Hello Kitty World to open in Istanbul on May 29, 2013
Hello Kitty has come to Istanbul to open her first concept store in the world, thanks to
Sanrio and Peritozu Company which is investing US$15 Million in a 3000 sq. meter commercial area.
Everything from motorcycles to bags, accessories, shoes, fashion products, diamonds,
beddings and many other product offerings will be found in the Hello Kitty World
store that will be located in Atasehir.
Hello Kitty, the character created almost 39 years ago by the Japanese gift and plush
Company Sanrio, today is a true phenomenon. With US$6 Billion gross retail sales,
she has 300 licensees in Japan alone and over 1300 licensees worldwide.
The opening celebrations will take place on May 29, 2013 with a private party
dedicated to press, VIP and special guests in which the asian star DJ Hello Kitty will
perform live for the first time in Europe.
Carrying on with the success of Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, Peritozu, licensee and 15
Millions investor, with Sanrio GmbH and the support of Sanrio’s agency in Turkey,
Max Licensing, is opening the first Hello Kitty World with 3000 m2 enclosed area and
400 m2 garden this May 29, 2013.
The entertainment and retail complex to open in Atasehir is one of a kind.
Products offered in this concept will be sourced from Turkey, Japan, Italy and many
other countries around the world in order to capture the uniqueness of Hello Kitty and
the other Sanrio brands involved in the project such as Keroppi and Badtz Maru.
“We are excited to be in Turkey” said Sanrio’s CEO Kunihiko Tsuji in his opening
speech: “Sanrio’s Gross Sales in Europe and Middle East are approximately 30 % of
the Global ones. This is a very serious figure. Sanrio’s corporate philosophy is “Small
Gift, Big Smile” and we hope through our partnership and project in Turkey we will be
able to deliver more happiness all over Europe and Middle East.
“We are very excited to see Sanrio’s first entertainment facility in Europe and we
believe it will be a hub for Japanese and Turkish culture. Furthermore, it is a great pleasure for us to have Peritozu as our partner for this important project.”
“Istanbul is a unique City” described Diana Magarino, President of Max Licensing
Ltd. Sanrio’s representative in Turkey. “Sanrio’s activities since its inception have all been rooted in social communication. Through the years and regardless of the trends Sanrio always believed that people find joy and hope in beautiful and fashionable things. Sanrio’s characters express people’s feelings: they encourage friendship through gift giving, and put smiles on faces.”
As Sanrio’s representatives in Turkey our goals are to increase the awareness of
Sanrio brands like Hello Kitty through the development a wide variety of products,
retail concepts and the encouragement of gift giving. “Small gift big smile” is the
philosophy of Sanrio and we aim to increase product offerings at all price ranges in
order to allow different gifting options.”
“Istanbul has always been a very unique and exciting city,” continued Diana
Magarino. “It has shown consistent growth over the past years in a world in which
many economies are shrinking; it is rapidly changing from an emerging city to a
world class fashionable economic force in the region and it represents a preferred
touristic destination for many affluent people from various cultures and religions.
Kids and women adore Hello Kitty.”
Beste Kaleli Tekelioğlu, partner of Peritozu and licensee of the Hello Kitty World
concept, said in her speech: “We, as Kaleli family and a 40 years old firm in the
Turkish business world, are very glad to have a partnership with Sanrio in this
project.
One of the reasons of the partnership with Sanrio is the commercial success of the
Hello Kitty brand. Turkey is a rising economic giant in this region and Istanbul has
the potential to open Turkey to the world. Although Hello Kitty is a global fashion icon
for young women and girls, Hello Kitty stores had not reached Istanbul or Turkey yet.
Therefore we understood the demand and decided to propose to Sanrio this project.
Moreover, I am an interior architect and the mother of two daughters, but I have never lost my admiration towards Hello Kitty since my childhood and I am very pleased that my daughters share the same love and excitement for Hello Kitty products.
Hello Kitty World will offer services and products that will entertain the whole family;
our aim is to create a world everybody will enjoy, including fathers and their sons.
The most important features are the Garden café which represents a meeting and
entertainment point thanks to the several interactive games provided and the Hello
Kitty Town, a dedicated 750 m2 area, that recalls a real town with its photo studio,
beauty saloon, Hello Kitty house, bakery producing Hello Kitty cookies and bread and
florist… of course the most famous resident of this town is Hello Kitty.
ABOUT HELLO KITTY
Hello Kitty was born in London in 1974.Throughout the years she has become one of the most unique and interesting characters ever created, a worldwide social icon with relevance to women of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds as well as an inspiration to artists and designers. Her motto says: you can never have too many friends.
ABOUT SANRIO
Shintaro Tsuji founded Sanrio Company Ltd. in Japan in 1960 with the motto “Small Gift, Big Smile” and the aim of bringing happiness to people’s lives through inexpensive goods. His Company is today not only home to superstar Hello Kitty, but a Global brand concentrated on developing significant marketing strategies for classic Sanrio Characters like My Melody, Kerokerokeroppi, Bad Badtz-Maru, Little Twin Stars, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Sugarbunnies, Chococat, Tuxedo Sam, Jewelpet, Kuromi, Charmmykitty and new acquisitions like the British icons Mr. Men and Little Miss.
ABOUT MAX LICENSING
Max Licensing, founded in 2002, by Diana Magarino and Erkin Buyukoglu is a full service licensing agency experienced in the development of brand and product strategies to fit the brand objectives in our region. “Our role is to support the core brand business, consult on local brand analysis for our brand owners, develop and implement business strategies, negotiate and maintain contractual relationships with licensees. Our boutique approach aims to provide meaningful quality support to our licensors and licensees. The goal is to create a positive, productive and creative environment for long-term successful merchandising programs.”
ABOUT PERITOZU
Peritozu, founded by Beste Kaleli Tekelioglu and M.Fethi Kaleli , is a retail and the only authorized company opening Hello Kitty World Stores in Turkey. “Our aim is to spread happiness to Families in our cafès and retail stores while providing the opportunity to create valuable memories in our magical Hello Kitty Town“.