Sold out! Ikea's shelves left empty after anti-government toy Lufsig goes on sale

Thousands of toy 'Lufsig' wolves which have become a symbol of Hong Kong's anti-government protests were snapped up from the city's Ikea stores yesterday, leaving shelves empty within hours.

Hundreds of shoppers had massed outside the store early on Wednesday morning to get their hands on fresh but limited stocks of the city’s latest plush icon of political protest.

Stocks of the HK$99.90 stuffed wolf toy Lufsig, which rose to fame last year after a protester had thrown one at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, were finally replenished at the Swedish furniture retailer’s three city stores more than a month since selling out.

Staff began handing out reservation tickets at 9.30am in Causeway Bay and 10am at their Kowloon Bay and Sha Tin stores. 

About 2,000 of the toys were on sale at the three stores with around 700 available at each outlet. 

Customers were only allowed to purchase one Lufsig per ticket, but the clever ones lined up again for more. 

Simon Chan was first to arrive at 6am but he made a deal with second place Richard Mak to do interviews with the press. "I’m actually supposed to be at work right now and I don’t want my boss to see me on TV," said Chan, who wanted to purchase a Lufsig for his 10-year-old son.