Pop Mart’s Labubu Dolls Spark 350% Profit Surge and Global Collectibles Boom

Chinese toy company Pop Mart has announced a remarkable profit increase of at least 350% for the first half of 2025, fueled by the global success of its collectible Labubu dolls. The company, now valued at over $40 billion, attributes this surge to booming sales, strong branding, and tight cost controls. Labubu dolls—elf-like figures with distinctive jagged teeth—have become a viral sensation, leading to long queues, sell-outs, and a thriving resale market where prices can soar into the hundreds of dollars.

International Expansion and Celebrity Endorsements
Pop Mart’s international reach is expanding rapidly, with nearly 40% of revenue in 2024 coming from outside China. The brand’s popularity has skyrocketed in the US, boosted by celebrity fans such as Kim Kardashian and Lisa from Blackpink. Strategic partnerships with major brands like Coca-Cola and One Piece have further elevated Labubu’s profile.

Market Impact and Challenges
The Labubu phenomenon has also sparked a counterfeit boom, prompting Chinese authorities to seize over 46,000 fake dolls in June. Despite criticism of its “blind box” sales model, Pop Mart’s innovative approach and global appeal have set new benchmarks in the designer toy and collectibles market.

Source: BBC News