The longest running animated American sitcom that went on to win hearts across the globe, The Simpsons after a lot of hurdles, has finally found it’s place in the world’s second largest economy, China. The show first aired in 2000 but was later banned for six years, returning back in 2014 through a deal between Fox and Chinese web portal Sohu.
And now, its flagship store is set to open the first global outlets in Beijing and Shanghai in the first half of this year.
20th Century Fox Consumer Products, president, Jeffrey Godsick said, “This year will be an important one for us as we are opening the first Simpsons store along with our Chinese partners.”
According to Godsick, the Beijing store will be the first bricks-and-motar Simpsons store in the world, and it will open in March in Sanlitun, a popular fashion destination in the capital. The second store will be launched in Shanghai in June.
The two stores will be licensed to sell the Simpsons series of products, and those owned by its partners. Fox launched Simpsons’ products by collaborating with fashion brands two and a half years ago and started to team up with Chinese brands one and half years ago and decided to open physical stores in China last year to tap the growing interest, demand among Chinese consumers.
The Simpsons’ stores will occupy about 250 square meters and consumers can find about 200 products including T-shirts, hats, jackets, pants, cell phone cases, lifestyle accessories, stationery, shoes, sneakers and socks in the trendy stores.
Godsick expects to launch 100 more Simpsons’ stores in the future and over here, the products will continue to expand and change according to seasons, and between 25 and 50 per cent of the products will be sold exclusively through the stores in the future.