That is the fear of executives at the Sanrio Corporation, the Japanese company that created the cute, cartoonish white cat in 1974, and groomed her into a global marketing phenomenon worth $5 billion a year.

In Japan and around the world, Hello Kitty has been licensed over the years for products that include dolls, clothes, lunch boxes, stationery, kitchenware, a Macy’s parade balloon and even an Airbus owned by Taiwanese airline EVA Airways. But amid signs that Hello Kitty’s pop-culture appeal is waning, especially at home, where sales have shrunk for a decade, the company has struggled to find its next-generation version of adorable.

Sanrio’s other flops include Spottie Dottie, a pink-frocked Dalmatian, and Pandapple, a baby panda. Even the moderately successful My Melody (a rabbit) and TuxedoSam (penguin) show no signs of achieving global Kitty-ness.

“We badly need something else,” said Yuko Yamaguchi, who has been Sanrio’s top Hello Kitty designer for most of its 36 years. “Characters take a long time to develop and introduce to different markets,” Ms. Yamaguchi said. “But Kitty has been so popular it’s overshadowed all our other efforts.”

One of Sanrio’s latest efforts is Jewelpet, a group of 33 sparkly eyed animals each with its own look. Diamond the black kitten is ladylike and decks out in pink bows. Sapphire is cool and prefers to wear blue. Sanrio’s thinking is that with so many to choose from, one has to stick.

A Sanrio savior would arrive not a moment too soon.

In a closely watched ranking of Japan’s most popular characters, compiled each year using sales data by the Tokyo-based research firm Character Databank, Hello Kitty lost her long-held spot as Japan’s top-grossing character in 2002 and has never recovered.

In the latest survey, released this month, Kitty ranked a distant third, behind the leader, Anpanman, a character that is based on a Japanese jam-filled pastry and is produced by Nippon Television. The second spot is still held by the venerable game and animation brand Pokémon, owned by Nintendo.

Sanrio is also being usurped by smaller, nimbler rivals. The formerly little-known stationery maker San-X has scored two huge hits in Japan with its panda character, Tarepanda, and its bear, Rilakkuma — which has charged up the Character Databank charts, ranking fifth in the latest survey.

“The character business is basically a wide-open field,” Hikaru Takayama, chief executive of Fanworks, an animation and character consultancy here, said at a recent convention of the Tokyo Contents Market. “It all comes down to management.”

“Going forward, perhaps smaller companies will be quicker to come out with new ideas,” Mr. Takayama said. “Characters can develop into manga, anime, potentially a big business,” he said, referring to the popular Japanese comic book and animation art forms.

Sanrio’s sales, which come from products as well as licensing, have been shrinking for 10 consecutive years since 1999. The company’s overall sales in Japan fell 3.3 percent in the 12 months ending in March, Sanrio announced Friday, as both licensing and sales of good slumped. Hello Kitty fatigue is hitting Japan first, and hard, the company indicated.

But a one-time 28 percent jump in overseas sales — which Sanrio attributed to an accounting change, as well as several big contracts overseas tied to Hello Kitty’s 35th birthday celebrations — helped the company swing back to a net profit of 4.37 billion yen, in contrast to a loss of 1.50 billion yen the previous year.

Sanrio now relies on overseas sales for 30 percent of its revenue, the company’s executive director, Susumu Emori, said Friday. But Mr. Emori was cautious about Sanrio’s future overseas prospects. “The last quarter was extraordinary, and we expect both sales and profit to fall this year,” he said.

Analysts say part of the problem is that Sanrio has oversold Hello Kitty, which appears on products as various as T-shirts, toilet paper and toasters. Sanrio was recently forced to write off the 500 million yen in debt held by Harmony Land, one of its two character theme parks in Japan, after a falloff in visitors, although the park remains open.

“Sanrio was initially very careful in making sure the Hello Kitty phenomenon didn’t get out of hand,” said Naohiro Shichijo, an associate professor in creative industries at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Studies in Tokyo. “That’s the unspoken rule of the character business: you can’t let a character get too wildly popular all at once,” he said. “You want to go for longevity.”

Hello Kitty, introduced on a vinyl coin purse in 1974, became an instant phenomenon in Japan, and sales at Sanrio grew sevenfold in the cat’s first three years. But even then Sanrio’s founder and president, Shintaro Tsuji, expressed nervousness that consumers would burn out on the brand. Sanrio’s sales tapered off in the late 1970s, and then again in the mid-1990s when Japan entered a long economic slump.

