🌟 Labubu Took Over the World – What’s Behind Its Success? 📈

(For business lessons – let’s break down how a creative idea becomes a global brand!)

In 2025, the toothy creature named Labubu captured the hearts of collectors and became a true business phenomenon. This is the story of how talent, strategy, and intellectual property protection transformed a small toy into an empire.

Who created Labubu, why is it called that, and how do patents and trademarks ensure its success? Let’s uncover the secrets! 🚀

🎨 A Creator With a Fairytale Vision

Labubu is the creation of Kasing Lung, an artist from Hong Kong who moved to the Netherlands as a child. At the age of seven, he became fascinated with Scandinavian myths about elves, which inspired this character.

In 2013, his children’s book My Little Planet gained popularity in Europe. Later, Kasing switched from illustration to toy design. His collaboration with Pop Mart in 2019 was a turning point – Labubu entered the global market.

The artist admits:

“Labubu does what I was afraid to do as a child!”

❓ Why the Name “Labubu”?

The name sounds playful, like a nursery rhyme, but it has a deeper meaning. Kasing Lung explains that “Labubu” comes from the sound of a heartbeat – “lub-dub”, heard through a stethoscope. It symbolizes the energy and life the character brings to fans.

The name also refers to the dialect of Kasing’s hometown in Hong Kong, adding a nostalgic touch. The mix of Scandinavian inspiration and Eastern sensibility makes the name truly unique and unforgettable! 😊

🛍 From Blind Boxes to Auctions

Labubu conquered the world thanks to Pop Mart’s strategy of selling figures in blind boxes – where the buyer gets a random toy.

This surprise element created hype: lines at stores, viral social media videos, and skyrocketing resale prices.

For example, a 4-foot Labubu statue was sold at an auction in Beijing for $170,000! In 2024, Pop Mart’s figure sales brought in $870 million in just half a year.

But popularity also attracts fakes – such as “Lafufu” – forcing the brand to strengthen protection.

⚖️ Protection That Keeps the Brand Afloat

Behind Labubu’s success lies a strong intellectual property (IP) system, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Trademarks:

2,200 trademarks in China, 15 in Europe.
First EU trademark registered in 2019: POP MART (#018055571).
Labubu as a word mark: 18.06.25.

Patents on design & packaging:

CN 220147823 U — Peep-Proof Packaging Box
CN 218317803 U — Anti-Peeping Packaging Structure
CN 308057809 S — Packaging Box (1000 % Mega Collection Series)

Packaging patent example:

Name: CN220147823U – Peep-Proof Packaging Box
Description: Protects blind box packaging design, prevents peeking inside, keeping the surprise – a key part of Pop Mart’s business model.
Registration date: November 21, 2023
Significance: Maintains the unique blind box shopping experience

In 2025, customs in Ningbo seized over one million counterfeit Labubu figures. Pop Mart’s team actively monitors markets and sues violators, showing that IP protection is a necessity.

💡 Business Lessons from Labubu

Labubu is more than a toy – it’s a business case, built on 2,200 trade

marks, 48 patents, and 70 copyrights in China alone.

Why China? Because that’s where the owner fights piracy, instead of chasing counterfeit products around the world.

Emotional Branding: Toothy smile and big ears build fan love.
Scarcity Marketing: Limited editions & surprise blind boxes boost demand.
IP Protection from Day One: Patents like CN306773297S, CN220147823U and WIPO trademark #1754341 make the brand bulletproof.

What’s next? An anime series about Labubu in 2025 and new collections already exciting fans. This proves: a well-protected idea can grow without limits!

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