RIO Licensing becomes a new agent of Sanrio License in Russia and CIS countries. In addition to flagship brand Hello Kitty, RIO licenses Chococat, My Melody, Badtz-Maru, Kuromi, Keroppi, Charmmykitty and Pochacco.
The agency was founded by the team who witnessed the origin of licensing market in Russia and has seen triumph introducing Smeshariki brand to CIS countries. Smeshariki is the first and the most commercially successful local animated brand. In 2008 retail sales of the “Smeshariki” licensed products amounted to more than $160 million. The second major introduction was Winx Club property which was exclusively presented by RIO in Russia and CIS countries in 2009-2010. Over a short period of time the sales of Winx Club licensed products have increased more than 10 times and Russia has reached the 5th position on the list of the countries in which Winx Club is most popular.
Roman Fedotov, Managing Director of RIO, says: “Hello Kitty enjoys wide popularity in Russia at the moment. But there is certainly a lack of Hello Kitty products at the Russian market. Most of Hello Kitty consumer goods being sold in the country are produced abroad. Thus, for 2011-2012 we have great plans to introduce a wide range of products of local licensees. – We are profoundly grateful to Sanrio for the trust and appreciate our cooperation. RIO Licensing will make every effort to let Hello Kitty shine on Russian licensing sky as brightly as in the whole world .”