Local businesses cash in on ‘Avengers’

Retailers are benefiting from strong sales of Avengers-related products ahead of the release of the franchise’s second installment next week, “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Lotte Department Store has opened a pop-up shop selling products featuring characters from the film at its Young Plaza store, adjacent to its main department store in Myeong-dong, northern Seoul. Lotte is also selling Avengers-themed ties in the menswear section of its main branch.

As part of the event, Lotte will also display 3.3-meter (11-foot) Avengers figurines at 8 different stores, starting with its Yeongdeungpo branch on the 24th. It will also give out mini figurines at the main Myeong-dong, Yeongdeungpo, and Nowon branches.

E-Mart, a discount retail chain of Shinsegae, has already sold 56,000 Marvel character t-shirts. E-Mart is also displaying life-size Marvel characters at its Seongsu store.

Shinsegae Department Store is selling 100 different Avengers toys at its stores in Yeongdeungpo, Chungmuro, Gyeonggi, Busan and Incheon.

Homeplus, a discount retailer, is also selling Marvel figurines and masks through May 6.

Online shopping sites are also flooded with Marvel characters. 11Street has sold twice as many Marvel character toys this month compared with a year ago. 11Street is also giving out free tickets to 150 of its VIPs to attend the film’s Korean release, scheduled for April 23 at the Megabox theatre in Dongdaemun.

Hasbro Korea is also selling Avengers products, including masks and gloves featured in the movie.

Food and beverage makers are also offering themed snacks. Biggrae, an ice cream maker, has added Avengers characters to the packaging of its bestselling “Heat Hunting” ice cream.

Baskin-Robbins, on the other hand, has introduced several limited-edition ice cream flavors featuring Avengers-shaped candies.

BY KOO HEE-RYUNG [park.jungyoun@joongang.co.kr]