Is it a case of Pokémon GOing too far? The popularity of the blockbuster games franchise, which is co-owned by Nintendo NTDOY, -0.42% , Game Freak Inc. and Creatures Inc. and managed by Pokémon Co., shows no sign of abating if the phenomenal business being done in its London pop-up store is anything to go by.
To celebrate the launch of two new Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch console, a Pokémon pop-up store opened last month at Westfield shopping center in Shepherd’s Bush, West London.
Fans have been queuing for up to six hours to get into the store, which opened in mid-October, and opening times have been shortened due to the limited stock of goodies.
Once they do get in, Pokémon-loving punters have been limited to buying five items each.The store has also warned customers some products will sell out before the shop closes its doors on November 15. The merchandise includes hoodies, crests, bottles and even Pokémon umbrellas.
See also: Pokémon Go wants to watch you sleep
One item that is especially popular is the London City Pikachu Plush toy which retails for £20 and which the store has now predicted it will completely sell out of this Sunday. In a sign of the times, savvy shoppers have been putting the London City Pikachu on eBay for as much as £1,500 ($1,935).
“It’s classic demand-and-supply economics,†says Nick Gibson, a consultant for the video games industry. “Pokémon is an incredibly enduring brand that has been around for a very long time but continues to attract new audiences.â€
The London City Pikachu plush toy, features the iconic Pokémon detective replete in a bowler hat, suit, tie and an umbrella. One of those audiences is reportedly City bankers.
Read more: How Pokémon Go makes money
MarketWatch hears unconfirmed rumors that demand for the London City Pikachu has been driven not only by Pokémon obsessives but by financiers in the City who are fond of the toy’s old-school Square Mile apparel. If this is you, please get in touch...
No comments:
Post a Comment