But around 2000, Kitty surprised Sanrio by rebounding in a big way, with Hollywood stars wearing the cat on T-shirts and carrying Hello Kitty bags.

“But when you have a boom, you have a bust,” said Mr. Shichijo, the professor. “People get sick of it. Now Sanrio’s in trouble.”

Sanrio has tried to keep Hello Kitty up to the times: sensing a move away from Japan’s love affair with the cute, or “kawaii” aesthetic, it has pushed an edgier look for the cat in the last three years, using as much black as pink.

Still, a sense of crisis is evident at the Tokyo offices of Sanrio, where 30 designers, led by Ms. Yamaguchi, are charged with developing new characters. At periodic product meetings, each designer presents as many as 20 characters for consideration by Ms. Yamaguchi. Of those, perhaps a dozen are chosen for trial sales at a pilot Sanrio store in Tokyo.

These days, designers are also urged to make sure their characters work across multiple media — a lesson Sanrio learned the hard way with Hello Kitty. Because Kitty had no mouth, it was difficult for the cat to break into television animation, depriving Sanrio of a lucrative source of revenue.

When the company created a talking Kitty for a pilot cartoon series, it set off a fury among fans loyal to the cat’s mouthless look, Ms. Yamaguchi said.

And though Sanrio goes to great length to create back stories for its characters — Kitty, for example, was born in London and likes to eat cookies — that biography is not compelling enough to draw many fans, according to analysts, who cite weak characterization as a drawback in Sanrio’s product lines.

Characters developed by Walt Disney, in contrast, typically make their debuts in blockbuster movies that propel them to fame and provide a springboard for further storytelling. The hit Disney animated film “Lilo & Stitch,” for example, which featured a Hawaiian girl and an alien friend, made a successful transition to a television series, all the while bringing merchandising and licensing income to Disney.

In fact, “Lilo & Stitch” has been so popular even in Japan that the series has been localized — with a Japanese girl named Yuna in place of Lilo and Okinawa replacing the Hawaiian setting.

Sanrio’s designers are also told to aim their new characters at children in elementary school or younger — even if much of the marketing, especially in Japan, will be aimed at older consumers. When younger children embrace a character, many tend to remain fans even later in life, said Miyuki Okumura, the lead designer behind the Jewelpet series. “If a character captures the heart of a little girl, she’s going to love that character into her teens, at least,” Ms. Okumura said. “Then when she has children, she’ll again buy that character for them,” she said. “That’s what we’re aiming for.”

*From the New York Times May 15th, 2010 edition.

Hello Kitty Headphones

Now you've got your portable music player filled with songs that makes it your personal jukebox, now get listening gear that is just as distinctive, Hello Kitty headphones.

A Nice Hello Kitty Pink Earphone Headphone For Mp3 L1p    US $.80

Hello Kitty Earphone Mp3 Retractable Headphone    US $5.99

White Hello Kitty Stereo Earphone Headphone For Mp3/mp4    US $.01

Pink Hello Kitty Retractable Headphone For Mp3 Mp4    US $.01

Hello Kitty Figure Strap Retractable Earphone Headphone    US $6.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbud 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Da Bule    US $.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbud 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Da Rose    US $.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbuds 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Green    US $.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbuds 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Black    US $.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbuds 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Red    US $.01

Hello Kitty Earphone Mp3 Retractable Headphone 2hy6    US $8.96

Hello Kitty In-ear Headphone Earphone Earbuds Headsets    US $.01

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbuds 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Black    US $.99

Hello Kitty Headphone Earbuds 3.5mm For Mp3 Mp4 Blue    US $.99

A Nice Hello Kitty Pink Earphone Headphone For Mp3 L41p    US $.01

Part of the appeal of Hello Kitty is the adorable factor. Its signature cuteness is not only interesting and pleasing to the children but also for a lot of adult women who have a natural fondness for cute cartoon characters. The cartoon cat is also dressed in pretty outfits and the products come in cute colors that give off a friendly aura and pleasant disposition to those who own them.

With Hello Kitty headphones, you get the adorable factor along with the audio factor. Whether you use Hello Kitty earbuds or Hello Kitty headphones, you will be enjoying your music through quality products from such great companies as; JVC, Kenwood, and Sony, overlaid with the Hello Kitty logo.

