Cover image via SCMP
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Labubus are about to go from your handbag to your phone
Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker, recently announced that it will launch mini versions of the wildly popular Labubu dolls this week that are small enough to hang from your phone.
And the hype immediately sent the company's stock price up nearly 12%, hitting its highest point since the company went public in 2020, according to The New York Times.
On Tuesday, 19 August, Pop Mart revealed that its net profit for the first half of 2025 soared almost 400%, thanks to overseas demand for the bug-eyed, toothy critters
'The Monsters' line alone, which includes Labubu, pulled in 4.81 billion yuan (about RM3.15 billion) in just six months.
Other characters like Molly and Crybaby also crossed the one billion yuan mark each.
CEO Wang Ning told analysts that hitting the company's revenue goal of 20 billion yuan (RM13.1 billion) by 2025 is well within reach, and he's confident Pop Mart will pull in around 30 billion yuan (RM19.7 billion) this year, reported Reuters.
Labubus have already been spotted with stars like Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Lisa from Blackpink
Resales fetch hundreds (sometimes thousands) on eBay, and yes, knockoff 'Lafufus' are already in circulation, with safety warnings attached.
But Pop Mart has bigger dreams than blind boxes and viral TikTok unboxings.
Executives say they are exploring animated films and already have theme park attractions.
While those moves won't immediately add big revenue, the brand clearly sees its characters as more than toys.
Pop Mart currently runs over 570 stores and 2,500 robot vending machines worldwide
In the US, where there are already 40 outlets, the company plans to add another 10 by the end of 2025. Wang said that by next year, sales from North America and Asia-Pacific could rival what they're making in China today.
Analysts, however, caution that Pop Mart's shares may be overpriced given the risks.
But for now, investors are shrugging off the warnings. The stock has already risen more than 230% this year, outshining toy giants Mattel (Barbie) and Sanrio (Hello Kitty).
Pop Mart hasn't confirmed launch dates for Malaysia just yet, but given how quickly past releases sold out and even crashed the website, they'll probably move fast if and when the minis arrive.
