The Impulso Podcast E127: Is POPMart engineering a soft landing for Labubu?
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Jul 18, 2025 Chinese customs are on a mission, seizing thousands of fake Labubus in a crackdown that raises questions about their cultural significance. The resale market for Labubu is booming, prompting discussions about its skyrocketing value and the potential risks involved. Is Pop Mart deliberately engineering a strategic slowdown to prevent a crash? The hosts delve into the mechanics of the booming secondhand market, comparing this craze to previous bubbles while analyzing reseller tactics and the company's long-term growth strategy.
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Massive Fake Labubu Seizures At Airports
- Chinese customs discovered 952 Labubus in one suitcase and 1,586 boxes at Daxing Airport during luggage inspections.
- Another seizure counted exactly 34,620 fake Labubus, showing the scale of counterfeiting.
Political Attention Spurs Enforcement
- The Labubu counterfeit wave likely drew senior officials' attention due to cultural export concerns.
- That political focus explains why customs have been unusually zealous in cracking down on fakes.
Blind Boxes Fuel Resale Frenzy
- Blind-box mechanics create large secondary markets because resellers buy, open, and sell specific variants.
- High demand and scarcity for limited Labubus drive extreme resale prices and speculation.