Strike It Niche!

• Euro-Smash: Since Nickelodeon's airing of British toon imports Maisy and Kipper, the baby-talking mouse and Brit-accented pooch have grabbed the attention of young audiences everywhere. (Contact Copyrights America, 973-292-5077, for licensing opportunities.) Now, all the way from Holland, hops the adorably simplistic Miffy the bunny, whose expansive line of merchandise is expected to dominate the U.S. kids' market. (For licensing information, call Kathie Fording at United Media, 212-293-8538.)

• Take your cue: Due to the success of ESPN's broadcast of the Women's Professional Billiards Association Pro Tour, increased consumer awareness of the sport has created a much broader market for billiards manufacturers

• Future flick: Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are is aimed to hit the big screen under the Universal Pictures banner, and with a kid at heart like Tom Hanks starring, we predict a winner. Licensing information isn't available yet, but we'll let you know when it's released.

Like this article? Get this issue right now on iPad, Nook or Kindle Fire.

This article was originally published in the August 1999 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Strike It Niche!.