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KMart Unleashes Thalia

Source: People in the News / Knight Ridder Newspapers - December 10,2002
TW Correspondent: Luisa

Kmart just got a little spicier.

The corporation - best known for its basic apparel, its Martha Stewart line and filing for bankruptcy - showed off its next celebrity brand, inspired by Latina pop singer Thalia, on Tuesday, in a bid to woo trendier customers with sexier, flirtier looks.

The line of clothes, lingerie, accessories and shoes for girls and women, bearing the Thalia label, will make its debut in 800 of its more than 1,800 stores in July. Eventually, the collection will expand to such categories as perfume, jewelry and cosmetics, the singer said.

"This represents an endless door of options," said Thalia at a media briefing.

Kmart, which filed for bankruptcy in January 2002, is counting on this partnership as well as other recent exclusive merchandising deals, including ones with Sesame Street and Joe Boxer, to drive customers into the stores and reverse its fortunes.

On why she wanted to team up with a struggling merchant, Thalia said she believed it was a good fit given Kmart's strong Hispanic customer base.

"It's a perfect time for both."

Latina pop singer Thalia gets Kmart apparel line

Source: HoustonChronicle.com - December 10,2002
TW Correspondent: Luisa

NEW YORK - Kmart Corp., known for basic apparel, showed off its next celebrity brand - Latina pop singer Thalia - today, in a bid to woo trendier customers with sexier, flirtier looks.

The line of clothes, lingerie, accessories and shoes for girls and women, bearing the Thalia label, will make its debut in 800 stores in July 2003. Eventually, the collection will expand to such categories as perfume, jewelry and cosmetics, she said.

"This represents an endless door of options," said Thalia, flanked by Kmart's chairman and chief executive James B. Adamson, at a media briefing. Thalia said she will be working closely with Kmart's design team in developing the label, but assured that the line will fit all body types and all ages. The collection, which will include embellished stretch jeans and T-shirts, will be offered in sizes 4 to 16 and will eventually be rolled out to large sizes. Responding to a question about why she wanted to team up with a struggling merchant, Thalia said she believed it was a good fit given Kmart's strong Hispanic customer base. She added,"It's a perfect time for both."

Kmart Signs Thalia For Cultural Connection

Source: Brandweek.com - December 10, 2002
By: Barry Janoff
TW Correspondent: Luisa

NEW YORK -- In an effort to strengthen its bond with Hispanic consumers, Kmart has signed a long-term, exclusive agreement with Latin entertainer Thalia. Under terms of the deal, Thalia will help design a collection of branded apparel, accessories, footwear and lingerie, which are scheduled to appear in stores beginning next summer.

It is expected that Thalia will also appear in marketing efforts to promote The Thalia Collection. The international star was featured on the cover of the October issue of "La Vida," Kmart's entertainment and lifestyle supplement that wraps around its the Spanish circular. Financial terms were not revealed. Cultura, Dallas, is Kmart's new AOR for efforts targeting the Hispanic community.

"Kmart is incredibly supportive of the Hispanic community and is therefore an ideal partner for my exclusive collection," Thalia said in a statement during a launch conference in New York on Tuesday. "Kmart appreciates and supports exclusive brands. I will work closely with Kmart's designers to ensure my collection features my own designs, captures my personal fashion style and includes my favorite fabrics and silhouettes."

Since 1991, Thalia has released nine solo albums and currently is recording her first English-language album, which is due out early next year.

Kmart Aims to Woo Customers With Thalia

Source: AP Music - December 10, 2002
TW Correspondent: Luisa

NEW YORK (AP) _Kmart Corp., known for basic apparel, showed off its next celebrity brand — Latina pop singer Thalia — Tuesday, in a bid to woo trendier customers with sexier, flirtier looks.

The line of clothes, lingerie, accessories and shoes for girls and women, bearing the Thalia label, will make its debut in 800 of its more than 1,800 stores in July 2003. Eventually, the collection will expand to such categories as perfume, jewelry and cosmetics, she said. "This represents an endless door of options," said Thalia, flanked by Kmart's chairman and chief executive James B. Adamson, at a media briefing. Kmart, which filed for bankruptcy in January 2002, is counting on this partnership as well as other recent exclusive merchandising deals, including ones with Sesame Street and Joe Boxer, to drive customers into the stores and reverse its fortunes. Adamson projects that the Thalia collection will generate anywhere from $300 million to $500 million in sales for the first year. The line will be first rolled out to stores with a heavy concentration of Hispanic customers.

