BBC Business reporter Charlotte Edwards wrote about a recent incident involving Labubu dolls causing chaos among customers and leading to fights. The maker of the popular monster bag charms, Pop Mart, has decided to halt sales in all its 16 stores in the UK until June to address safety concerns. The decision came after Labubu dolls gained fame as a fashion accessory through social media and celebrity endorsements, leading to high demand and reselling at exorbitant prices.
Labubu, created by artist Kasing Lung, has become a sought-after item in the UK, with prices ranging from £13.50 to £50, and rare editions selling for hundreds of pounds on resale platforms. Fans expressed frustration and disappointment on social media, blaming both the company for the limited stock and resellers for driving up prices. Despite the backlash, Pop Mart assured customers that they are working on a fairer system for the dolls’ return to stores.
One Labubu fan, Victoria Calvert, shared her experience of attempting to purchase the doll at a Pop Mart store in Stratford. She described the chaotic scene with long queues, disappointed customers, and even a fight breaking out. Victoria expressed relief that the company decided to pause in-store sales to prevent further safety incidents. Another fan, Jaydee, who creates Labubu unboxing videos on TikTok, welcomed the move, criticizing resellers for making the trend unaffordable for genuine fans.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighted the frenzy surrounding Labubu dolls due to limited stock and blind box sales, leading to uncontrollable crowds. She emphasized the risk of fans turning to resale sites, where counterfeit products are being sold. Pop Mart acknowledged the customer experience issues and announced plans to reintroduce Labubu in physical stores with a more structured release mechanism in June to ensure fair distribution
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
