https://www.scmp.com/rss/521732/feed Labubu is the lead figure in a line of toys created by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born illustrator and artist, and part of his The Monsters series. The Monsters toy range, which largely comprises plush figures and hard plastic figurines depicting the sharp-toothed, playful Labubu, launched in 2015 and by 2025 it had become a global phenomenon, with rare items selling for as much as US$170,000 at auction. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart continues to leverage the popularity of its collectibles as it launches two limited-edition Labubu-themed mini-refrigerators on Thursday. Capped at 999 units for each design, the appliances are in high demand, with second-hand resale prices on online platforms up to 80 per cent higher than the original retail price. The two designs, both from The Monsters series, were priced at 5,999 yuan (US$878) each, and they would be available for sale at 10pm on April 30 on... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351578/pop-mart-comes-cool-idea-red-hot-labubu-mini-fridges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351578/pop-mart-comes-cool-idea-red-hot-labubu-mini-fridges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:15:11 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart said it plans to develop more of its Pop Land theme parks on the mainland and overseas, and is in talks with several cities to expand beyond its sole existing venue in Beijing. Jeffrey Hu, head of Pop Land and vice-president of Pop Mart, said on Friday that the company had established solid park operations capabilities, and planned to replicate this model whenever suitable opportunities emerged. “We also plan to develop an integrated resort blending theme park... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351344/chinas-pop-mart-eyes-expansion-home-and-abroad-its-pop-land-theme-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351344/chinas-pop-mart-eyes-expansion-home-and-abroad-its-pop-land-theme-park?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:30:14 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese billionaire investor Duan Yongping touted Pop Mart International Group as a long-term investment and hinted that he may have already started building bullish bets, further validating his confidence in companies that are grappling with growth concerns. Duan, dubbed China’s Warren Buffett by some investors, recently said on social media that the toymaker had great growth potential to achieve its globalisation goal and that the barriers built by the company were enough to fend off... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Chinese toymaker Pop Mart remains under pressure despite carrying out six share buy-backs over the past few days following a sell-off after its results, raising questions over whether the weakness reflects concerns about its Labubu-led growth and valuation. The Beijing-based company has stepped up efforts to support its share price through market purchases. Pop Mart bought back 700,000 shares on Thursday at prices ranging from HK$140.90 to HK$142.30, for a total of HK$99.2 million (US$12.6... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348876/chinas-pop-mart-struggles-stem-slide-despite-buy-backs-amid-labubu-reliance-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348876/chinas-pop-mart-struggles-stem-slide-despite-buy-backs-amid-labubu-reliance-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:03:57 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reported strong annual growth in revenue and net profit for 2025, but not enough to alleviate investor fears that the company remains too reliant on the Labubu phenomenon. Annual revenue jumped 184.7 per cent from a year earlier to 37.12 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion), while net profit surged 284.5 per cent to 13.08 billion yuan, the company said on Wednesday. However, its Hong Kong-listed shares plunged 22.5 per cent to HK$168.30 on Wednesday, marking the biggest drop... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347851/pop-mart-shares-dive-despite-soaring-profit-investors-fear-labubu-dependence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347851/pop-mart-shares-dive-despite-soaring-profit-investors-fear-labubu-dependence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:30:12 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Popular doll Labubu and Blackpink’s Jennie were among the headline names and brands from the city and abroad that drew thousands of fans to Hong Kong’s third edition of pop culture festival ComplexCon on Saturday. Organisers said this year’s edition had broken records and would draw tens of thousands across the two-day event at AsiaWorld-Expo. On Saturday morning, attendees took selfies with sculptures of Labubu and queued for exclusive merchandise, while others explored local vinyl record... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347422/labubu-blackpinks-jennie-draw-thousands-complexcon-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347422/labubu-blackpinks-jennie-draw-thousands-complexcon-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:37:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Thursday a feature film starring Labubu, the company’s most popular character. Analysts said the film was a strategic move to extend Labubu’s intellectual property (IP) value and support medium-term growth, following the trajectory of global icons like Barbie and Hello Kitty. The film, still in early development, would be a mix of live action and computer-generated imagery, Pop Mart said in a statement. Lung Ka-sing, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347028/pop-marts-labubu-headed-big-screen-collaboration-sony-pictures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347028/pop-marts-labubu-headed-big-screen-collaboration-sony-pictures?