By azadeeh ENSHADEC.
2, pictures of 2007HER can be found on everything from sandwich maker to Swarovski crystal-
Laptop.
But for some Hello Kitty fans, the return of a Kitty product is especially buzzing with internet sites: shoulder massagers.
As early as 1997, Sanrio, a Japanese creator of the cat character named Hello Kitty, introduced Hello Kitty shoulder massager through the licensee.
Sanrio did not know that the product soon entered the adult store as a sex toy.
Pamela Doan, public relations manager at Babeland, said it "sells crazy" and Babeland is an adult store chain in New York, Seattle and Los Angeles.
Mary Ketterborn, assistant manager at Babeland SoHo, added, "people will still ask this question.
"Andrea Sauber, vice president of marketing for Sanrio US department, supports the health intentions of the Hello Kitty brand.
"I don't know what people might be doing with it," she said . ".
"The product is sold as a shoulder massager.
That's how it sells.
But two years later, the massager stopped selling.
It becomes a collection on sites such as eBay, available as a "Hello Kitty vibrator.
"The ad now Sanrio has re-launched the Hello Kitty massager through a new licensee, Asunarosya.
The company insists on the initial purpose of the product: to relieve pain in shoulder muscles.
Currently, this portable massager is only available in Japan and features a pink or black shaft and a handle in the shape of a kitten with a matching bow, although it is possible to buy 1,260 yen (
More than $11)
Japanese shop from Sanrio. Ms.
Shoulder massagers are not a popular category among Americans, so there is no plan to distribute them in the US, sober said.
"They are healthy.
Nursing products in Japan . "Sobel said.
Karen Hawkins, deputy director of the Japanese business development of the Eurasia Group in New York, bought 10 old shoulder massagers as gifts when she lived in Tokyo.
"I got them because I thought they would make an interesting gift for a few of my female friends who can appreciate items that look a little dangerous in the American context at least ,". Hawkins said.
"What I should point out is that I don't have it myself.
I gave them all away.
"Hello Kitty has about 450 characters in the Sanrio family, the cash cat so far.
After celebrating her 33 th birthday recently, she continued to dominate sales of Sanrio, accounting for 80% of Sanrio's store business and 95% of its authorized product sales.
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Business Weekly News assistant editor-in-chief Brian Bremner wrote Hello Kitty with Ken Belson of The New York Times: the extraordinary retention of Sanrio and the billion dollar cat phenomenon of brand fashion is a huge challenge.
"I think Sanrio has become more free in licensing strategies," he said . ".
"Of course, you can't find Hello Kitty to throw a shotgun or malt wine, but the brand has moved into areas that are bolder, such as Ladies party and night events, unimaginable ten years ago.
"It's hard to say whether this is a sign of panic or a wise marketing . "
Bremner added, "but Sanrio seems more willing to bring the Hello Kitty brand into the bedroom or stay in touch with consumers elsewhere.
For her, madam.
Babeland's Doan showed Hello Kitty massager in a holiday card on 2001, saying she hopes they will be able to restock one day.
"At that time, it was our best --
She said: "selling novelty.
"We only stopped selling when we stopped production.
If it comes here, we will definitely buy it again.
"A version of this article appears on the print on page 910 of The New York edition with the title: Has Hello Kitty become wild? .
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