Company Liquidation Stock: Licensed Kids' Products

This was company liquidation stock: 62,000 licensed children's tumblers, plates, cutlery sets and bowls. Some carried characters from Toy Story 3, Princess and other well-known children's shows. We offered the parcel to our buyers, and the volume made it a natural fit for an overseas importer.

Why do companies end up with licensed stock in liquidation?

Licensed product is ordered against a film or show's release window. Minimum order quantities are high, and the selling window is short. When a company fails, it's often holding deep stock of lines it committed to months earlier.

What makes licensed children's stock sellable?

Recognition. A child sees a character they love and the decision is made. Parents decide quickly too. That makes licensed stock far easier to sell than unbranded product, and retailers know it.

The things that make it harder:

Licence terms. Agreements can limit territory, channel and how long stock can be sold. The liquidator needs to check these.
Timing. Characters tied to a film can fade after release, so it pays to move early.
Mixed designs. Buyers want to know quantities per character and per item.

Who buys licensed children's products?

Discount chains, toy and gift retailers, wholesalers, overseas importers and charities. Each has different reasons for buying. We structure the offer to suit them and keep stock away from the channels the seller, the liquidator or the licensor wants protected. Our guide on protecting your brand when clearing stock explains how.

What should you do with licensed stock in a liquidation?

Get the administrator or liquidator involved early, and have the licence agreement ready. We work closely with administrators and liquidators and are happy to deal with them directly.

Then send us:

A stock list spreadsheet: SKU, description, character or licence, quantity, and cost or RRP if you're happy to share.
Photos of the product and packaging.
The location of the stock.

John discreetly surveys the market to find out what it's worth. In most cases he makes an offer for the whole parcel. If he can't buy it all, he gives his best advice on how to sell it. We follow your guidelines on pricing and distribution locations.

Read more on company liquidation and liquidation stock, then contact us with your list.

Licensed stock to clear?

Share the details of your stock, attach a stock list or photos if you have them, and we’ll get back to you personally.

Frequently asked questions

Can licensed stock be sold after a company goes into liquidation?

Often, but the licence agreement may restrict where and how it's sold. The administrator or liquidator will check this. Talk to them and your accountant before selling anything.

Why does licensed stock sell faster?

Children and parents recognise the characters instantly, so the buying decision is quick. Retailers know that, which is why they're willing to take it.

Can licensed stock be sold overseas?

Sometimes, if the licence territory allows it. Large quantities like this often suit an overseas importer, but the licence terms come first.

Do you buy licensed products outside liquidation?

Yes. We're a regular buyer of licensed children's products, whether the stock is excess, discontinued or from a closing business.

Company liquidation stock: 62,000 licensed children's products