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li At Pop Mart’s shop in Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay shopping district, a display of the toymaker’s newly launched character, Merodi, drew little attention on Friday morning. “A few people are buying it,” a salesperson said. “It’s not very well known yet.” The new series, Merodi After School, features a mischievous little girl with the magical ability to talk to animals. It was created by Taiwanese artist Will Chen Wei-hua. The launch came two months after Pop Mart’s previous debut,... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344856/merodi-debut-hong-kong-shows-pop-marts-struggle-beyond-ip-darling-labubu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344856/merodi-debut-hong-kong-shows-pop-marts-struggle-beyond-ip-darling-labubu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:45:18 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Around a decade ago, aboard a train winding through China’s landscape, Wang Ning, the founder and chairman of Beijing-founded international art toy brand Pop Mart, shared with designer Kenny Wong Shun-ming the story of his early attempts at entrepreneurship. As a fresh graduate, Wang struggled to sell affordable men’s suits sourced from Yiwu in Zhejiang province, eastern China, experimenting with small-scale arbitrage and learning first-hand how difficult it was to connect products with... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3343503/can-pop-mart-turn-viral-hits-lasting-icons-molly-and-labubu-offer-answer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3343503/can-pop-mart-turn-viral-hits-lasting-icons-molly-and-labubu-offer-answer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso The remarkable evolution of the Chinese retail market over the past two decades has given rise to a new class of creatives who have put the country on the global luxury map. Since starting his communications and creative agency Boh Project, Shenzhen-born, Shanghai-based Bohan Qiu has become one of the world’s most in-demand publicists, while renowned fashion executive Ian Hylton built a storied career across different continents before making mainland China home. Since 2014, he’s served as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3342984/conversation-bohan-qiu-and-ian-hylton-evolution-chinese-luxury-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3342984/conversation-bohan-qiu-and-ian-hylton-evolution-chinese-luxury-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:00:09 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Labubu toymaker Pop Mart plans to establish its European headquarters in London, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met the company’s founder during a high-profile China visit aimed at rebuilding Britain’s economic ties with the world’s second largest economy. That plan was revealed at a closed-door CEO round table on Friday during the UK-China Business Forum, where Starmer met a group of Chinese business leaders that included Pop Mart founder and CEO Wang Ning. “London stands at the heart of the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341948/labubu-toymaker-pop-mart-picks-london-european-headquarters-rolls-out-new-stores?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341948/labubu-toymaker-pop-mart-picks-london-european-headquarters-rolls-out-new-stores?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s new blind box series, inspired by the Buddhist ritual instrument called muyu, or “wooden fish,” has become the latest sensation in China following the success of Labubu. The series, titled Pucky Knock Knock, was launched in January and is priced at 99 yuan (US$14) per piece. This plush toy keychain series showcases a charming and fluffy character that holds a wooden drumstick. One can pull out the drumstick to knock on the toy’s head, producing the electronic sound of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341358/china-new-blind-box-series-features-cute-muyu-inspired-toys-help-gain-merits-reduce-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341358/china-new-blind-box-series-features-cute-muyu-inspired-toys-help-gain-merits-reduce-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Shares of Chinese toymaker Pop Mart rallied nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday morning before closing more than 9 per cent higher after the company announced its first share buy-back in nearly two years, following a decline from last year’s peak. Pop Mart’s Hong Kong-listed shares rose to HK$198.70 at the open as investors welcomed the move. Shares closed 9.1 per cent higher at HK$197.20. The stock remains below last year’s closing level of HK$200.20, and more than 40 per cent off its August peak,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3340498/labubu-maker-pop-mart-surges-10-hong-kong-us32-million-buy-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3340498/labubu-maker-pop-mart-surges-10-hong-kong-us32-million-buy-back?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:05:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Fans of brands as varied as Le Creuset, E.L.F. Beauty, Michaels Companies and the Miami Heat can make a gamble – spend some nominal amount of money to get merchandise worth much more. The catch? Shoppers don’t know what they’re getting until they open the box – a phenomenon known as “mystery” or “blind” shopping. “It’s gamified commerce,” said Shreyas Sekar, assistant professor of operations management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, who has closely tracked the rise of blind boxes. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3340128/what-mystery-shopping-labubu-leads-way-other-retailers-join?