In 2010, a small concept store opened in Beijing. By 2023, it was generating $830 million USD annually across 50+ countries. This is the Pop Mart story.
What Is Pop Mart?
Pop Mart (泡泡玛特) is a Chinese designer toy brand specializing in “blind boxes” — sealed packages containing surprise art figures where you don’t know which design you’ll get until you open it.
Iconic Characters
- LABUBU — elf-like creature with pointy teeth, global icon after Blackpink’s Lisa wore one
- MOLLY — round-eyed girl, Pop Mart’s original flagship character
- SKULLPANDA — dark gothic aesthetic with incredible detail
- CRY BABY — newest breakout character for 2025-2026
The psychology is deliberate: variable reward mechanisms create anticipation with every purchase. Pop Mart has wrapped these psychological hooks in genuinely beautiful, artistic products.