Thalia said she will be working closely with Kmart's design team in developing the label, but assured that the line will fit all body types and all ages. The collection, which will include embellished stretch jeans and T-shirts, will be offered in sizes 4 to 16 and will eventually be rolled out to large sizes.

Responding to a question about why she wanted to team up with a struggling merchant, Thalia said she believed it was a good fit given Kmart's strong Hispanic customer base. She added,"It's a perfect time for both."

Kmart Sets Latin-Themed Line with Pop Star Thalia

Source: Reuters/ Variety - December 10, 2002
TW Corrspondent: Luisa

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kmart Corp. will launch a line of clothing and accessories inspired by Mexican pop singer-actress Thalia, the bankrupt discounter said on Tuesday, announcing its latest move to draw more Hispanic shoppers.

Thalia-branded apparel for women and girls, footwear, accessories and lingerie will be available next summer, the retailer said. It plans to expand into cosmetics, fragrances and jewelry.

Kmart, caught between Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s low-price dominance and Target Corp.'s strength in customer service, has pinned its hopes on finding a niche in the Hispanic and African-American communities.

"It's a good move. The marketing strategy is right on target," said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Trend Report. "(Attracting minorities) is something that makes Kmart stand out," he said.

But Barnard warned that appealing to minority groups alone will not be enough to turn around Kmart's fortunes. Since the Troy, Michigan-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, citing weak holiday sales and stiff competition, monthly declines in sales at stores open at least a year have averaged 11 percent.

In September, Kmart announced it would launch a magazine for Hispanics, "La Vida," with salsa star Marc Anthony on the cover of its debut issue. Kmart also published its first-ever weekly advertising circular in Spanish and kicked off its "Cosas para la Vida" (Things for Life) radio and television campaign earlier this year.

Hispanics are the fastest growing U.S. minority group with purchasing power estimated at some $500 billion a year and have become a key target for retailers. They contribute more than 17 percent of Kmart's total sales, the company said.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. was among the first of the major U.S. retailers to focus on the Hispanic community, launching its own Spanish-language magazine, "Nuestra Gente" ("Our People") in the mid-1990s.

Laura Zapata expected to appear for Mexico City festival

Source: Reforma.com, December 10, 2002
By: Lorena Corpus and Nora Marín
TW Correspondent: Tonchi

Mexico City. - While Laura Zapata said yesterday in a brief interview that she is not in condition to return to public life, Miguel Ángel Herros, general producer of Las Mañanitas de la Virgen, stated that Thalía's sister will reappear before the cameras tomorrow night in the Basilica of Guadalupe. (Note: "Las Mañanitas" is the happy birthday song in Mexico, and you guessed it, December is when they celebrate the birthday of the Virgin Mary, personified in Mexico as La Guadalupana. Of course, nobody really knows when Mary's birthday was, but nevertheless this is a major event in Mexico City, where a famous personality is always invited to sing the birthday song to the famous image at the Basilica.)

"She is going to attend as a guest, she requested it of us and she will be there, but she will not sing because we already have everything planned and the time is practically here," explained Herros. Nevertheless, he said, there is room for the possibility that Zapata may participate with some poem in order to give thanks for her liberation after the kidnapping which she suffered on September 22 with her sister, Ernestina Sodi. Carmen Montejo, he explained, will recite a thanksgiving for her 60 years of living in Mexico and Alberto García Aspe for his career in soccer. "Possibly she (Laura) may recite a poem, but we still do not have it defined, that is all we can say". Regardless, Laura Zapata commented that she has not confirmed her participation in the fiesta, which will be broadcast by Channel 2 (Canal de las Estrellas, Mexico City, Televisa) and which will also include the musical participation of Lucero and Pedro Fernández, among other singers. "Yes, I have an invitation, but I have not confirmed it yet," Laura stated. "I am not in emotional condition yet to be facing this. At this moment, it is impossible for me to do what I did before. I am well, thank you, but it is still not the time for talking."