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3340128/what-mystery-shopping-labubu-leads-way-other-retailers-join?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, maker of the popular Labubu monster dolls, launched the second edition of its pop culture magazine as part of a strategy to widen its customer base and grow its intellectual property (IP) portfolio. The company, which sells toys in blind boxes, started selling the Playground magazine for 39.9 yuan (US$5.7), with the theme of exploring the future. “The magazine embodies emotional value and aligns with the younger generation’s desire for self expression,” Vicson Guevara,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337236/chinese-toymaker-pop-mart-targets-wider-audience-playground-magazine-grow-ip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337236/chinese-toymaker-pop-mart-targets-wider-audience-playground-magazine-grow-ip?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 13:03:52 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest stories about China’s soft power this year. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Labubu, soft power of a stealthy ‘ugly-cute’ sort, takes on America The Chinese-made dolls, a playful global megahit, give Beijing an opportunity to make inroads into deep US distrust. 2. ‘Huge shift’: why learning Mandarin is losing its appeal in the West Available figures suggest enthusiasm for learning Mandarin abroad is waning after... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335844/labubu-blockbuster-films-was-2025-year-chinas-soft-power-went-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335844/labubu-blockbuster-films-was-2025-year-chinas-soft-power-went-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 03:00:11 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin A decade ago, the publication of three picture books – Lung Ka-sing’s “The Monsters Trilogy” – brought Labubu into the world. Today, a new exhibition is celebrating the illustrator and toy designer’s elfen characters. “Monsters by Monsters: Now and Then”, open to the public at the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre until January 4, features previously unreleased Labubu and Monster sketches and sculptures. Reflecting on the past decade, Lung tells the Post: “For me, the most important evolution is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3336474/labubus-growth-books-cultural-viral-doll-craze-shown-hong-kong-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3336474/labubus-growth-books-cultural-viral-doll-craze-shown-hong-kong-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon You must have seen Labubu dolls – those furry, razor-toothed monsters that come in an array of colours and hang from every third person’s bag – though perhaps you do so less frequently now than in 2024. I suppose they are cute, a momentary distraction from the fraught world we live in, but for many, these charming critters serve another, humourless purpose: they are investments. Rare or limited-edition Labubus have commanded prices 10 to 20 times their original retail value. Their manufacturer,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3336157/ancient-chinas-labubu-doll-craze-also-saw-fans-splurge-silly-money-toys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3336157/ancient-chinas-labubu-doll-craze-also-saw-fans-splurge-silly-money-toys?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:15:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Alice Li Mia Nurmamat,Alice Li With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. On a busy roadside in Riyadh, K-pop music – popular among the city’s youth – pulses from the speakers of Javis Wang’s bubble tea shop. His stores have... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335080/beyond-factories-how-chinas-trendy-brands-turn-local-success-global-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335080/beyond-factories-how-chinas-trendy-brands-turn-local-success-global-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:00:13 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Two giant, furry Labubu balloons will debut next week at the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. A brown Labubu and a pink Mokoko, both part of the Labubu family, will be the lead features on Chinese toymaker Pop Mart International’s “Friendsgiving in Pop City” float on Thursday at the 99th parade. They will appear alongside characters such as Skullpanda, Dimoo and Molly. “Our goal at Pop Mart is to light up passion and bring joy, and Macy’s Parade has been doing that for nearly a... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333654/pop-marts-labubu-balloons-debut-99th-macys-thanksgiving-parade-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333654/pop-marts-labubu-balloons-debut-99th-macys-thanksgiving-parade-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:50:41 +0000 The Star The Star Oscar-winning Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh melted hearts on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after sharing that she has more than 100 Labubu dolls, a secret number fans never saw coming. Yeoh revealed that she has over 100 of them tucked away at home. “Oh maybe a little more than a hundred of them,” she shared casually on the show, as if having a miniature mythical creature colony is completely normal. Host Fallon, understandably gobsmacked, blurted out, “You have 100 Labubus?” Without... