Next Thursday, at 12:30 p.m., at the official FlaShop store, located at Rua Quitanda, 87 – downtown Rio de Janeiro, miniatures of the Flamengo Regatas Club mascots, Uruba and Urubinha, will be launched. The event, open to the public, will feature players Emerson and Ronaldo Angelim, as well as Uruba and Urubinha themselves. Those who purchase the product on the day of the event will be able to take photos and have the mascots autographed by the players.
The project was developed by Flamengo's Marketing Department in partnership with Ninibin. "The launch is the first in a series of figures that will be produced for the club by Ninibin," says Ricardo Hinrichsen, executive director of marketing.
MASCOTS - Made of non-toxic vinyl, a rubbery material that poses no danger to children, these miniatures accurately reproduce the logo of the red-and-black mascots: sunglasses and a striking smile, typical of the club's fans. The dolls measure 13 cm (Uruba) and 08 cm (Urubinha). The suggested retail price is R$39,90 for a package containing both pieces.
Another scheduled release is the "Flamengo Stars" series. The first miniature will be of Nunes, known as the top scorer in the finals, who scored two goals in Flamengo's 3-0 victory over Liverpool to win the 1981 World Cup. "Next will be Fábio Luciano, the team's captain in winning the 2008 and 2009 Rio de Janeiro championships," reveals Leila Monteiro, Flamengo's Licensing Manager.
According to Rafael Albuquerque, CEO of Ninibin, Flamengo is the first club to have products from the Rio Grande do Sul-based company in a state outside of Rio Grande do Sul. "The mascots are icons that represent the club's image. We expect significant sales results, especially among children," he emphasizes.
According to Albuquerque, Ninibin's biggest challenge was establishing a distribution network across the entire national market. "Besides the so-called Center-South, Flamengo is very strong in regions like the North, Northeast, and Center-West. It's an honor to work for Brazil's biggest fan base." The company is the same one that produces dolls of Internacional players like D'Alessandro, Guiñazu, and Nilmar.
CONTEST - The event is also launching a cultural contest for those who purchase the miniatures at FlaShop and answer the question "Why are Flamengo's vultures the most arrogant in soccer?". The prize will make a dream come true for many parents: alongside the mascots, the authors of the 10 selected phrases will have the right to enter the field with a child or young person up to 14 years old, before a Flamengo match in the 2009 season. Registration is open from July 23 to August 08. The results will be announced on August 14. The rules will be available at FlaShop.
Mascots and Symbol – Learn more about the mascots Uruba and Urubinha at www.flamengo.com.br/mascote, where you can find photos, videos, coloring pages, games, and plenty of entertainment for children. To learn more about the history of the vulture as the club's official symbol, visit Flapedia: www.flamengo.com.br/flapedia/Urubu.
Service
Event: Launch of the Uruba and Urubinha miniatures\ When: July 23, Thursday, at 12:30 pm\ Where: FlaShop, Rua da Quitanda, 87, Centro – Rio de Janeiro.\