Making like Superman
Marvel Comic's superheroes guard their new store at Mega Bangna
Crazy about Captain America? Hanker after the Hulk? Then head to Superheroes Mania Shop at Mega Bangna and rub shoulders with your favourite Marvel Comic characters. The shop, which is on the second floor of the shopping mall, belongs to Sirikarn Krailasratanasiri, a self-confessed addict of superhero movies.
Sirikarn ran a marketing company for more than a decade before opening Sidala Spa on Ekamai-Ramindra Road. But though successful, she was also unfulfilled. While on one of regular overseas jaunts, she zeroed in on superhero souvenirs and knew she had found her calling.
On return to Bangkok, she spent two years researching the most popular superhero character among Thai youngsters and applying to become the sole license-holder for Marvel Comics in Thailand. Permission was finally granted and she opened her store at Mega Bangna in May.
“I want to build a community of Marvel Comic fans. We’re the first and only flagship store in Thailand. We can create merchandise with our own ideas and everything is under the control of headquarters both in New York and Bangkok,” she explains. “We try to offer innovative goodies that match the lifestyles of Thai customers.”
Spiderman and Captain America stand guard at the entrance to the store to protect customers from terrorists and demons. Once safely inside, you can browse through a range of products from clothing to accessories, stationery and collectibles. The shelves are lined with quality cotton T-shirts, white shirts, polo shirts and sack dresses, all screened with popular film characters from The Avengers, Spiderman, X-Men and Ghost Rider.
“Our products come in limited numbers. They’re special and unique and will become collectible items in the future,” says Sirikarn. “Our focus is on reasonable prices, good cutting, beautiful designs and quality materials. We use only the best cotton and have created block screens for our clothing lines. We use the very best heat-transfer techniques to create realistic motifs on our goods.”
Gadgets and stationery carry the stamp of Wolverine, Spiderman, Captain America, Black Widow, The Hulk, Thor and Loki. You’ll find smart iPhone cases, notebooks, pencil cases, wallets, backpacks, classic alarm clocks, wall clocks, ceramic mugs and comics from the USA.
“We will launch a new design every two months. At the end of this month, we’ll be releasing a selection of jeans for men. We also plan to open a new branch at The Mall Bang Kapi soon,” Sirikarn says.
FIGHTING PRETTY
Superheroes Mania Shop is located on the second floor of Mega Bangna. It’s open daily from 10am to 10pm. Call (02) 105 1474-5.