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3333519/fans-ecstatic-after-michelle-yeoh-reveals-she-owns-over-100-labubu-dolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3333519/fans-ecstatic-after-michelle-yeoh-reveals-she-owns-over-100-labubu-dolls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:13:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The euphoria surrounding Labubu toys is starting to resemble the boom-and-bust cycle that ended in the collapse of Beanie Babies in the 1990s, a warning sign for investors, a bearish analyst says. The hype over the sharp-fanged monster dolls is about to peak, and doubts about the next sales driver for owner Pop Mart suggest its shares have limited upside, said Melinda Hu, a senior research analyst for Asia consumer stocks at Bernstein in Hong Kong. “The scarcity, the hunt, the dopamine hit and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3333030/labubu-trend-over-and-could-pop-marts-twinkle-twinkle-take-its-place?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3333030/labubu-trend-over-and-could-pop-marts-twinkle-twinkle-take-its-place?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 03:32:10 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, maker of the Labubu monster dolls, is expanding into the Middle East with the opening of its first store in the region, marking a significant milestone in its international growth. Launched in partnership with Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the new store is situated in the North Node area of Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar’s capital. It features a selection of travel-themed exclusive collectibles, including card holders, travel pillows and bags. The outlet, which... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3330941/labubu-maker-pop-mart-pushes-middle-east-first-store-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3330941/labubu-maker-pop-mart-pushes-middle-east-first-store-region?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:58:03 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A fleet of giant inflatable cartoon characters is currently delighting spectators along Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour before setting sail across its waters in a grand parade this Saturday. With Doraemon and McDonald’s mascot Grimace among the popular characters set to feature in the “dream fleet”, the Post shares where to find the best vantage points for the parade. 1. What is the Water Parade? Water Parade by AllRightsReserved at Victoria Harbour is a public art event presented by local creative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330672/where-are-best-spots-see-hong-kongs-water-parade-post-has-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330672/where-are-best-spots-see-hong-kongs-water-parade-post-has-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo I bought into the Labubu craze a few months ago. No, I’m not personally into the little monster doll with buck teeth; neither are my wife and our two kids, though we are all, at least notionally, adults. I say that because Labubu seems to appeal more to infantilised grown-ups around the world than actual children. We all have had, as a colleague, the office secretary who decorated her entire desk with Hello Kitty or My Melody accessories. Strangely, it’s always either one or the other because... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330074/how-labubu-and-friends-can-be-more-flash-pan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330074/how-labubu-and-friends-can-be-more-flash-pan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook is looking forward to launching the company’s artificial intelligence system in China, following the successful effort to release the iPhone Air in the vast market. Capping his six-day visit to the country last week, Cook said at an event in Shanghai on Saturday that AI was “making a difference in people’s lives” and that Apple was “working on getting [Apple Intelligence] into China right now”. No timeline was provided. Apple Intelligence – a built-in AI feature of the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Each considered an era-defining icon in their own right, four of the world’s most recognisable cartoon characters will be assembling, Avengers-style, against Hong Kong’s iconic skyline from October 25 to November 1. Organised by Hong Kong-based creative agency AllRightsReserved, the Water Parade at Victoria Harbour brings together colossal, floating, inflatable sculptures of timeless Japanese robot cat Doraemon, Sesame Street’s Elmo as reimagined by American pop artist KAWS, the McDonald’s... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329384/giant-labubu-doraemon-elmo-and-grimace-are-coming-hong-kongs-harbour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329384/giant-labubu-doraemon-elmo-and-grimace-are-coming-hong-kongs-harbour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday committed the US tech company to increased investment in China, even as trade tensions intensify between the world’s two largest economies. Cook made the pledge in a meeting with Li Lecheng, who heads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in Beijing after the US executive spent two days in Shanghai during his second visit to China this year. The two sides “exchanged views on the development of Apple’s business in China and strengthening... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:00:15 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday said the iPhone Air would make its official debut in China next week, with pre-orders to start on Friday, according to his post on Weibo. Cook’s announcement was made on the same day that China Unicom said it received government approval to conduct commercial trials for eSIM functions on smartphones. Cook kicked off his second visit to China this year, meeting the men behind Pop Mart’s Labubu toys. He met Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, creator of the popular Labubu... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328861/apple-ceo-tim-cook-says-iphone-air-release-china-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328861/apple-ceo-tim-cook-says-iphone-air-release-china-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters China’s Pop Mart is borrowing from Disney’s playbook to turn toothy monster Labubu’s blockbuster sales into long-term success, according to the company’s executive director and co-chief operating officer, Si De. Pop Mart has already done what many thought impossible – making Labubu the first Chinese product to win a global audience for its emotional and creative appeal rather than because it represents value for money. Now, it aims to capitalise on the art toy’s success. “We have learned from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3327367/labubu-theme-park-how-pop-mart-learning-disney-build-toys-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3327367/labubu-theme-park-how-pop-mart-learning-disney-build-toys-success?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Chinese budget retailer Miniso plans to spin off its Top Toy brand and list it in Hong Kong, riding a wave of investor enthusiasm for Chinese toymakers and highlighting the city’s renewed status as a global fundraising hotspot. The business, which will remain a subsidiary of Guangzhou-based Miniso post spin-off, focuses on pop culture-inspired collectible toys. Hong Kong-listed Miniso had said in June it was assessing a potential spin-off of Top Toy, signalling growing confidence in the brand’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327149/chinese-budget-retailer-miniso-spin-top-toy-brand-list-it-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327149/chinese-budget-retailer-miniso-spin-top-toy-brand-list-it-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:14:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The number of Japanese travellers to Hong Kong jumped more than 32 per cent for the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2024, an encouraging sign of recovery for tourism authorities in the Chinese city seeking to draw more visitors from the Land of the Rising Sun. Between January and July, 395,375 Japanese travelled to Hong Kong, a healthy 32.2 per cent increase on the same period last year. This figure is still, however, slightly more than 46 per cent down on arrivals in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3327074/japanese-flock-hong-kong-lured-nostalgic-kawaii-appeal-pandas-labubu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3327074/japanese-flock-hong-kong-lured-nostalgic-kawaii-appeal-pandas-labubu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li There is not an oversupply of Labubus – at least for now, according to HSBC. Second-hand prices of the wildly popular monster dolls – endorsed by celebrities like pop star Rihanna and Lisa from the South Korean girl group Blackpink – have recently begun to fall as maker Pop Mart ramped up production. Shares of the company have dropped more than 20 per cent since peaking in late August, raising investor concerns that the toys’ supply is exceeding demand. But analysts at HSBC said such worries... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3326036/demand-pop-marts-labubu-wont-tilt-180-degrees-despite-oversupply-concerns-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3326036/demand-pop-marts-labubu-wont-tilt-180-degrees-despite-oversupply-concerns-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Pop Mart, the world’s most valuable toymaker, rose on Friday after the company launched a new line of gold jewellery to cash in on the growing popularity of its toys. The company started selling gold beads, pendants, bars and ornaments under its Popop jewellery brand, featuring one of its main characters, Baby Molly, at its stores in Beijing and Shanghai, according to a statement on Pop Mart’s official WeChat account. The items are priced between 980 yuan (US$137) and 56,800 yuan. Pop Mart had... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325333/pop-mart-hopes-labubu-fans-take-shine-its-popop-branded-gold-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325333/pop-mart-hopes-labubu-fans-take-shine-its-popop-branded-gold-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:15:12 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Newly published video has offered a rare glimpse into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stay in China last week, after a Russian state media journalist posted the footage to his Telegram channel. Contrary to his tough-guy public image, the Russian leader’s residence in Beijing was decorated with colourful Chinese figurines. Footage posted by Pavel Zarubin on Monday showed dolls dressed in Chinese opera costumes, Chinese dancing lion statues and panda figurines in the style of Russian nesting... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324912/peek-behind-hotel-door-shows-china-giving-putin-colourful-welcome-during-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324912/peek-behind-hotel-door-shows-china-giving-putin-colourful-welcome-during-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:19:36 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Naomi Osaka’s final Labubu at the US Open was going to be Osaka herself. For Osaka, that was the real bummer about losing one match short of the final. “Oh, don’t make me cry, man,” the four-time grand slam champion said during her press conference early Friday morning after her 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 semi-final loss to Amanda Anisimova. “Oh my God, the most devastating question.” Osaka had been toting a different version of the popular plush toy attached to her racquet bag to each of her matches in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3324559/dont-make-me-cry-man-naomi-osaka-rues-missing-out-final-labubu-after-us-open-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3324559/dont-make-me-cry-man-naomi-osaka-rues-missing-out-final-labubu-after-us-open-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:00:20 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Next time your teenagers have a craving for the ultra-spicy Buldak ramen or the fierce-looking Labubu toy, don’t scratch your head and question their taste. Rather, consider yourself lucky, because they are helping you spot the next billion-dollar brand before it gets on global investors’ radar. With birth rates falling around the world, Generation Alpha, roughly born between 2010 and 2024, will have the largest economic footprint in our lifetime. An estimated US$5.3 trillion has already been... