Hello Kitty, the beloved and adorable character known around the world, has just turned 50! Created by the Japanese company Sanrio, this fictional character’s path to global stardom wasn’t an easy one. Behind Hello Kitty’s massive success is a young CEO whose vision and leadership transformed this simple character into a cultural phenomenon. Curious to know how she did it? Let’s dive into the incredible journey of Hello Kitty’s rise to fame and fortune!
And by children, we mean not just little ones—Hello Kitty just turned 50!
This sweet character, which you might have loved as a child, was actually born in 1974. Created by a Japanese company, Hello Kitty celebrated her 50th anniversary in 2024 with grand festivities.
A gold coin necklace featuring the number 50 with Hello Kitty was sold for 120,000 yen (724 euros), while a Casio watch went for 18,700 yen (113 euros). However, things haven’t always been this bright for Hello Kitty.
During a visit by the Japanese Emperor and Empress to the UK, King Charles even celebrated Hello Kitty’s birthday. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing until this point. The Japanese company Sanrio describes the journey as feeling 'like being on a rollercoaster.' In particular, by 2014, Hello Kitty was on the brink of a significant decline. So, what happened that led to King Charles celebrating Hello Kitty’s birthday today?
The company's founder handed over the reins to his 31-year-old granddaughter. With the new CEO, the Japanese company shifted its marketing strategy. The new CEO explained their goals by saying, “It’s not about reducing Hello Kitty’s popularity, but increasing recognition of other characters.” Hello Kitty might have aged, but her friends certainly hadn’t! It was time to focus on her friends rather than Hello Kitty herself.
However, she passed the crown to the adorable Cinnamoroll, with her blue eyes and long white ears. Sanrio also decided to move away from solely focusing on happy and cute characters.
She’s even made her way onto Netflix. Another character is Gudetama, known as the 'lazy egg,' representing depression and the darker side of life.
It seems that although Hello Kitty may not be as popular as she once was, her friends have started to take her place. The young CEO’s persistent efforts have played a key role in this shift. She shared that she often had disagreements with her grandfather, who wanted to keep the company under his control, but ultimately, he told her, 'Run the company the way you see fit.' Her efforts have clearly paid off.
In 2014, Hello Kitty’s company was on the verge of a collapse, but since 2020, it has managed to increase its stock price tenfold. The company now boasts a market value of over one trillion yen (6.5 billion dollars).
The young CEO’s persistent efforts have played a key role in this shift. She shared that she often had disagreements with her grandfather, who wanted to keep the company under his control, but ultimately, he told her, 'Run the company the way you see fit.' Her efforts have clearly paid off.
The company now boasts a market value of over one trillion yen (6.5 billion dollars).