Latest news with #Lafufus
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Labubu's parent company's stock is down after China issued a warning on a lucrative sales strategy
Labubu's parent company, Pop Mart, saw its stock price slide after China issued a warning on the addictive nature of blind boxes. Pop Mart's stock dropped by more than 5% on Friday and by about 14% in the past five days. The slump comes after People's Daily, a publication run by the Chinese Communist Party, published an article on Thursday warning about the blind box sales strategy, saying its addictive nature can hook children. While the article did not mention Pop Mart specifically, it discussed products like blind trading cards and mystery boxes. China has, since 2023, banned the sale of blind boxes to children under eight years of age. Blind boxes are toys with unlabeled packaging, leaving the contents a mystery to the buyer. This sales strategy spurs consumers to purchase more in the hopes of getting their hands on the toy design they want. Figurines of Pop Mart's most popular product line, The Monsters — known for one of its characters, Labubu — are sold in the blind box format. Pop Mart's blind boxes in The Monsters collection cost between $10 and $20. Ana Gonzales, a 38-year-old social media manager based in the Philippines, previously told BI that she has spent upward of $500 on blind boxes. "Not knowing what color you'll get adds so much excitement," Gonzales said. "Opening a blind box after a long day or tiring week feels like unwrapping a gift to myself or a little reward." Pop Mart isn't the only company selling toys in blind boxes, but the global success of Labubu makes it one of the most visible. While its stock took a hit this week, Pop Mart has seen tremendous success recently, with its stock price increasing by about 500% in the past year. Recently, Pop Mart paused physical sales of The Monsters in South Korea and the UK, citing long queues outside their stores. Labubu dolls have enjoyed celebrity endorsements from major K-pop artists, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa. The trendy toy has also sparked legions of knockoffs, nicknamed " Lafufus" on social media.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Fake Labubu Identity: How to identify if your Labubu is fake or real?
So, you finally got your hands on one of those little gremlins everyone on social media is obsessed with? You own a Labubu. Congrats! But wait, is it the real deal or did you accidentally adopt a knockoff cousin called Lafufu? Yes, the Popmart viral sensation has officially hit collector chaos levels. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And like all good things that blow up online, the fakes have come flooding in faster than you can say 'limited edition.' If you're staring at your new plush monster wondering whether it's a fashion-forward icon or a sneaky imposter - don't worry, we have got you. Let's break it down. What even is a Labubu? Labubu isn't just a weird little elf-beast thing. She (yes, she - according to the OG children's books by Kasing Lung) is the star of The Monsters series and has become a fashion-forward freaky-cute collectible thanks to a collab with Chinese retail giant Popmart. Think big buggy eyes, crocodile teeth, and a dash of chaotic energy. Throw in a blind-box unboxing experience and a rare-chase factor (1 in 72 boxes has an ultra-rare piece!) and you've got a recipe for instant Instagram clout. Even celebs like Dua Lipa and Rihanna are toting Labubus around like they're the new Birkins. So of course… chaos ensued. Enter: The Lafufu Because the internet can't have nice things without bootleg versions popping up, we now have Lafufus. These are fake Labubus. Kinda cute, kinda wonky, and definitely causing confusion. They're being sold all over online marketplaces often for dirt cheap. But here's the thing: not all knockoffs are evil. Some people actually prefer their Lafufus. More on that in a sec. How to spot a fake (aka Lafufu vs Labubu) If your Labubu came with side-eye and an iffy-looking foot, don't panic just yet. Here's how to suss out whether your monster baby is legit or living a lie: Packaging Real Labubus come in Popmart-branded box with a scannable QR code. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lafufus are often sold in a plastic bag that looks like it once held leftover noodles. Red flag. Details Authentic Labubus have pretty little touches - tiny blush, UV-reactive foot markings, tiny hands. Lafufus? Blobs with hair. Look out for weird fur, missing limbs, or one eye higher than the other. Build quality Labubus might have slight imperfections (hey, they're handmade), but Lafufus can be wild. We're talking floppy legs, weird fur textures, and paint jobs that scream 'art class at age 5.' Price check Found one for under £10? It's almost definitely a Lafufu. Legit Labubus are usually £25 and up, especially if they're rare or part of a collector's set. Okay but, should you even buy a Lafufu? Here's the hot take: Maybe? We're not gonna shame you for choosing the budget-friendly option, especially when Labubu resale prices are reaching iPhone levels (INR 2,89,000). If you don't care about QR codes or collectible street cred, Lafufus are actually (kinda) great. Creative playground Some collectors buy Lafufus just to customize them. They repaint, fluff, shave, stitch outfits—you name it. It's like Build-a-Bear meets chaotic art therapy. Affordable entry into the fandom If you're Labubu-curious but don't want to drop half your paycheck on a doll with a snarl, Lafufu lets you join the monster party without financial regret. Just be honest about what you're getting. Don't fall for listings pretending to be real Popmart goods when they're clearly not. If it says 'Labubu' but shows up looking like it had a rough night in the washing machine - you've got yourself a Lafufu. Real or fake, love your weird little monster At the end of the day, whether your toy is a certified collectible or a rogue Lafufu with a slightly lopsided grin, it's still a part of the culture. What matters is that you love it. Labubu or Lafufu, real or remix, just make sure you're buying from legit sellers, managing your expectations, and maybe not spending your rent money on a monster in a box. (Unless you really want to. No judgment.) And hey, if Rihanna can rock one, so can you. Even if yours cost £9.99 (INR 1,100) and came with a mystery odor. Want more tips on spotting fakes or customizing your Lafufu into a punk-rock icon? Just holler, Labubu world is wild, and we are here for the chaos.
