A big fan of The Simpsons? It's time to go to China, where the world's first brick-and-mortar store dedicated to the show has just opened in Beijing.
A collaboration involving 20th Century Fox Consumer Products, Gracie Films and Her-Chain, the store is located in Taikoo Li Sanlitun, and features more than 125 specially curated products from The Simpsons, most of which are exclusives.
"The Simpsons store in Beijing offers that unique consumer engagement with one of the world's most celebrated properties ... [and] has been a true collaborative effort ... We look forward to launching future stores for The Simpsons together," said Jeffrey Godsick, 20th Century Fox consumer products president.
According to Her-Chain General Manager Yoyo You, the store will be offering a diverse range of products, all fashionable and iconic reflections of the brand, targeted to meet the demands of The Simpsons fans.
As expected, The Simpsons store brings together a number of aspects from the beloved TV show, from Bart Simpson's silhouette greeting shoppers as they enter the establishment to the minimalist color blocks and custom art installations representing characters from Springfield.
Earlier in the year, Godsick said that 20th Century Fox Consumer Products originally had the intention of entering China as a fashion brand. The plans have obviously changed, but he maintains that some people like The Simpsons store and its offerings simply for its design.
It's actually surprising for China to be the home of the first Simpsons store because the country only actually started showing the animated series in 2000 (the show came out in 1989) before having it banned six years later. Thanks to a deal between Sohu, a Chinese Web portal, and Fox, however, the show was back on Chinese screens in 2014.
Fortunately, it looks like the trouble between China and The Simpsons is behind them as the second store dedicated to the show will be in Shanghai.
Again, most of the items that will be sold in The Simpsons store in Beijing are things you won't find anywhere else, so in case you want a Duff Beer-themed muumuu or a sequined Bart t-shirt, you know where to look.
Photo: Roy Patrick Tan | Flickr
