Unofficially SLATS Day 2: Our Top 3 Picks

On the ground with KW 360, Unscape Apparel and FADEL

Author

Tamara Karsten
January 24, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show 2025 is in full swing, and the ClickZ team is reporting live from the event floor in Las Vegas! We're speaking with industry leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of sports licensing and tailgating products.

In today’s edition, we’re sharing exclusive insights from our interviews with exhibitors and innovators at the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show from Day 2.

Disclaimer: Unofficially SLATS is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show.

Barack Ulin, Sales Director at KW 360, shared insights into the company’s role as the official distributor for Wagon International’s FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise. With a legacy in sports licensing since 1988, KW 360 is set to distribute a wide range of exclusive products across the U.S., leveraging Wagon’s global licensing rights for the World Cup.

Driving Demand with Soccer’s Growth

The decision to partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 stems from the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S., evolving demographics, and the excitement surrounding the sport’s resurgence since the last World Cup held in the country in 1994. Bulin highlighted that these factors represent a significant market opportunity for and consumer engagement.

Exclusive Product Differentiation

KW 360’s strength lies in Wagon International’s exclusive licensing rights, particularly for unique two- and three-dimensional products like replica trophies. This exclusivity positions KW 360 as a standout player in the marketplace, offering items that competitors cannot replicate.

Customer-Driven Insights Shaping Strategy

Rather than relying solely on industry trends, KW 360 leverages direct feedback from its extensive retail network of over 10,000 doors. Retail partners like Walmart and 7-Eleven provide invaluable insights into consumer behavior, informing product pricing and seasonality strategies, such as planning ahead for the 2025 holiday season and the 2026 tournament.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Reach and Partnerships

Post-expo, KW 360 aims to deepen relationships with existing partners while exploring new opportunities to expand their program. The goal is to increase their footprint and number of retail doors, ensuring widespread availability of their exclusive FIFA World Cup products.

As excitement builds for the FIFA World Cup 2026, KW 360 is ready to deliver unmatched products that connect fans worldwide. Their innovative approach and customer-driven strategy ensure they are well-positioned to make this global event even more memorable.

Insights are at the heart of everything we do.

Much like in football, where preparation, performance, and post-match analysis determine success, meeting insights—before, during, and after calls—are crucial in shaping a sales team's ability to close deals. Hive Perform exists to empower teams with these insights, helping them close more deals, faster.

At the recent expo, Emily Demshki, the founder of UC Apparel, shared insights into how her brand is reshaping college lifestyle fashion. With over 12 years in the market, UC Apparel has carved out a niche by focusing on custom graphics and hyper-local designs tailored to each school, standing apart from the standard primary logo apparel saturating the market.

Embracing Sustainability

A highlight of UC Apparel’s innovation is their fully recycled line, featuring 100% recycled fabrics used in sweaters and knit items. These sustainable pieces have garnered significant popularity, particularly among environmentally-conscious consumers. Emily explained,

“Consumers, especially Gen Z, are increasingly mindful of their purchases, favoring items that last and minimize environmental impact. As fast fashion comes under scrutiny, there’s a growing demand for sustainable and thoughtfully designed options.”

Emily Demshki

Standing Out in a Competitive Market

At the expo, UC Apparel focused on differentiation through unique graphics and fashionable silhouettes. “A T-shirt can only be reimagined in so many ways,” Emily noted. “What sets us apart is our creative approach to design and our focus on sustainability.” By catering to shifting trends and preferences, the brand offers a fresh take on collegiate fashion.

Adapting to Trends and Evolving Strategies

Emily emphasized the importance of staying ahead in the ever-changing world of fashion. She highlighted the resurgence of retro styles, oversized silhouettes, and nostalgic elements like chenille patches as key trends UC Apparel plans to incorporate into their future collections.

Looking Ahead

The brand is committed to developing innovative programs that balance sustainability with style. By responding to market conditions and maintaining momentum through creative design, UC Apparel is poised to continue leading in the college apparel space.

With a focus on sustainability, custom designs, and staying on top of trends, UC Apparel is not only meeting consumer demands but also setting a standard for the future of collegiate fashion.

Tarek Fadel, Founder and CEO of FADEL, shared insights on how his company is transforming the licensing industry at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show. FADEL specializes in B2B software solutions that manage intellectual property (IP) licensing, spanning character properties, educational content, and digital assets. Their platform provides end-to-end solutions for licensing agreements and payment calculations.

What Sets FADEL Apart

FADEL’s enterprise-grade platform is built to handle the complexities of global IP licensing, scaling across languages, currencies, and business units. With roots in enterprise software, the FADEL team leveraged their experience to develop one of the first comprehensive cloud-based solutions, seamlessly integrating with major systems like Oracle and SAP.

Industry Trends and Strategic Focus

The licensing space is growing rapidly, particularly in sports. FADEL is expanding into this sector to address its unique licensing models, such as league-managed versus team-managed agreements. Additionally, counterfeit merchandise has become a significant challenge. Universities and sports leagues rely on licensing software to track and combat unlicensed goods, ensuring royalty payments and protecting brand integrity.

AI and Counterfeit Detection

FADEL is at the forefront of incorporating AI into licensing. Their tracking software monitors where content and images are displayed, identifying authenticity and combatting counterfeit sales. They are also developing generative AI capabilities to differentiate between AI-created and manually curated content, responding to increasing client demand for such solutions.

Long-Term Goals

FADEL is doubling down on solutions for licensees, addressing pain points in royalty reporting and payment accuracy. With 30% of global consumer product licensing managed through FADEL’s engines, they’re leveraging their expertise to simplify operations for licensees, ensuring seamless collaboration with licensors and reducing disputes.

Evolving Consumer Behavior and Licensing Revenue

As consumers shift to online and subscription-based purchasing, licensing revenue has grown, particularly in digital spaces like gaming. This shift has increased the volume of data companies must process for royalty calculations, creating a need for scalable platforms. FADEL’s robust solutions are designed to meet these demands, offering clients the ability to process vast data sets efficiently.