Commenting on the success of Pop Mart, SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said that Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a growth engine by fusing cute aesthetics with casino-level unpredictability via surprise-box rarity, limited drops, and social media unboxings that create an addictive loop of anticipation, reveal, and community status. However, she noted that Pop Mart must weigh risks from both consumer behaviour and the wider environment, warning that desirability could decline without fresh silhouettes, storylines, or collaborations.