-Have you had many proposals to talk about the kidnapping, like Ernestina?

"Yes, definitely, but I swear to you that I can't do it."

Unofficially it is known that the actress is having certain therapies in her home, which will permit her to overcome the experience little by little.

Thalia's sister breaks silence about her kidnapping

Source: Thenewsmexico.com / EFE, December 1, 2002
TW Correspondent: Tonchi

Publicity agent Ernestina Sodi, one of Mexican pop singer Thalia's two sisters kidnapped last September, broke her silence about her ordeal for the first time on Friday. During an appearance on Televisa television's "En Contraste" news program, Sodi said the 36 days she spent in the hands of her captors were a veritable hell. "Hell has many depths and you fall into all of them. What helped me and what is now healing my wounds is all the love and affection I received from people, because the human side, that bit of light we have, is marvelous," she said. Ernestina Sodi was released on Oct. 26, 16 days after her sister, actress Laura Zapata, was set free. The day her sister was released was a very difficult one, Sodi said, noting she was very happy for Laura, but also frightened by being left alone with her abductors. "When everything you have is snatched away, when your loved ones, when your surroundings, your view, your very air is taken away, then you're drawn into another dimension," she said. Sodi recalled how the two kidnapped sisters would try to pass the time telling each other stories and reciting poetry.

"I'm grateful to God, to the people who gave us their support and sent us so much love. I feel blessed," concluded Sodi, who declined to reveal any other details about her experience.

Thalía stages a 'rave' in New York Source: Reforma.com, December 6, 2002 By: Alberto Armendáriz Photo: Julio Cesar - Thalia Latin Website TW Correspondent: Tonchi New York City, USA. The place chosen for the filming of Thalia's new video of the song "A Quién le Importa", which was completed on Wednesday in New York, was the old tugboat "Frying Pan", which is tied up at Pier 63 on the West Side of Manhattan. The boat, constructed in 1929, had been sunk and remained underwater for three years, to later be re-floated and used as a discothèque in the 1980’s. Its main attraction was its rust-covered walls, which give a very special texture. The video crew converted it into a floating "rave" for one day. On this occasion, it served as the location of a huge "rave" party which is shown in "A Quién le Importa", the cover of the song which was made famous during "La Movida" in Spain, by Alaska and the group Dynarama.

"This song brings me many memories of the epoch in which I escaped from my home with my girl friends in order to go to the discothèques. When this song was played the dance floor filled up", Thalía said in an interview. Dressed up with a very retro look (blouse with a red plaid jacket with leggings and black boots), and with clumps of hair with extensions which, according to her, made her look like a character from a Japanese cartoon, the artist emanated sensuality and good vibes in this video filmed in black and white by director Jeb Brien, a personal friend of Thalía’s husband, Tommy Mottola. Surrounded by Cuban and US transvestites, tattooed men, and women dressed in a dark and Gothic look with rings and staples in every possible body part , Thalía personally examined every shot and enjoyed herself dancing between the corroded pipes, chains, and oil stains. The song says : "I know they criticize me, I’m positive they hate me, envy eats away at them...". "It’s a message for everybody who has the courage to be different", explained Thalía, "those who go outside the norm and maintain their personality despite the environment, the criticism, as is my case, but also that of many other people".

Thalía discusses her plans now that her sisters are safe

Source: Reforma.com, December 5, 2002
By: Alberto Armendáriz
Photo: Thalia.com
TW Correspondent: Tonchi

New York City, USA. Resolved to leaving the drama behind, stronger and more energetic than ever, Thalía broke the silence yesterday which she has maintained since the kidnapping of two of her sisters. She confessed that her family is still "in limbo" and especially emphasized the support which her husband, Tommy Mottola, offered during the most difficult moments. "He turned into a titan, into a gladiator for me. I was like on a roller coaster with family and he was always there, with his arms open, asking me "What do you want?' 'What do you need?", the Mexican artist told yesterday during a break in the recording of her new video, "A Quién le Importa", on a pier in New York. "Today I have every happiness with my man", she said in the warmth of her trailer, relaxed and with a great smile which illuminated her face. Thalía decided to speak about the anguished days which her family experienced since her sisters, Ernestina Sodi y Laura Zapata, were kidnapped on September 22 and were liberated separately the following month.

