“Sharknado” plans a sharknado of merchandising: the Syfy movie and viral phenomenon has announced deals with more than 20 merchandising partners and licensees to put Sharknado merchandise in 1,000 retail outlets including Wal-Mart, Hot Topic to Spencer’s.
Joined by The Asylum, the studio behind “Sharknado,” and the branding company Earthbound LLC, Syfy is about to find out if it can translate a hit TV movie and lots of social media attention into nationwide retail success. The merchandisenado coincides with the July 30 release of “Sharknado: The Second One.”
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So get ready for “Sharknado”: the T-shirts. And posters. And jewelry. And Halloween costumes. There are 45 retail categories in all.
Planning a “Sharknado” drinking game? You can pick up shot glasses, tumblers, and other glassware. You can drive your car (with a “Sharknado” decal) to the beach, kick off your “Sharknado” socks and boxers, slip into your “Sharknado” trunks, dry off with “Sharknado” towels, and, come Christmas, hang “Sharknado” gifts in “Sharknado” stockings.
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“Whether it’s crazy hats, jewelry or boxer shorts, Syfy fans simply can’t get enough of Sharknado. We listened. Now we’ve given them what they want,” said Jeff Li, vice president of SyFy Ventures. “As ‘Sharknado’ consumed social media last year, now it is swallowing up the world of merchandising. This wide range of products underscores the insatiable public appetite for Sharknado.”
“The ‘Sharknado’ brand has become part of the worldwide vernacular. It is an incredibly fun, exploitive, cult phenomenon. It has shown to be the perfect fit for a wide range of unique merchandise while providing partners with opportunities to increase retail sales,” said David L. Garber, producer of the films.
If the “Sharknado” brand thrives in the U.S., a whole world awaits: The second “Sharknado” film will premiere internationally to viewers in 86 countries, within 24 hours of its U.S. premiere.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to produce one of the key scenes in the first film: There are no plans for “Sharknado” chain saws. So far.