North Wales Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Labubu collector describes ‘battlefield' resale market as toys pulled from shops
Pop Mart, which makes the furry bag charms, announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June over safety concerns. The toy makers wanted to 'ensure the safety and comfort of everyone' following reports of customers fighting over them and queuing overnight outside shops. However, a UK-based collector scouring re-sale sites to secure one of the collectable characters has described the market as a 'battlefield' after sales were paused in the UK. The toys' popularity began in 2024 after K-Pop star Lisa from girl group Blackpink shared a photo on social media of her with one, with other celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa following suit. Part of its appeal may come down to Pop Mart's decision to sell the toys in blind boxes, which contain a random plushy chosen from the series, meaning customers do not know which toy they will receive until they open the box. Ashley Bushey, 32, said she spent more than £1,000 on 13 Labubu toys, and countless hours scrolling on TikTok Shop, Vinted and Facebook re-sale groups to expand her collection. Miss Bushey, a Northamptonshire-based coffee shop supervisor, said she predominantly tunes in to Pop Mart's regular TikTok livestreams which showcase the toys for fans to purchase. 'It's a battlefield. (Pop Mart) are live every day from 2pm to 7pm and I sneak out at work, like I'm always trying to score one on the (livestream),' she told the PA news agency. She said she spends 'more time than I care to admit' finding Labubus, but added 'especially now, because they're so hard to get' after Pop Mart's decision to pause UK sales. 'I'm not even a big collector in the scheme of things. If you go into Facebook groups, I mean, some of them are insane,' she said. Miss Bushey said she collects 90s and early 2000s toys and started buying Labubus from Pop Mart's The Monsters series in December, describing them as 'so ugly that they were cute'. All the Labubus in The Monsters collection are female, which make male versions of the toys extremely rare finds. The toy collector said she managed to find a rare, male toy named Zimomo which she bought for £200, but added she has seen some limited edition Labubus listed at £600 on Vinted and eBay. In comparison, regular Labubus retail at £17.50, but are often bought by re-sellers who list them for up to £30. Thanks to popular demand of the toys, created by the Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, many go to re-sale markets and compete with fakes dubbed 'Lafufus'. Real Labubus can be verified with a QR code on the bottom of each box, but some re-sellers may disguise a fake toy inside authentic boxes. 'There are people that are really sneaky,' Miss Bushey said. 'People are scanning these QR codes and seeing if they're real, but then the toy inside is fake, so (re-sellers) are opening them from the bottom and then putting fake ones inside of it.' Lafufus can be identified by twisted limbs, misshapen heads, or the incorrect number of teeth whereas real Labubus have nine. Pop Mart said it is reviewing the way its toys are distributed to help create a fair and safe environment for its customers. It said on Instagram on Friday: 'Over the past few weeks, we've seen overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, with long queues forming outside stores – in some cases, even the night before. 'While this speaks to the love and excitement surrounding Labubu and The Monsters, it's important for us to ensure a safe, fair and comfortable shopping experience for everyone – both our customers and our store teams. 'We're currently working on a new approach for the distribution that will allow everyone a fairer chance to purchase.'
