Many designers dream of designing their own collection—be it fabric, furniture, lighting, rugs, bedding, tabletop, hardware—but don’t exactly know where to start and what’s involved. Whether you partner with an established company or go it alone, developing and marketing a collection is no task for the weary. But when done right, the payoff can be huge—both for your bank account and for elevating your brand.

If your 5-, 10-, or 20-year plan includes building an empire, complete with licensing deals, brand extensions and possibly becoming a household name, then you’ve come to the right place. For this two-part series we’ve enlisted licensing guru Kate Verner of Kate Verner + Associates to lead the charge and share her expert knowledge. She has worked with clients like David Easton, Laura Kirar and Rockwell Group to develop and launch countless product lines and is well-versed in the crazy worlds of wholesale, retail and trade commerce.

In Part II of this two-part series, Kate will focus on the business and legal aspects of licensing once you’ve signed the deal. She’ll share what you need to do to protect your designs, and how to make the most of your licensed collection.

In this class you will learn:

- The importance of intellectual property
- How to trademark your brand and protect your designs
- Contract terminology, such as royalties, fees, and advances
- How to negotiate the marketing and advertising of your line
- What to do with your collection, post-launch

By the end of this class, you will have:

- A solid understanding of what happens once you’ve landed a partnership, including protecting your intellectual property and trademarks during the product development process, and navigating and negotiating the financial and legal aspects of your deal.

Did you know members of BOH Insider get unlimited free LAUNCH classes?
Click here to learn more.
If you are already a BOH Insider member and are looking to take this class, please email membership@businessofhome.com