One year after being unveiled in Birmingham’s Gay Village, the Rhinestone Rhino is celebrating its first milestone in the city’s Southside district by launching a merchandise store.

The online shop, named The Brum Rhino Store, officially opens to the public this month and will sell a range of Rhinestone Rhino inspired designs. Items include T-shirts, magnets, tote bags and mugs with tongue in cheek slogan’s such as ‘Birmingham’s got the horn’. All of proceeds made will go towards supporting Southside’s 2013 charitable foundations, including Birmingham LGBT.

The Rhinestone Rhino, which sits at the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street in the centre of Southside’s Gay Village, was first unveiled during last year’s Birmingham Pride celebrations. The £15,000 eye catching art project was the result of a collaboration between Birmingham City Council, Birmingham LGBT, GB Training Ltd and Southside Business Improvement District (BID) to increase footfall to the area and become a recognised symbol of the city.

Julia Chance, Southside BID Manager, said: “Over the last year the Rhinestone Rhino has become the face of the Gay Village and we wanted to do something exciting and different to celebrate that. Being able to create something fun that will also support organisations that are helping Birmingham’s community such as Birmingham LGBT is something we are proud to do.

“The Brum Rhino Store will launch just ahead of Birmingham Pride, giving party goers enough time to purchase items ahead of the big weekend! The Rhino will be celebrating its first birthday over Birmingham Pride weekend too, so keep your eyes out for some fun surprises in the district!”

Birmingham Pride 2013 is taking place from Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 May. For more information about the Rhinestone Rhino, visit The Brum Rhino Store at www.cafepress.co.uk/thebrumrhinostore or follow @BrumRhino.

To find out more about Southside visit www.enjoysouthside.co.uk