The Walt Disney Co opened its first Disney Store in China, getting started on a major expansion into the world’s second-largest economy.
The store, at 9,257 square feet, is Disney’s largest in the world, the company said on Wednesday in a statement. It is located in Shanghai’s Pudong district, where Disney plans to open a CNY34 billion (USD5.5 billion) theme park next year.
Disney, the world’s largest entertainment company, is betting China’s emerging middle class will embrace brands such as Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, and boost the company’s international revenue. The country’s rapid economic growth has made it a prime target for Western brands, though cultural and bureaucratic challenges increase the risk.
(Source: The Business Times)