In Store In States
An American Red Dwarf shop is opened online from reddwarf.co.uk - with exclusive U.S. merchandise!
10 May, 2002
With Red Dwarf cutting a swath across America's PBS stations, it's perhaps unsurprising that licensees IMC have created the Red Dwarf Store - an American home for the latest merchandise. Already in place are the American Trading Cards from Rittenhouse, plus mugs, T-shirts, playing cards. Oh, And Rimmer's tool kit. Christy Jarboe - senior licensing manager for IMC - explained all recently to Mr Flibble:
"The US based store was developed to breathe new life into Red Dwarf merchandise and provide accessibility to fans outside of the UK. It is our goal for the USA Store to provide the most comprehensive resource for fans to get their hands on the latest Red Dwarf gear. We are constantly reviewing new products and ideas, so keep checking in, chances are you'll find something new and unexpected. Sort of like tuning in to Red Dwarf."
So what kind of companies are making what kind of merchandise? "The first products were no-brainers", Christy explains. "So many popular t-shirts had been available in the UK, we simply started there. But, as you can imagine, there is an extraordinary amount of material that would make for great apparel designs, so we're lucky enough to be working with a company in Colorado, Gavan-Burke Enterprises, who are coming up with many new ideas."
"They're also doing a line of coffee mugs and a deck of playing cards which use Red Dwarf images and quotes from the series. Also from some of the more twisted minds at Gavan-Burke came "Rimmer's Tool Kit". The concept is very funny and functional too. Except for the condom."
Yes, you read that right - Rimmer's toolkit comes complete with ship issue condom - though don't expect to use it. "Apparently it's really small. I've been laughing all through the development of that item - and then, at Dimension Jump, I met Chris Barrie and I felt too sheepish too tell him about it. I figured I'd let Mr. Flibble break that news to him."
The Red Dwarf USA Store is open now on the Supply Deck. Expect videos, games and a whole lot more to be added in the coming months!