First Act aims to spark a lifelong love of music by offering aspirational and accessible musical instruments that are geared towards the youngest first time musical explorer all the way up to aspiring rock stars.

Stores focused on broad reach and/or price sensitivity.

All current and future distribution channels in Mass-market and value.

Large, big-box retailers that carry a broad range of products. Ex: Walmart, Target, and Tesco.

Traditional, multi-category stores with mid-to-high price ranges. Ex: Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and John Lewis.

Slightly more value-focused than high-end department stores. Ex: Kohl’s and Dillard’s.

Extreme value-focused retailers offering low-priced goods. Ex: Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Poundland.

Sell surplus or out-of-season merchandise at lower prices. Ex: T.J. Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, and outlet malls.

Bulk or club buying model with membership-based retail. Ex: Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Primarily food-focused, but often include general merchandise sections. Ex: Kroger, Whole Foods, and Carrefour.

Stores focused on specific product verticals or hobbies.

All current and future distribution channels in Specialty.

Focused on clothing, footwear, and athleisure for men, women, and children. Ex: Gap, Foot Locker, Lululemon, Uniqlo, H&M.

Trend-driven apparel retailers offering affordable, frequently updated collections. Ex: H&M, Zara, SHEIN, Forever 21, Primark, Fashion Nova.

Sell consumer electronics, appliances, and tech accessories. Ex: Best Buy, MediaMarkt, Currys, B&H Photo.

Specialize in hardware, tools, appliances, and home renovation materials. Ex: Home Depot, Lowe’s, B&Q, Menards.

Specialty retailers serving hobbyists and collectors with model kits, tabletop games, trading cards, and hobby supplies.

Offer cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and grooming products. Ex: Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Bluemercury.

Retailers offering medicines, health and wellness products, personal care items, and everyday essentials.

Sell products for fitness, outdoor recreation, and sports. Ex: Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, Academy Sports.

Focused on toys, games, crafts, and educational play. Ex: Toys “R” Us, The Entertainer, LEGO, Learning Express, Michaels.

Sell stationery, electronics, furniture, and business supplies. Ex: Staples, Office Depot, OfficeMax.

Specialize in pet food, supplies, and accessories. Ex: PetSmart, Petco, Chewy.

Provide vehicle parts, tools, and maintenance products. Ex: AutoZone, Pep Boys, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly.

Retailers focused on homeware, décor, and design-led lifestyle goods, including curated concept stores. Ex: Crate & Barrel, MoMA Design Store, John Derian, Selfridges Home, and independent concept shops.

Retailers focused on books, magazines, and periodicals, including chain and independent bookshops and newsstands. Ex: Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Books-A-Million, and airport newsstands.

Retailers selling giftware, souvenirs, and impulse-purchase gifts outside museums or event venues. Ex: Hallmark, airport and tourist gift shops, and hotel gift boutiques.

Specialty retailers not covered by a more specific specialty category, including independent boutiques, single-location stores, and regional specialty chains. Use this option only when none of the specific specialty categories applies.

All current and future distribution channels in Digital and remote.

Online reselling platforms. Depop, TheRealReal.

Broad online marketplaces, often with global reach. Ex.: Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and Mercado Libre.

Selling directly to consumers without 3rd-party retailers. Ex.: brand-owned e-commerce sites, subscription boxes (Dollar Shave Club), and brand pop-ups.

Virtual marketplaces that sell digital goods (NFTs, in-game items, etc.). Ex.: Fortnite Item Shop, Roblox, and Decentraland.

Television-based retail where products are demonstrated live. Ex.: QVC, HSN, and ShopHQ.

Traditional channels that use print catalogs or phone sales. Ex.: L.L.Bean, Lands’ End (historically), and Fingerhut.

Curated products delivered periodically to subscribers. Ex.: Loot Crate, BarkBox, and FabFitFun.

Social and video-driven e-commerce that enables real-time interaction. Ex.: Instagram Live Shopping, TikTok Live, and Taobao Live.

Online storefronts and platforms selling products printed or produced only after an order is placed. Examples include made-to-order apparel, posters, mugs, and books.

Location-based, seasonal, or immersive selling.

All current and future distribution channels in Experiential, travel, and temporary.

Retailers located in airports, on cruise ships, and in international travel hubs offering tax-free or travel-exclusive products. Ex: Duty Free Americas, DFS Group, Heinemann, Dufry, World Duty Free.

Temporary retail spaces for brand collaborations, product launches, or holiday seasons.

Quick-stop retailers focusing on snacks, beverages, and everyday essentials. Ex.: 7-Eleven, Circle K, and Wawa.

On-site stores that sell event-exclusive or licensed merchandise. Ex.: stadiums, arenas, theme parks, concerts, and museums.

Retail outlets serving travelers may offer branded or licensed items aimed at tourists or commuters. Ex.: highway rest stops, state-run rest areas, service stations, bus or train stations, and airports.

Automated self-service machines selling products without staffed checkout. Examples include snacks, beverages, personal care items, and collectibles in public venues.

Interactive or immersive retail experiences that blend entertainment with shopping. Often used for brand-building, product launches, or fan engagement. Ex.: Crayola Experience, Netflix House, and theme-based immersive pop-ups.

Sales through schools or public institutions.

All current and future distribution channels in Institutional and educational.

Retailers within museums and galleries offering licensed prints, books, and collectibles tied to art, history, or exhibits. Ex: MoMA Design Store, The Met Store, Tate Modern Shop.

Educational institutions and affiliated stores offering licensed books, media, and classroom materials. Ex: Scholastic Book Fairs, Follett, Junior Library Guild.

Business-driven or high-volume distribution.

All current and future distribution channels in Wholesale, B2B, and corporate.

Person-to-person sales models where independent sellers market and distribute products directly to consumers, often through home parties or social networks. Ex: Avon, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Scentsy, Amway.

Middlemen distributing to smaller retailers or specialized markets. This may include licensing agents or brokers that handle bulk transactions.

Companies that purchase branded or licensed products for employee gifts, promotions, etc.

First Act

From plush to powerhouse

Since its debut in 2017, huggable plush sensation Squishmallows has ascended beyond the toy aisle to become a $1bn lifestyle franchise that allows fans, families and collectors to share their love for their favourite brand in multiple fun ways.

Known for its adorable designs, and tactile and ultra-soft feel, Squishmallows is a retail sensation, named the #1 top-selling toy in the US and UK boasting sales of over 600m pieces to date which equates to one sold every 2 seconds!

In about 10 years, Squishmallows has picked up multiple awards – including winning Overall Toy of the Year at the US Toy Association’s Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards three years in a row – and has gone viral on TikTok, with celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian sharing their love for the brand.

Ranging from kids aged 6–12 to Gen Z’ers in the 18–24 age group, Squishmallows’ passionate fans are always on the hunt for more ’Mallows to add to their collections and love to share their finds on social media. Recent years have seen Squishmallows’ social content squish through the roof, generating over 15bn social media impressions. Additionally, Squishmallows’ owned social media channels have ballooned to more than 2m followers and over 127 global and local Facebook groups have been created by fans. 

And there’s even more to come. Squishmallows is heading toward its milestone 10th anniversary in 2027, while the recently announced Squishmallows feature film from Amazon MGM Studios will bring the beloved brand to the big screen. Stay tuned for more exciting details to come!

First Act

Why partner with First Act?

How do I license First Act?

Product categories

Channels of distribution

Gallery

More from this brand owner

First Act

Why partner with .css-1s6x9ij{color:#5246DE;}First Act?

How do I license First Act?

Product categories

Channels of distribution

Gallery

More from this brand owner

Why partner with First Act?