Paladone’s Chris Gib on the thriving kidult community, strong interest in the company’s licensed outdoor lighting and supporting retail.
LicensingSource.net catches up with a selection of licensees across key categories to find out their summer success stories, what they see as the highlights and challenges as we enter the ‘golden quarter’ of 2026 and their main goals for 2027.
Today: Chris Gib, head of global marketing, Paladone.
“WeCool Toys and Paladone enjoyed a bumper summer. Demand for licensed products continues to grow, driven by a thriving kidult community investing in products that not only celebrate their favourite brands but also offer strong collectability. As a result, Paladone’s Icon Lights remain a fan favourite thanks to their wide range, shelf appeal and accessible price point.
The weather encouraged more people to enjoy outdoor living, resulting in unprecedented interest in Paladone’s new LunaGlo range of licensed outdoor lighting, featuring brands such as Minecraft, Stitch, Winnie the Pooh and Harry Potter.
Anticipation for the new HBO Harry Potter TV series has also boosted interest in WeCool’s Hedwig Sticker Maker and Cauldron Slime sets ahead of their autumn retail launch.
The conversations around tariffs and economic uncertainty continue to squeeze business and consumer budgets, casting a shadow across the industry, so it’s more important than ever for organisations like Paladone WeCool to support retailers through robust marketing support and attractive point of sale solutions.
Looking ahead, 2027 is shaping up to be another strong year for Paladone, with exciting launches planned across both new and established licences including LEGO, KPop Demon Hunters, McDonald’s and Kirby.”
This feature originally appeared in the autumn 2026 edition of Licensing Source Book. To read the full publication, click on this link.
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