]]> http://www.catnip12.com/accessories/hello-kitty-headphones/feed/ 3 http://www.catnip12.com/home-living/hello-kitty-throw-blankets/ http://www.catnip12.com/home-living/hello-kitty-throw-blankets/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:33:25 +0000 admin http://www.catnip12.com/?p=492

Hello Kitty Throw Blankets

Now is the time of year when throw blankets become a favorite way to cuddle around the TV or read a good book wrapped in extra warmth. Both my kids and I enjoy using Hello Kitty throw blankets that we buy at discount prices via ebay.

~ Hello Kitty - Polar Fleece Throw / Blanket    US $23.50

~ Hello Kitty - Polar Fleece Throw / Blanket Bubbles    US $25.95

Hello Kitty Blanket New Sanrio Brand New Plush Throw    US $12.96

Hello Kitty Plush Warm Bedding Throw Blanket H058    US $39.99

Hello Kitty Black Hearts Girl Cover Plush Throw Blanket    US $19.99

Kingsize Soft Velvet Hello Kitty Blanket Bedding Throw    US $19.99

Hello Kitty Blanket Microfiber Plush Throw :flowers    US $19.99

New Hello Kitty Foldable Blanket/throw W/pouch Garden    US $28.50

Sanrio Hello Kitty Plush Fleece Throw Twin Bed Blanket    US $22.00

Offically Sanrio Hello Kitty Throw Blanket 40" X 55"    US $28.00

~hello Kitty~ Little Devil Skull Fleece Throw Blanket    US $29.99

Hello Kitty Plush Bedding Throw Blanket Quilt Wa107-1    US $33.00

Hello Kitty Plush Bedding Throw Blanket Quilt Wa107-2    US $33.00

Hello Kitty Plush Bedding Throw Blanket Quilt Wa107-4    US $33.00

Hello Kitty Plush Bedding Throw Blanket Quilt Fa107-1    US $34.00

Hello Kitty throw blankets are available in various sizes, designs and fabrics, including wool, synthetics and cottons. And when not in use, you can use them as frugal decorations.

Basket Beauties: If everyone in your family enjoys Hello Kitty throw blankets, neatly roll them up and place them in a complimentary accent basket or trunk to display when not in use. Choose Hello Kitty throw blankets that will work together in a grouping. If the basket is short enough roll them into tubes an set them on end, or flip the basket on it's side and create a pyramid stack.

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Perk Ups: Create a seasonal change by draping colorful holiday Hello Kitty throw blankets over that one color couch or favorite easy chair. Drape the throw on one end and accent pillows on the other to give the couch a nice balance of new color and design.

Cover Ups: Have a worn and weary area on the couch or ottoman? Use a Hello Kitty throw blanket as a cover up by folding it neatly to the dimensions of the furniture piece and they lay it across the top.

Display It: Some Hello Kitty throw blankets are gorgeous in design. If you find yourself hesitant to use one because of its beauty, brighten and warm up a wall by hanging it on the wall.

Use low wooden brackets and a wide dowel of your choosing. The "dowel" could be a broom handle, a hockey stick, a ski pole, you are only limited by your imagination.

Frugal design is all about using what you already have in your home to create a fresh new, designer look. Drape the throw over the rod as you would a towel.

Disguise It: You can even use your Hello Kitty throw blankets as a seasonal slip cover for a small chair. Position it over the chair, tuck the sides into the cushion.

Warm It Up: Insulate and decorate the window by draping a Hello Kitty throw blanket over a window to create a sophisticated valance. Find some accent hold backs from an interior design or fabric store.

Hello Kitty throw blankets can create inviting warmth in any room. With these quick and easy, frugal decorating ideas for throw blankets you can transform them into attractive as well as practical room accents.

Hello Kitty Slippers

Novelty slippers, they are cute and often times fluffy. These are the joys for most children when night time comes and they are also the joy of many adults, also. Sure, I'm over 40 and finding a great pair of Hello Kitty slippers for a bargain price still tickles me. My latest pair I found below at ebay.

