A factory in China has shifted 80% of its production to create “Fuleco” soft toys, the official mascot of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Despite some controversy, over 500,000 soft toys have already been shipped, and the factory, Tongchuang Toys, has started production on another 500,000. This represents a significant portion of the company’s total sales volume. Fuleco is a three-banded armadillo, an endangered species in Brazil, and its name is a combination of the Portuguese words for football (futebol) and ecology (ecologia). The mascot has green shorts, a white “Brazil 2014” t-shirt, a dedicated song, and a website. The Chinese factory’s production contributes to the commercial success of the mascot ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
AFTER ZAKUMI, IT’S TIME FOR FULECO: A MILLION MASCOTS FOR THE BRAZILIAN WORLD CUP
