As young adults were piling into malls and street vendor stores, people watched from the sides convinced that people who were spending their money on collecting these plushies were losing their minds. Another fad they’re sure was going to die out in a couple months.
According to Business Insider, the trendy ugly dolls have become such a hit that Pop Mart is on track to sell $1 billion worth of them in 2025, EMARKETER estimated, noting it’s already reported $671 million in sales of its so-called Monsters line, which includes Labubus. That’s up nearly 670% from this same time last year.
“When they (Labubus) first dropped,” Raiden James, a shopper at Woodfield Mall, says, “I was skeptical because they’re not the cutest. But, I grew to really like them and their uniqueness.”
The dolls are a part of, “The Monster,” collection from Popmart. The line consists of different themed Labubus from collabs with shows to holidays. People line up before stores open when they know a new series or other collectable line is being released to make sure they can purchase them before they’re sold out, which happens quickly. Resellers stock up on different series and collectible items to mark them up and make more money, knowing people will pay high prices just to say they own a Labubu.
“Collecting the different series has basically become my favorite hobby,” James says, “some are truly enjoyable to own but others I resell to make my money back and try again on a different box.”
Labubus can come in blind boxes, which most consumers prefer as it creates more excitement and anticipation. While other collectible items with Labubus are collectible figurines, keychains and apparel.
The Labubu fame was something no one could really see coming, even Popmart. They’ve created more series in less than a year to keep up with the demand. They’ve partnered with shows like One Piece, fashion brands like Vans, and even brands like Coca-Cola. There is also a Labubu movie in the works, as they’re partnering with Sony Pictures with no set release date yet.
While lines outside of malls grow shorter and street vendors stop keeping much backstock, Labubu will always be one of the fastest growing fads of social media, as well as one of the most memorable.