Black Hello Kitty Slippers Usb Flash Memory Drive 4gb    US $7.68

New! Sanrio Hello Kitty Cute Plush Slipper Slippers #a    US $2.99

New! Sanrio Hello Kitty Cute Plush Slipper Slippers #b    US $.99

Hello Kitty Slippers House Cleaner For Lazy Girls    US $.99

Hello Kitty Usb Foot Heater Warmer Slipper Pc Notebook    US $7.88

Hello Kitty Pink Adult Plush Slippers    US $14.99

Hello Kitty Adult Plush Soft Slippers    US $.99

New! Hello Kitty Cute Plush Slipper Slippers Pink Gift    US $.99

Cute Hello Kitty Adult Plush Soft Slippers    US $.99

Jl155 Hello Kitty Head Pink Plush Adult Slippers    US $.99

Hello Kitty Soft Synthetic Slipper Size Us 7.5 Uk 5 New    US $14.99

Build A Bear Hello Kitty Pajamas Slippers & Robe Outfit    US $3.99

Hello Kitty Slippers Sandals Us6.5/eur37/uk5 H095    US $.99

Hello Kitty Kuromi Cheeky Slippers Adult M 7/8 Black    US $29.99

Hello Kitty Kuromi Cheeky Slippers Adult L 9/10 Black    US $29.99

We cannot help ourselves sometimes, the cuteness of these slippers are always worth getting and trying them out for ourselves. Hello Kitty slippers are not made just for kids however. There are many styles that are designed for adults.

All Hello Kitty slippers are soft and comfortable to wear around the house. They are are great starters for fashion conversations and kids like them to wear at sleep overs or just hanging out with friends. Hello Kitty slippers can be found in sizes for young girls and girls like us who are young at heart.These slippers are not made just for girls or just for boys. There are plenty of designs You can find them in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors that will best suit your desires.

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Whether young or old, there is a pair of Hello Kitty slippers somewhere on the market for you. Some classy, some funny, but all are great ways to make bedroom fashion statements. No matter if you love red slippers with Hello Kitty or pink Hello Kitty slippers.

Wearing Hello Kitty slippers can do so much more than keep your feet warm, they can also bring joy into someones life and a smile on their face. So go out there and find out for yourself why Hello Kitty slippers are so very popular.

Hello Kitty Wireless Mouse

A computer mouse may be a very small device but it is a very important computer component. Together with the keyboard, a mouse is indispensable in navigating computer programs and surfing the Internet. Add a Hello Kitty wireless mouse to your setup.

New Cute Hello Kitty Wireless Optical Mouse Usb    US $12.99

New Hello Kitty Wireless Usb Optical Mouse Pc Computer    US $9.99

Hello Kitty Wireless Optical Mouse Cordless Mice 2hyd    US $24.32

Hello Kitty 2.4g Wireless Cordless Optical Mouse F Pc    US $9.50

Hello Kitty 2.4g Cordless Wireless Optical Mouse Mice    US $21.80

Hello Kitty 2.4g 10meter 1000dpi Wireless Optical Mouse    US $9.50

Hello Kitty 2.4g 10 Meter Wireless Optical Mouse White    US $21.80

Hello Kitty 2.4g 10 Meter Wireless Optical Mouse Pink    US $21.80

Hello Kitty 2.4g 10 Meter Wireless Optical Mouse Mice    US $17.99

Cute Hello Kitty 2.4g Wireless Cordless Optical Mouse    US $9.50

Sanrio Purple Hello Kitty Wireless Optical Mouse New    US $34.99

Hello Kitty Wireless 2.4g Mouse Mice Wheel 3 Button Pc    US $10.50

New Pink Hello Kitty Wireless Optical Mouse For Laptop    US $14.99

Hello Kitty 2.4g Foldable Wireless Optical Mouse Black    US $18.99

Hello Kitty Wireless Optical Mouse Mice For Laptop Pink    US $16.98

If you are shopping for a Hello Kitty wireless mouse there are some things you should keep in mind as you search.

One of the first things you should watch for is compatibility. If a Hello Kitty wireless mouse is made by a certain company, it may only work with a certain computer. A Hello Kitty wireless mouse that goes to a Mac computer may not work with a PC, and vice versa. Make sure the mouse you are looking at is compatible with your computer.

You also need to check on the range of the Hello Kitty wireless mouse you are thinking about getting. If you are planning on sitting across the room from your computer while using the wireless mouse, you need to make sure that the signal is strong enough to reach that far.

You will also want to check into the kind of technology the Hello Kitty wireless mouse is using. There are multiple types of technology that these mice utilize, the two most popular are USB and Bluetooth. The main drawback to Bluetooth is that the computer you are using has to be Bluetooth enabled, and models more than two years old usually are not.

The most popular type of Hello Kitty wireless mouse is the USB connected mouse. These are very easy to use, just plug in and go. There are a few different types of USB mice, and you should just pick the one that you think will work best for you. Optical and laser technology are the most popular, because they are sensitive to the motion of the mouse and work with many surface types.

There are a couple drawbacks to having a Hello Kitty wireless mouse. One of them is that you always should have an extra set of batteries for the mouse nearby. This may mean in the drawer of your desk, or in your laptop bag. Sometimes it is difficult to predict when the batteries are going to die, so you always want more in case it happens at an inopportune time.