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323193/how-your-childs-obsession-labubu-and-buldak-ramen-could-make-you-rich?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323193/how-your-childs-obsession-labubu-and-buldak-ramen-could-make-you-rich?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:00:21 +0000 June Xia June Xia A booming market for miniature clothing has become the latest growth driver in China’s “doll economy” – fuelled by Gen Z’s passion for the toys and the emotional comfort they provide. “Loving ball-jointed dolls is as natural as breathing,” said 21-year-old Clementine Cai from Zhejiang. Two years after falling in love with the toys, she had spent over 3,000 yuan (US$417) on outfits alone – a sizeable amount given her roughly 2,000 yuan in monthly expenses. Unlike the wildly popular Labubu vinyl... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322816/how-chinas-gen-z-sparked-doll-fashion-craze-and-its-impact-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322816/how-chinas-gen-z-sparked-doll-fashion-craze-and-its-impact-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:11 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Marko Monroe wears many hats. Not only is he a reality TV star, stylist and designer, but he is also known for designing custom Labubu dolls for collectors from Lady Gaga to Marc Jacobs. Dubbed the “Labubu whisperer” by W Magazine, Monroe says he will be riding the Pop Mart doll craze until “the last Labubu drop”. Here’s everything to know about Marko Monroe. Marko Monroe is a designer and stylist When he’s not making clothes for the monster dolls, Monroe works as a stylist. He has... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3322805/meet-marko-monroe-labubu-whisperer-who-designed-custom-one-blackpinks-lisa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3322805/meet-marko-monroe-labubu-whisperer-who-designed-custom-one-blackpinks-lisa?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:00:11 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Pop Mart said it would be able to easily double this year’s revenue from its 2024 record sales, as it prepares to launch a mini version of the Labubu plush toy to extend its phenomenal success and conquer more hearts beyond mainland China. The company, founded in 2010 in Beijing, could double its 2025 revenue to 30 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from last year’s sales of 13 billion yuan, said Pop Mart’s founder and CEO Wang Ning, citing the bigger-than-imagined worldwide market for its plush toys... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3322488/mini-labubus-are-coming-after-your-mobile-phone-pop-mart-aims-double-2025-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3322488/mini-labubus-are-coming-after-your-mobile-phone-pop-mart-aims-double-2025-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:18:13 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Pop Mart established itself as the world’s most valuable toy producer and exporter of China’s “soft power” after the global phenomenon of its Labubu plush toys and figurines drove overseas revenue to soar fivefold in the first half. Online and in-store revenue outside China and Taiwan jumped to 5.59 billion yuan (US$778 million) in the first six months, making up about 40 per cent of the Beijing-based group’s total interim sales of 13.88 billion yuan, which beat analysts’ estimates, Pop Mart... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322400/pop-marts-interim-sales-soar-labubu-craze-fuels-chinese-toymakers-record-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3322400/pop-marts-interim-sales-soar-labubu-craze-fuels-chinese-toymakers-record-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:11:36 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A police department in Southern California recovered about US$30,000 worth of Labubu dolls that were stolen from a warehouse, the agency announced this week. The collectible items have recently surged in popularity. The Labubus were stolen in a series of trips that spanned multiple days, the Chino police department said in a social media post. Two suspects, both minors, were later identified as workers at the warehouse, the department said. Law enforcement found the items at a home in Upland, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3321645/police-recover-us30000-worth-labubu-dolls-stolen-southern-california-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3321645/police-recover-us30000-worth-labubu-dolls-stolen-southern-california-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:52:15 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese influencer has revealed that a “petulant” child who was upset at being refused a Labubu toy shattered a glass ceiling and smashed a crystal chandelier, causing more than 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) of damage. However, the child’s parents offered just 20,000 yuan (US$2,800) in compensation, saying they were too poor to pay. The incident attracted public attention after a male influencer, known online as “Little Azheng”, or “Tail Brother”, told on social media how a relative had visited his... