Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, famed for its Labubu doll series, has announced a staggering profit increase of at least 350% for the first half of 2025, sparking widespread attention across both financial and toy industry circles. The company's latest figures reveal that revenue soared by over 200% in the same period, propelled by the runaway success of Labubu—a plush, monster-themed collectible now regarded as a global pop culture phenomenon. Originally launched in 2019 by artist Kasing Lung, Labubu’s quirky design and limited-edition releases fueled an obsession that rapidly extended beyond China to markets across Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.

Labubu’s success rests not just on its distinctive elvish monster appearance but on the strategic mechanisms behind its sales. Pop Mart popularized "blind box" collectibles, which led to long queues at retail stores and vending machines worldwide. Scarcity, celebrity endorsements by figures like Rihanna and Lisa from Blackpink, and booming secondary market prices pushed Labubu further into the mainstream. One human-sized Labubu even fetched $150,000 at auction recently, underlining its new status as both an art piece and a luxury collectible. Today, Labubu and its Monster line are credited with nearly a quarter of Pop Mart’s revenue, with the company’s Hong Kong-listed shares surging almost 600% over the last year and market capitalization exceeding $40 billion.

Pop Mart’s robust financials reflect this cultural momentum. Gross profit margins have reached nearly 67%, far surpassing other global toy and consumer brands. Cost optimization and disciplined expense controls are credited with amplifying the profit jump, while overseas sales now account for almost 40% of total revenue, a dramatic shift from the company’s earlier domestic focus. In some Western countries, Pop Mart has established more than 2,000 sales points, fueling further expansion and diversifying its fan base globally. Markets in North America and Europe reported revenue surges of 900% and 600%, respectively, in the last quarter, a testament to Labubu’s cross-cultural appeal and the company’s aggressive international strategy.

Analysts view Labubu as a benchmark for the power of original intellectual property in global retail. Beyond toys, Labubu now shapes pop culture trends through special collaborations, new product categories, and high-profile celebrity endorsements. Pop Mart’s rare penetration of the Western market, combined with its pricing power and creative marketing, has reshaped perceptions of Chinese consumer brands. The continued demand for limited-edition releases, the active resale market, and the expanding product ecosystem position Labubu not just as a collector’s favorite, but as a case study in brand building and profit generation in the digital age.