His fans own copies of Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon, but now kung fu movie star Jackie Chan wants them to wear his T-shirts, sleep on a bed he designed and shop at his supermarket.
One of the world's most famous Chinese celebrities hopes to parlay movie superstardom into a merchandising and retail empire that encompasses everything from clothing to cookies.
The action star's expanding business portfolio includes a clothing label, "Jackie's Kitchen" restaurants, a sushi eatery chain, "Jackie Chan signature club" gyms and most recently, a line of chocolates and nutritional oatcakes.
Chan made his first foray into business 20 years ago, but failed because he wasn't savvy enough.
"I thought since I could make movies, I tried business on my own. I didn't know how to calculate, how much things I bought cost, how much a month's rent cost ... I lost several million, then millions again," he told reporters at a celebration of the third anniversary of his clothing line.
Now, Chan said he's hired professional businessmen to do the nitty-gritty work. That executive, Bon Bg, says the actor's goal is "total lifestyle branding" and hopes to expand into furniture and kitchen ware.
But for now, Chan says he still earns more money making movies and that remains his top priority, adding he donates his business profits to charities because it's icing on the cake.
"I feel guilty about that money ... But the money I make from jumping from the second floor, this hard-earned, blood-and-sweat money ... I'll save for myself," he said.
(China Daily April 11, 2005)
