Jakks and Sanrio Deal Means Many More Hello Kitty Products
Jakks Pacific and Sanrio have cut a licensing deal that will result in many more Hello Kitty products. Some of the new products include Hello Kitty figures, playsets, plush toys, indoor and outdoor children's furniture, seasonal products, interactive toys and pens. Jakks says they will begin shipping the new Hello Kitty merchandise in Fall 2009 to Target stores nationwide. There's some more details here from Sanrio's press release.
Under the agreement, products based on Hello Kitty and other SANRIO properties are slated to include figures, playsets, plush toys, indoor and outdoor children’s furniture, seasonal products, interactive toys, and a number of categories related to JAKKS' award-winning portfolio of girls' activity brands.
"The Hello Kitty brand is one of the few licenses in the marketplace that is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago," said Jennifer Richmond, SVP of Licensing and Media, JAKKS Pacific. "We look forward to working with SANRIO to launch a full array of innovative and exciting products to further extend this top brand at retail."
"Hello Kitty is truly an evergreen brand that has transcended generations," said Janet Hsu, President, Sanrio Global Consumer Products. "Through our new partnership with JAKKS, we are excited to bring forth a full merchandising program with fresh new products across multiple categories to continue the success of this brand."
The initial Hello Kitty line-up from JAKKS is slated to include mini figures such as Molded Clip-ons, Urban Figures, quirky and clever collectible figures of Hello Kitty pairs based on the current urban vinyl figure trend, and a Purse Play Set with Small Figures line.
Hello Kitty activities from JAKKS will feature Pen Craft, a line of pens customizable with beads and charms and Hello Kitty String World playsets, a line of activity sets for kids to create their own unique jewelry, room decor and even small dolls using a patented combination of colorful string and glue contained in a pen. The Disco Desktop Speaker is for today's girl who enjoys bopping along with Hello Kitty.
