Coming out of Licensing Show this June 2013, got me thinking about the future of licensing. Now more than ever, I feel that only the strong will survive.
Change was in the air this year, not only for me and my many friends and former colleagues delving into the entrepreneurial landscape and starting new businesses (from licensing and consulting agencies, to toy companies), but for bigger guys like Dreamworks, and even more recently WWE, who have made purchases, staff changes, and are gearing up for a brighter future in the kids business.
And you can never tell exactly what is going to hit it big in licensing. Companies like Rovio (Angry Birds) and Outfit7 (Talking Tom, etc.), once up & comers, are now considered key players in the business. And evergreen brands like Saban’s Power Rangers (with a little love and affection) are on the rise once again.
But the biggest take away from this years show was that unlike the last few years, hope was in the air. Let’s hope it’s here to stay…