licensed home décor and housewares.
Silver Buffalo is a creative think tank working in collaboration with some of the world's top entertainment companies and most recognized consumer brands to develop unique, creative and ground-breaking products.
Its team prides itself on innovating exciting product that connects with the child or fan in all of us to bring memories to life.
Silver Buffalo's products can be found at national retail stores, online or at independent specialty stores nationwide.
Partnerships include Twentieth Century Fox, Anheuser-Busch, Gruppo Campari, Campbell's, DC Comics, Disney, DreamWorks, Ford, General Motors, Live Nation, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Mattel, Miramax, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Pepsi, The Pokémon Company, Sanrio, Sazerac, Smithsonian, Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Bros. and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Highlight properties include
Harry Potter, Star Wars
, Disney Princess, DC Comics, Pokémon, Hello Kitty,
Despicable Me, Trolls
, "Rugrats," "Ren & Stimpy," "Hey Arnold!,"
Justice League, Wonder Woman
, "Paw Patrol," "Looney Tunes,"
Lilo & Stitch
, "Scooby Doo," "Kingdom Hearts,"
Spider-Man
, JoJo Siwa, Marilyn Monroe,
Nightmare Before Christmas
, Gudetama, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, WWE,
Anchorman, Mean Girls, Clueless, Jaws, Bad Santa, A Christmas Story, A Christmas Vacation, Elf, Chucky, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Hellraiser, Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, Pulp Fiction, Clerks, The Godfather
, Budweiser, Bud Light, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Fireball, Wild Turkey, Nirvana, AC/DC, Wu Tang Clan, Foo Fighters, Notorious BIG, Sublime, Kiss, Def Leppard and The Beastie Boys.
Trevco
Trevor George, president
T: 248-526-1400 ext. 45
E:
Categories:
Apparel, homewares, wall art and accessories
Trevco was founded in 1990 as a manufacturer and distributor of licensed apparel and home items. It sells across all channels of retail including direct-to-consumer through its dedicated retail site
, as well as on
, where Trevco is the 1,000th largest seller in the world and growing, and most recently Walmart.
Trevco is an expert at on-demand printing using digital and sublimation technology and has been using the platform since 2006. It currently offers more than 25,000 designs across 700 properties from 80 licensors. Trevco call this its "Long Tail" business model, which refers to the economics of abundance–instead of a limited selection offered by brick-and-mortar retailers, Trevco is able to offer an endless variety of choices for unlimited tastes.
Trevco can print small orders, one piece at a time through its on-demand fulfillment, or print large orders using traditional screen printing–it never has to say "no" to an order, greatly increasing the potential for sales, and by extension royalties. Licensors recognize the value this unique business model presents to them, and that's why today Trevco Sportswear holds rights to more properties than almost anyone in the business.
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