Perhaps they will sell special Stranger Things frozen waffles? Netflix has opened an online shop dedicated to selling products related to its popular programming, which, in addition to serving fans of the company’s programming, but also a new revenue source for the company.
Netflix.shop will include exclusive limited editions of apparel and lifestyle products tied to Netflix’s shows and brand. Some of the first products available will be apparel and decorative items inspired by the French show Lupin and action figures based on anime series Yasuke and Eden.
Future products will include tie-ins with shows such as The Witcher and Stranger Things. The company is also working with up-and-coming designers Nathalie Nguyen, Kristopher Kites and Jordan Bentley on a collection of anime-inspired collectibles.
“We’re always looking at how we can extend the world of our stories for fans, from apparel and toys to immersive events and games,” wrote Josh Simon, the company’s vice president of consumer products, in a blog post. “We’re thrilled to give fans a new way to connect with their favorite stories, and to introduce them to the next wave of artists and designers who embrace the power of storytelling in all its forms.”
In Q1 2021 Netflix counted 207.64 million subscribers, per Statista, representing a steady increase year-over-year. And while subscription businesses are still thriving, with three-quarters of U.S. adults — 182 million consumers — subscribed to at least one subscription service since last July, per PYMNTS’ Subscription Commerce Conversion Index, the category is seeing more competition than ever. The video streaming category has been exploding since even before the pandemic began, and consumers who are also subscribing to competing products including: Apple TV, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ and more.
The new store offers Netflix a new revenue stream. The Netflix.shop, which was created with the help of Shopify, will first be available in the U.S. before expanding into other countries around the world.