Another drawback of these mice is that children can easily pick them up and carry them off. If you have kids that are prone to doing things like this, you will need to find a place to put your mouse so it is less likely to disappear on you.

Overall, a Hello Kitty wireless mouse is a very convenient piece of equipment. You don't have any extra cords to deal with, and most mice as so advanced that you aren't even required to have a mouse-pad anymore.

All Hello Kitty wireless mice are actually competitively priced despite the more advanced technology. In fact, unless you plan on purchasing a gaming grade mouse, you'll be hard pressed to find any hard-wired mice in a computer store today. Since they allow so much freedom and are reliable, most people consider them to be the gold standard. With a little searching, you are sure to find the Hello Kitty wireless mouse that will fit your wants and needs.

Hello Kitty Cell Phone Covers

You've just recently purchases that brand new cell phone you've had your eye on for some time, and now you want to truly make it your own by personalizing it. Hello Kitty cell phones covers are a great way to show off your particular style and cuteness.

Cell Phone Cover Lg Tritan Ax840 Tw Hello Kitty Black    US $13.95

Cell Phone Cover Lg Tritan Ax840 Tw Hello Kitty Pink    US $13.95

Hello Kitty -mobile Phone Mp3 Mp4 Pouch Cover Bag New    US $5.47

Cell Phone Cover Blackberry Tour 9630 Hello Kitty Pink    US $13.95

Sanrio Hello Kitty Cell Phone Cover Neck Strap Nib    US $6.99

Blackberry 9630 Tour Tw Hello Kitty Cell Phone Cover    US $13.95

Cell Phone Cover For Iphone 4 Faceplate Hello Kitty    US $14.95

For Apple Iphone 4 4g Hello Kitty Cell Phone Cover Case    US $14.95

Apple Iphone 4 Hello Kitty Pink Cell Phone Cover Case    US $14.95

For Samsung Mythic A897 Hello Kitty Cell Phone Cover    US $14.95

Cell Phone Cover For Samsung Mythic A897 Hello Kitty    US $14.95

Apple Iphone 4 4g Hello Kitty Cell Phone Cover    US $14.95

Hello Kitty - Mobile Phone Mp3 Mp4 Pouch Cover Bag New    US $5.47

Hello Kitty Iphone Cell Phone Case Cover + Charm Nib 3g    US $9.99

Hello Kitty Mobile Cell Phone / Mp3 Sock Cover Holder    US $6.99

Hello Kitty cell phone covers provide an excellent opportunity to display your unique tastes and style. Children and adults alike enjoy personalizing their cell phones through flashy, bold covers. Not only do Hello Kitty cell phone covers look very attractive, they are practical as well since they protect your cell phone screen from damage.

Cell phone covers are the most requested accessory for any cell phone. Having a stylish cell phone has become a great way to show that you take the time to pick and use your personal items. And adding a Hello Kitty cell phone cover shows off your style, humor, and unique attitude.

With the world-wide popularity of Hello Kitty you can rest assured that there is a plethora of Hello Kitty cell phone covers available. Some cell phones use a cover that can be taken off the phone and simply replaced with a new. Typically there is a release button on the phone, and the cover comes right off with no hassle. Then you can opt to replace your old cover with whatever Hello Kitty cell phone cover catches your fancy.

In the event your phone does not use a removable cover, you may purchase a Hello Kitty cell phone cover that either slips on or snaps over the original case. These types of covers are available in hard plastic, vinyl, silicone, and leather. Most local malls typically host a cell phone cover kiosk, giving you access to a wide assortment of covers to select among. Furthermore, most associates are willing to help you install your new cell phone cover on the spot.

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If you are looking for the newest style of Hello Kitty cell phone covers, consider the silicone skin covers. These are available in a large assortment of colors along with a variety of Hello Kitty images. This type of cover simply slides over your phone providing a flawless, tight fit. Your phone will look very stylish and it is protected at the same time.

Additionally, rubberized Hello Kitty cell phone covers are available and are similar to the skin styles. Rubberized covers protect your phone, are widely available and some even have a belt clip. These are a less expensive option as compared to their silicone counterparts.

However, if price is a concern for you, consider purchasing a Hello Kitty snap on cover, usually costing approximately five dollars if you shop around. Be aware, these cases are no where near as durable as the silicone or rubberized covers and many are colored over a white primer which eventually shows through on the edges.