Belfast Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Labubu collector describes ‘battlefield' resale market as toys pulled from shops
Pop Mart, which makes the furry bag charms, announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June over safety concerns. The toy makers wanted to 'ensure the safety and comfort of everyone' following reports of customers fighting over them and queuing overnight outside shops. However, a UK-based collector scouring re-sale sites to secure one of the collectable characters has described the market as a 'battlefield' after sales were paused in the UK. The toys' popularity began in 2024 after K-Pop star Lisa from girl group Blackpink shared a photo on social media of her with one, with other celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa following suit. Part of its appeal may come down to Pop Mart's decision to sell the toys in blind boxes, which contain a random plushy chosen from the series, meaning customers do not know which toy they will receive until they open the box. Ashley Bushey, 32, said she spent more than £1,000 on 13 Labubu toys, and countless hours scrolling on TikTok Shop, Vinted and Facebook re-sale groups to expand her collection. Miss Bushey, a Northamptonshire-based coffee shop supervisor, said she predominantly tunes in to Pop Mart's regular TikTok livestreams which showcase the toys for fans to purchase. 'It's a battlefield. (Pop Mart) are live every day from 2pm to 7pm and I sneak out at work, like I'm always trying to score one on the (livestream),' she told the PA news agency. She said she spends 'more time than I care to admit' finding Labubus, but added 'especially now, because they're so hard to get' after Pop Mart's decision to pause UK sales. 'I'm not even a big collector in the scheme of things. If you go into Facebook groups, I mean, some of them are insane,' she said. Miss Bushey said she collects 90s and early 2000s toys and started buying Labubus from Pop Mart's The Monsters series in December, describing them as 'so ugly that they were cute'. All the Labubus in The Monsters collection are female, which make male versions of the toys extremely rare finds. The toy collector said she managed to find a rare, male toy named Zimomo which she bought for £200, but added she has seen some limited edition Labubus listed at £600 on Vinted and eBay. In comparison, regular Labubus retail at £17.50, but are often bought by re-sellers who list them for up to £30. Thanks to popular demand of the toys, created by the Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, many go to re-sale markets and compete with fakes dubbed 'Lafufus'. Real Labubus can be verified with a QR code on the bottom of each box, but some re-sellers may disguise a fake toy inside authentic boxes. 'There are people that are really sneaky,' Miss Bushey said. 'People are scanning these QR codes and seeing if they're real, but then the toy inside is fake, so (re-sellers) are opening them from the bottom and then putting fake ones inside of it.' Lafufus can be identified by twisted limbs, misshapen heads, or the incorrect number of teeth whereas real Labubus have nine. Pop Mart said it is reviewing the way its toys are distributed to help create a fair and safe environment for its customers. It said on Instagram on Friday: 'Over the past few weeks, we've seen overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, with long queues forming outside stores – in some cases, even the night before. 'While this speaks to the love and excitement surrounding Labubu and The Monsters, it's important for us to ensure a safe, fair and comfortable shopping experience for everyone – both our customers and our store teams. 'We're currently working on a new approach for the distribution that will allow everyone a fairer chance to purchase.'
South Wales Guardian
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Labubu collector describes ‘battlefield' resale market as toys pulled from shops
Pop Mart, which makes the furry bag charms, announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June over safety concerns. The toy makers wanted to 'ensure the safety and comfort of everyone' following reports of customers fighting over them and queuing overnight outside shops. However, a UK-based collector scouring re-sale sites to secure one of the collectable characters has described the market as a 'battlefield' after sales were paused in the UK. The toys' popularity began in 2024 after K-Pop star Lisa from girl group Blackpink shared a photo on social media of her with one, with other celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa following suit. Part of its appeal may come down to Pop Mart's decision to sell the toys in blind boxes, which contain a random plushy chosen from the series, meaning customers do not know which toy they will receive until they open the box. Ashley Bushey, 32, said she spent more than £1,000 on 13 Labubu toys, and countless hours scrolling on TikTok Shop, Vinted and Facebook re-sale groups to expand her collection. Miss Bushey, a Northamptonshire-based coffee shop supervisor, said she predominantly tunes in to Pop Mart's regular TikTok livestreams which showcase the toys for fans to purchase. 'It's a battlefield. (Pop Mart) are live every day from 2pm to 7pm and I sneak out at work, like I'm always trying to score one on the (livestream),' she told the PA news agency. She said she spends 'more time than I care to admit' finding Labubus, but added 'especially now, because they're so hard to get' after Pop Mart's decision to pause UK sales. 'I'm not even a big collector in the scheme of things. If you go into Facebook groups, I mean, some of them are insane,' she said. Miss Bushey said she collects 90s and early 2000s toys and started buying Labubus from Pop Mart's The Monsters series in December, describing them as 'so ugly that they were cute'. All the Labubus in The Monsters collection are female, which make male versions of the toys extremely rare finds. The toy collector said she managed to find a rare, male toy named Zimomo which she bought for £200, but added she has seen some limited edition Labubus listed at £600 on Vinted and eBay. In comparison, regular Labubus retail at £17.50, but are often bought by re-sellers who list them for up to £30. Thanks to popular demand of the toys, created by the Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, many go to re-sale markets and compete with fakes dubbed 'Lafufus'. Real Labubus can be verified with a QR code on the bottom of each box, but some re-sellers may disguise a fake toy inside authentic boxes. 'There are people that are really sneaky,' Miss Bushey said. 'People are scanning these QR codes and seeing if they're real, but then the toy inside is fake, so (re-sellers) are opening them from the bottom and then putting fake ones inside of it.' Lafufus can be identified by twisted limbs, misshapen heads, or the incorrect number of teeth whereas real Labubus have nine. Pop Mart said it is reviewing the way its toys are distributed to help create a fair and safe environment for its customers. It said on Instagram on Friday: 'Over the past few weeks, we've seen overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, with long queues forming outside stores – in some cases, even the night before. 'While this speaks to the love and excitement surrounding Labubu and The Monsters, it's important for us to ensure a safe, fair and comfortable shopping experience for everyone – both our customers and our store teams. 'We're currently working on a new approach for the distribution that will allow everyone a fairer chance to purchase.'