"The whole family is still in limbo," admitted the actress and singer, "each one resolving it as best they can; I working, one of my sisters just presented her book on Los Pinos, the other resolves it at home, but the family is very united. It has been a process of growth, of learning, and now we feel blessed."

She emphasized that she feels supremely grateful to the people who expressed their backing through calls, letters, and messages on her internet page. "This support aided us to be strong and to go forward. Thank you, thank you all very much," she said.

During the interview in her trailer dressing room, her little chihuahua, "Rata", barely six months old, was also there, playing with her pink collar which had rhinestone letters that said "Thaly". "She was very useful to me during all that happened. She was given to me just four days before the kidnapping and in those difficult moments, with her sweet little face she gave me affection," said Thalía, displaying for the video a hair style with tufts and extensions all over her head, which made her appear like a Japanese cartoon character, according to her.

"I like to reinvent myself, to break with the outlines, with dogmas and with my own psychological patterns," pointed out the young 31-year-old woman, who took advantage of the opportunity to tell us that she would like to study psychology. "I have the gift of listening", she asserted, although she thoroughly clarified that she would not want to practice (as a psychologist) but would utilize these insights to aid young people through music and acting.

The artist told that she has a project to make a movie in Spanish soon ("I still wouldn’t feel right acting in English", she said) and a new record oriented toward the English-speaking market, although she doesn’t consider it part of the trumpeted "crossover" movement.

"I don’t believe in the ‘crossover’, I believe in expanding myself as an artist and I believe that I have already done plenty passing from television to music and from music to the movies. But one also has to think about the English market, honey," she said, winking an eye.

On the album in question, which will be released next year, she will count on the collaboration of Steve Morales, a musician who has worked with Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias, among others

At the same time, she confessed feeling nostalgia for Mexico: "Uy, I miss everything. I feel a constant nostalgia, an ants’ nest in my stomach for my Mexicans, my homeland.... To go and eat in the restaurant Arroyo, in the south of the Federal District, although the owner, Chucho Arroyo, sends me my carnitas. I miss the agua de jamaica (Note: a refreshing drink made with dried hibiscus flowers) and also horchata (Note: a cold drink made with almonds)."

And she assured that her wish for this Christmas is to continue expanding her career on the international level and dedicate more time to her family. "Musically I can’t ask for more, only to continue having the inspiration to seek new horizons. And as an actress I have many projects. In the personal area I would like to have the fortune to be able to be together with and share more time with my family. What happened made us appreciate much more the simple things in life, such as to be with the people you love most."

Thalía braves the New York cold Source: Thalia.com, December 5, 2002 Photo: Thalia.com Photo: Julio Cesar- Thalia Latin Website TW Correspondent: Tonchi Latin music superstar Thalia once again chose New York City as the background for her latest music video, "A Quien Le Importa." The video was shot at Chelsea Piers aboard The Frying Pan, the infamous 80’s nightclub which sunk, remained submerged under the Hudson River for 3 years, and has again resurrected. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, Thalia and the dozens of extras in the video were kept warm by the lights. "A Quien Le Importa", Thalia’s third single from her multi-platinum album "Thalia," is a cover of the popular 80’s hit of the same name originally sung by the group Alaska Y Dinarama. In keeping with the theme of the song, which is not caring about what people think of you, the superstar had fun dressing as a punk and spiking up her hair. Thalia danced along with an eclectic crowd that were hired for the shoot, including Amada La Por, an icon of the New York gay community and David LaChappelle’s famous muse. Fire eaters were also part of the video. The singer, who had been keeping a low profile lately, was happy to be back at work. Thalia was just nominated for three Premio Lo Nuestro Awards. The awards are: Best Pop Album, Best Female Pop Performance, and the People’s Choice award. The show will be televised on Univision on February 5th, 2003. She is enjoying her 5th week at the top of the Mexican charts and has carved a permanent spot in the top 5 around the world with the ballad "No Me Ensenaste". Thalia is ready to continue dominating the charts with "A Quien Le Importa".

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