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We need to talk about Labubus! episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 23, 2025 · 33 MIN

We need to talk about Labubus!

from So Invested · host Maddy Guest & Sophie Dicker

From a soft toy keychain to a billion-dollar empire... Labubu is the internet’s latest obsession, and the toy behind a 560% share price spike at China’s Pop Mart. But how did it go from niche artist collab to global status symbol (and sell for up to $150,000 along the way)? In this episode, we dive into the rise of Labubus and the business behind it. From blind box psychology to K-pop influencer hype, we unpack how Pop Mart built a cultural juggernaut on scarcity, storytelling, and a social media fanbase that queues for hours just for a shot at a mystery toy. We also zoom out to explore what this frenzy says about emotional spending, China’s growing cultural export power, and whether toys are the new lipstick index. Find us on Instagram or TikTok, and if you haven’t already, hit follow in your podcast app (it really helps our small business grow). We hope you're So Invested.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 23, 2025

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We need to talk about Labubus!

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