Berliners Flock to New Pop Mart Stores as Labubu Craze Intensifies
Berlin – Hundreds of eager shoppers queued for hours Monday as pop Mart, the Chinese toy retailer, opened new locations in Berlin, fueling a growing frenzy for its collectible Labubu figures.Lines snaked around the Alexa shopping center on the city’s eastside and at the iconic KaDeWe department store on Kurfürstendamm, with some fans traveling from as far as Bavaria to secure the coveted toys.
The surge in popularity reflects a wider trend driven by social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram, who showcase the “blind box” unboxing experience. Labubu figures, already highly sought-after in china where collectors ofen attempt to discern the character inside by shaking the boxes, are now captivating a German audience. Pop Mart plans to open a total of three stores in Berlin, signaling a importent expansion into the German market.
At the Alexa store, shoppers waited with umbrellas and camping chairs. The queue at KaDeWe, while slightly shorter, primarily consisted of adults seeking Labubu figures for their children.Influencers were also present at KaDeWe, displaying their own toys and contributing to the hype.
Founded in 2010, Pop Mart’s Labubu toys are described as “cute and ugly at the same time” and have become a global phenomenon.
