Our Sanrio Times, Memories of an Iconic Kitty

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Our-Sanrio-Times-Press-Conference-Studio-City-Macau-21-June/i-VQSKSMr

Is there a company or character that has permeated life more enduringly over the last four decades than Sanrio’s Hello Kitty? Like her or loath her Hello Kitty has endured despite being leveraged and branded across every product under the sun and then some.

Even Disney who’ve created some truly iconic characters must wonder why no amount of over exposure or crass marketing harms the kitty’s appeal. Why is someone willing, for example, to pay a significant premium for an apple with a Hello Kitty sticker on it than exactly the same unstickered apple next to it on the shelf?

A new exhibition in Macau, Our Sanrio Times, will showcase some of Hello Kitty’s and other Sanrio characters merchandising over the last 40 years. There are also several interactive zones. Whether you like it or not will depend on your affection for the brand, but it’s also interesting to see how the types of items have changed over the years. A vintage Hello Kitty letter opener is a stark reminder as to how communication has changed in just the last decade. As is the exhibitions merchandise store full of phone covers.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Our-Sanrio-Times-Press-Conference-Studio-City-Macau-21-June/i-F8WsTfT

Our Sanrio Times
Date: 28 July-3 September, 2017
Venue: Studio City, Macau
Tickets: $150

Hello Kitty Pop-up Supermarket

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Opening today in Sai Wan is a pop-up Hello Kitty Supermarket at the new Yata Supermarket in Hong Kong Plaza. The Hello Kitty themed promotion will run until the 31 May and features a range of themed goods.

Among the Hello Kitty items are a selection of macaroons ($25 each), cup cakes ($35). Two Hello Kitty themed sushi boxes ($78 and $88) offer some savoury delights while the Hello Kitty Fuji Apple ($99) has a white Hello Kitty stencil ‘painted’ on it.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Hello-kitty-Pop-up-Supermarket-Yata-11-February-2017/i-LZhZ2Bk

The 2 storey Yata store offers a range of premium products with over 60% sourced from Japan. Spend over $300 and you can redeem a free Hello Kitty premium.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Hello-kitty-Pop-up-Supermarket-Yata-11-February-2017/i-kXMMV3N

Yata Hello Kitty Pop-up Supermarket
188 Connaught Road West
Sai Wan
Opening hours: 9am-9:30pm.