Virtual Showroom

Word on the street is that it's becoming increasingly difficult to launch a new license. Not only are retailers reticent to hand over shelf space to an unknown, it looks like licensees are becoming incredibly risk averse. This might explain why this year's group of properties met with a somewhat lukewarm reception. The panel cast nary an 'excellent' vote, and a sense of 'been there, done that' pervaded responses. Not surprisingly, participants' needs remain virtually unchanged from last year's survey. Respondents continued to peg TV (38%) and licensed brands (33%) as the areas in dire need of a new hit, with demand for boy- and girl-skewing properties running neck-in-neck.