Sandy, Utah (September 20, 2017) This Christmas, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and GES, producers of the internationally touring Harry Potter: The Exhibition, will introduce Christmas in the Wizarding World, the newest Harry Potter-themed retail experience. The unique shopping experience will feature a specially curated selection of Wizarding World merchandise, which will be on display and available for purchase in a holiday-themed setting sure to dazzle families of all ages. Making its debut for the first time at The Shops at South Town in Sandy, Utah on November 8, 2017, Christmas in the Wizarding World will be open for a limited time only.
Christmas in the Wizarding World , a first of its kind retail experience, will be reminiscent of the setting and atmosphere of a wintry Hogsmeade village. Complete with an extensive wand assortment, film-inspired window displays and interactive elements, the themed shopping experience is sure to be a hit with fans of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Key features of the experience include:
- A wide selection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them™ merchandise, perfect for holiday gift-giving will be available for purchase, including:
- o Specially designed holiday ornaments and stockings
- o Cozy house sweaters and school robes
- o Delectable confections like Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs
- o Fan-favorite plush owls
- o As well as wands, jewelry and branded collectibles
- Ollivanders™ will be outfitted with soaring shelves of hundreds of precariously stacked wand boxes, where shoppers will be able to experience a holiday surprise with the help of the Wandkeeper.
- A memorable photo opportunity, featuring a selection of background options from the Harry Potter films and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, where guests can purchase a keepsake of their Christmas in the Wizarding World experience.
- An interactive Quaffle Toss game, where guests can score a goal amid a colorful display of Quidditch themed attire and accessories.
- Throughout the retail experience, animated windows will bring the iconic shops from the films to life, delighting fans and shoppers alike.
“Christmas in the Wizarding World will redefine the traditional shopping center holiday offering by creating a themed retail experience inspired by one of the most beloved brands of all time, Harry Potter,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer and EVP of GES. “We’ve recreated the magical settings of Hogsmeade village and will bring it to the fans and families in Utah, who will be the first to experience this innovative retail environment.”
“The Shops at South Town is Utah’s premier, one-stop destination for shopping and making memories that last a lifetime,” said Heather Nash, Marketing Manager at The Shops at South Town. “ Christmas in the Wizarding World is sure to be an unforgettable retail experience and offer fans a unique opportunity to shop for the Muggle, witch or wizard in their life."
The new retail experience, Christmas in the Wizarding World, will be open at The Shops at South Town from November 8, 2017 through January 31, 2017. For more information visit www. shopsatsouthtown.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
The Shops at South Town
Heather Nash
Marketing and Business Development Manager
+1 (801) 572-1518
[email protected]
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Stephanie Clark
Director, Public Relations
+1 (818) 954-7308
[email protected]
GES
Lea Antonio
Director, Marketing
+1 (818) 638-5949
[email protected]
About the Harry Potter Series
Since 1997, the world has been captivated by the magic of the Harry Potter stories from J.K. Rowling. When Harry Potter learns on his eleventh birthday that he is, in fact, a wizard – he is quickly swept up into the spellbinding world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry alongside new best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. As the three friends get to grips with Levitation Charms and the rules of Quidditch, one of the darkest wizards of all time, Lord Voldemort, returns to threaten the very future of the wizarding world.
The trio must summon all the courage they can for their extraordinary journey from finding the Philosopher’s Stone, battling Basilisks, to turning back time and the terrifying trials of the Triwizard Tournament. The discovery of a devastating prophecy and a perilous hunt for Horcruxes lead them to face the Dark Lord himself when Harry and his friends must fight to save Hogwarts and the entire wizarding world.
About The Shops at South Town
The Shops at South Town is one of Utah’s largest shopping destinations with nearly 1.3 million square feet of retail space. It includes the property’s two-level, 996,000-square-foot enclosed regional mall anchored by Macy’s, JC Penney and Forever 21 and the adjacent 312,000-square-foot Marketplace with retailers like Target, Barnes & Noble and Buy Buy Baby. Extensive renovations completed in 2017 modernized the center’s interior and exterior with picturesque windows, sleek wood and stone accents and a variety of comfortable seating areas. Renovations also included unique digital enhancements: six digital directories with touchscreen technology, 13-foot by six-foot, ultra-high-resolution interactive children’s play wall and a massive multi-media wall display featuring movies, sporting events and other entertainment options. The Shops at South Town is owned and operated by Pacific Retail Capital Partners. Visit us online at www.shopsatsouthtown.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshopsatsouthtown , Twitter: @ShopSouthTown, Instagram: #shopsouthtown
About Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Pacific Retail Capital Partners is an owner, manager and operating partner in retail real estate headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Pacific Retail’s portfolio includes; Yorktown Center in suburban Chicago; Colonie Center outside Albany, New York; The Galleria at White Plains, in Westchester County, New York; Esplanade just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana; Northpark Mall near Jackson, Mississippi; The Shops at South Town in Sandy, Utah; Tivoli Village in Las Vegas, Nevada and Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara, California. To learn more visit www.pacificretail.com.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (opening 2018). With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About GES
GES, a Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) company, is a global, full-service provider for live events, producing corporate events, exhibitions, conferences, congresses, exhibits, and entertainment experiences. GES provides a wide-range of services, including official show services, audio visual, cutting-edge creative and design, marketing and measurement services, and event accommodations – all with an unrivaled global reach. GES partners with leading events and brands, including Warner Bros. Consumer Products, National Geographic, Mary Kay, The Walt Disney Company and Tableau. GES' National Servicenter® has been recognized with certification under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program℠ for the past eight years, and for the seventh year in a row Ad Age has named GES as one of the "World's 50 Largest Agency Companies." For more information, visit www.ges.com.
HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING`S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s17)