The Bugg Report
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report Like the licensing business worldwide, the UK industry has been severely challenged by the economic and social impact of Covid-19. The country has been in Lockdown for many weeks with a gradual easing of restrictions currently underway but we […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report Up to three weeks ago most people in the UK hadn’t heard of the word furlough. Now it is part of the nation’s lexicon and sadly a lot of people in licensing have been furloughed. The nation is facing […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report I spent many happy childhood days at The Oval in London. The home of Surrey Cricket Club and a Test Match ground. Back in the 1970s as a youngster you could walk into the ground on the practice day […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report There is no denying that times are tough in the UK Licensing market at the moment. Stalwart supporters of licensing in the retail sector such as Mothercare have gone into administration. Selling into retail is more difficult as retailers […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report It is a time of uncertainty in the UK at the moment with much of our conversation dominated by Soft and Hard Brexits. It can be quite wearing. It can also be hard to do business against this backdrop. […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report I was recently asked to take part in a Facebook round robin to nominate my top ten favourite films. Among my list was the film Groundhog Day. In part because I love the film but also because to an […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report Christmas seems to come around more quickly these days. It may be an age thing on my part but it is also due to anxious retailers and suppliers launching their Christmas activity earlier and earlier. I guess this is […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report Summer in the city (of London) and elsewhere in the UK has been unusually hot. To paraphrase a tabloid newspaper it has been a scorcher and continues to be so. Maybe nothing compared to Australian standards but this hot […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report The big sporting tournament this Summer is the Football World Cup taking place in Russia. Football really is the global game and the tournament reflects this with competing nations including England, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Peru and Senegal. A tournament […]
This article was written by Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing Limited, for The Bugg Report I always feel January should be re-named trade-show – it seems the whole of the UK licensing industry is on one continuous cycle of trade-shows. It is part of the routine of licensing but it is important to challenge […]