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3320835/china-boy-smashes-glass-ceiling-chandelier-worth-total-us56000-labubu-tantrum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3320835/china-boy-smashes-glass-ceiling-chandelier-worth-total-us56000-labubu-tantrum?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie The decline in Labubu-maker Pop Mart International Group’s shares of as much as 10 per cent over the last month amid growth concerns presents a buying opportunity, analysts say, noting that the company is well positioned to capture rising global demand. “Some investors may perceive that Pop Mart’s momentum has stalled somewhat since Labubu v3, but it continues to launch popular new products,” Morgan Stanley wrote in a report on Friday. “For reference, when Pop Mart launched Labubu v1 at end-2023... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3320653/morgan-stanley-bullish-labubu-maker-pop-marts-shares-despite-10-slump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3320653/morgan-stanley-bullish-labubu-maker-pop-marts-shares-despite-10-slump?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:29:11 +0000 Timon Johnson Timon Johnson Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh has become the latest celebrity to take part in a Hong Kong tourism drive after sharing a fun social media picture with a Labubu doll specially made to mark the first birthday of the city’s panda twins later this month. The star on Monday shared a photo on Instagram of her holding up the Labubu doll, which is cradling the twin pandas in its arms, above a bucket of popcorn. “Celebrating Hong Kong-born panda twins’ first birthday (and my birthday too) with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320652/michelle-yeoh-takes-shine-labubu-made-hong-kong-panda-cubs-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320652/michelle-yeoh-takes-shine-labubu-made-hong-kong-panda-cubs-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:18:21 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police have arrested 82 people in a citywide anti-triad operation, breaking up a syndicate that laundered nearly HK$40 billion (US$5.1 billion) and seizing over HK$15 million worth of assets, including a giant Labubu doll estimated to cost HK$1 million. The force said on Wednesday that officers raided multiple locations across the city during the crackdown, which was launched in the early hours of Tuesday. The suspects, comprising 55 men and 27 women aged 19 to 78, included the... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3320072/hong-kong-police-arrest-82-people-seize-hk9-million-anti-triad-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3320072/hong-kong-police-arrest-82-people-seize-hk9-million-anti-triad-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:07:31 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie Chinese toymaker Pop Mart International is suing several 7-Eleven store operators in California for selling alleged counterfeits of its signature Labubu merchandise and infringing on its trademarks. The group’s Beijing, Singapore and US-based units, which hold the trademarks and copyrights, are seeking injunctions to stop 7-Eleven Inc and seven convenience store owners or franchisees from continuing to commit the offence, according to the July 18 complaint in a California district court. It is... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3319449/pop-mart-sues-7-eleven-store-owners-us-alleging-labubu-trademark-infringements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3319449/pop-mart-sues-7-eleven-store-owners-us-alleging-labubu-trademark-infringements?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:29:55 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang / https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3317783/labubu-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3317783/labubu-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:47:58 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk The soaring global popularity of Labubu has prompted Australia to sound a warning over knock-off monster toys flooding online platforms as scammers try to exploit the collectibles frenzy fuelled by social media and celebrity endorsements. The pointy-eared, sharp-toothed dolls – designed by Hong Kong artist Lung Ka-sing and sold by Beijing-based Pop Mart – have attained cult status, commanding eye-popping prices and sparking in-store chaos as fans from Sydney to Singapore and London line up for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3316637/labubu-or-lafufu-australian-consumer-watchdog-warns-scams-online-toy-mania-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3316637/labubu-or-lafufu-australian-consumer-watchdog-warns-scams-online-toy-mania-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:04:29 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A student at China’s prestigious Tsinghua University took her Labubu toy to her graduation ceremony, placing the school’s vice-president in an awkward position. However, the game-for-a-laugh university head joined in the fun and pinched the tassel of the toy, allowing it to earn the nickname “the Labubu with the highest education degree”. A video of the episode at the university’s commencement ceremony in June has become an online sensation, thanks to the huge popularity of this plush doll in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3315771/china-students-labubu-graduation-sparks-debate-after-vice-president-pinches-toys-tassel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3315771/china-students-labubu-graduation-sparks-debate-after-vice-president-pinches-toys-tassel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:00:10 +0000