Feedback showed that over half of UK retailers are set to boost branded product lines as they urge the licensing industry to streamline processes.

A survey of 60 UK retailers, working across toys and entertainment, apparel, gifts and accessories, home goods and sports, conducted at the Licensing for Retail Day, has provided fresh insight into the role licensing plays in the retailers’ business strategies.

The survey revealed that retailers are increasingly aware of the benefits of operating a brand licensing programme, specifically the opportunities it presents to:

• Diversify categories (33%)
• Acquire new customers (26%)
• Increase customer loyalty (19%)

For the retailers questioned, branded/licensed product represents the following percentage of their sales currently:

• Over 50% of revenue – 28% of retailers surveyed.
• 24-50% or of revenue – 21% of retailers surveyed.
• Up to 25% of revenue – 42% of retailers surveyed.

Furthermore, 80% of those retailers confirmed the number of branded/licensed products they sell will increase (52%) or stay the same (28%) this year. Only 3% were forecasting a decline.

Barriers preventing even higher levels of brand/licensing product penetration were highlighted, with retailers frustrated by complexities, slow approvals and ‘to shelf’ timelines.

When asked, ‘What are the biggest barriers to working with brands?’, the responses were:

• Approvals are too time consuming (26%)
• The contractual side is too confusing (20%)
• We want to work with different brands to our competitors (14%)
• Takes too long to get products to shelf (10%)

The survey found that the brands retailers are most excited about working with in 2024 skew heavily towards toys, pre-school and kidult, with Hello Kitty, Bluey, Furby, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Paddington, Squishmallows, Transformers, Lego and Poppy’s Playtime all being mentioned.

“It’s so pleasing to see more and more UK retailers understanding and enjoying the benefits of brand licensing as they increase the number of brands and categories they work with to design and deliver products that consumers, new and old, love,” said Brand Licensing Europe’s head of retail, Laura Freedman-Dagg.

“We have worked hard to make it as easy as possible for retailers to take the first steps on their brand licensing journey, by providing them with insight, education and contacts through Licensing for Retail Day and our Retail Mentoring Programme, both free to attend for qualifying retailers, and the opportunity to meet face to face at our events, including Brand Licensing Europe in London this September.”