Labubu Love: The Charm with Unstoppable Appeal

Hola Sugarcups, 

The Labubu Effect: A Consultant’s Delight and a Marketer’s Dream!

I was at a Fintech event in Mayfair, Prosecco delicately perched in one hand, and the other hand, metaphorically, trying to wrangle a solid ROI out of this whole affair. Plenty of talk, plenty of suits, but very little in the way of actual takeaways… until I clock it. A tiny, bug-eyed creature dangling from a designer handbag across the room. Someone whispers, “It’s a Labubu.” Within minutes, everyone’s talking about it. And just like that, this quirky charm has hijacked a perfectly good conversation about fintech and turned it into a plush toy think tank. That’s when it hit me. Labubu isn’t just a collector’s fad. And if you’ve been around the fashion business or marketing scene lately, you’ve probably felt it too. This isn’t just a toy. It’s a full-blown marketing marvel with serious business potential and London might just be the best stage for it.

The Consultant’s Perspective on Labubu

Now, as a seasoned management marketing consultant, I find the Labubu craze utterly fascinating. These little blighters have become the darling of both the masses and the elites, thanks to their origin story penned by artist Kasing Lung, and their clever market penetration by Pop Mart through blind boxes. It’s a clear case of creating value through scarcity and surprise factor. 

A Brand Partnerships Professional’s Take

Labubu monster toys are an absolute illustration in influencer marketing. With celebs like Rihanna, Blackpin and Dua Lipa sporting them, these charms have achieved the holy grail of marketing: aspirational desirability. It’s the kind of viral magic that makes us marketing folks feel giddy with delight. And the social media frenzy? Pure gold. TikTok unboxings and Instagram theft stories have turned these plushies into cultural icons overnight.

The Psychology Behind the Labubu Plushies

Why are these charms so addictive? It’s like the thrill of a blind date, except instead of romance, you’re hoping for a rare Labubu that could fetch over $1,000 on the resale market. For many, collecting Labubu toys offer a nostalgic escape from the drudgeries of adult life, reconnecting them with a simpler, more playful time. Oh, who wouldn’t want a slice of that pie?

7 Business Ideas Inspired by Labubu Charm Trend

1. Labubu VR Experiences 🥽

Overview: Immersive VR game rooms in central London with Labubu avatars and worlds.

• Estimated budget: £150k (VR gear, licensing, venue, dev team)
• Ticket price: £25/hour
• Break-even point: ~24 bookings/day

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Innovative, immersive – taps into London’s XR trend
  • High ARPU with accessory sales
• Weaknesses:
  • Tech updates needed every ~18 months
  • High technical support load
• Opportunities:
  • School and corporate bookings
  • Festival pop-ups at events like London Tech Week
• Threats:
  • Rapid tech advancements could obsolete system
  • Entertainment quotas; overshadowed by larger VR arcades

2. Labubu Branded Tech Gadgets 📱

Overview: Phone cases, USBs, mini speakers with Labubu exclusivity.

• Estimated budget: £50k (design, tooling, IP licensing)
• Retail price: £20–£40
• Margin: 40–60%

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Scalable, easy logistics
  • Appeals across ages
• Weaknesses:
  • Fierce competition in tech accessories
  • IP licensing costs reduce margins
• Opportunities:
  • Sell through Selfridges, John Lewis, Black Friday deals
  • Collaborative push via Snap Techfest
• Threats:
  • Rapid commodification—’me too’ competitors
  • Online knock-offs (AliExpress etc.)

3. Labubu Craft Breweries 🍻

Overview: Collaborate with a London microbrewery on Labubu-themed ale.

• Estimated budget: £30k (recipe dev, design, labels)
• Case price: £40 (24x330ml bottles)
• Margin: ~30%

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Niche crossover—pop culture + craft beer trend
  • Collaborations drive PR
• Weaknesses:
  • Alcohol limits overall audience reach
  • Production/distribution logistics
• Opportunities:
  • Launch at London Beer Festival or Brick Lane markets
  • Product tie-ins with pub trivia nights
• Threats:
  • Brewing license complexity
  • Oversaturated craft beer scene

4. Labubu Escape Room Puzzles 🧩

Overview: Labyrinth-style physical escape rooms centrally located.

• Estimated budget: £120k (venue, build-out, tech)
• Ticket price: £30/person × 6 = £180/room
• Break-even sales: ~45 rooms/mont

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Proven entertainment model; immersive to the core
  • Multiple lines of revenue through tickets, merch, bookings
• Weaknesses:
  • Large upfront capex
  • ROI depends on continuous refreshes
• Opportunities:
  • Schools, corporate hiring events, stag/hen parties
  • Seasonal game variants—Christmas, Halloween
• Threats:
  • Carnivorous competition (ClueQuest, Breakin’ Escape)

5. Labubu Subscription Services 📦

Overview: Monthly blind-box deliveries with Labubu-themed goodies.

• Estimated budget: £60k (design, fulfilment centre)
• Subscription price: £20/month
• Subscriber target: 1,000 paid in year 1

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Recurring revenue model, built-in loyalty
  • Scalable with lower once-off costs
• Weaknesses:
  • Retention is tough—churn must stay <5%/month
  • Needs inventory variety every month
• Opportunities:
  • Partner with UK artists and creators
  • Tiered offerings (digital + physical subscriptions)
• Threats:
  • Brexit customs impacting supply
  • Subscription fatigue among consumers

6. Labubu Pet Accessories 🐶

Overview: Plush toys, collars, accessories themed for pets.

• Estimated budget: £30k (design, safety testing)
• Retail price: £10–£30
• Margin: ~45%

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Growing pet industry; Londoners love pampering pets
  • Shared fandom—owner & pet product
• Weaknesses:
  • Strict product safety & sourcing required
  • Price-conscious pet owners
• Opportunities:
  • Stock at Pets at Home, local pet boutiques
  • Launch events at Battersea Park dog meet-ups
• Threats:
  • Risk: choking hazards, recalls
  • Fast-shifting pet trends

7. Labubu Fitness Challenges 💪

Overview: Urban fun runs, brunch park-runs, flashmob workouts with plush themes.

• Estimated budget: £70k (permits, trainers, staging)
• Ticket price: £25/person
• Attendance goal: 300/event = £7.5k revenue/event

SWOT

• Strengths:
  • Merges nostalgia & fitness—Instagram gold
  • Potential sponsors (activewear, snack brands)
• Weaknesses:
  • Requires permit, insurance, medical coverage
  • Weather dependence for outdoors
• Opportunities:
  • Tie in pop-up yoga at festivals like Lovebox
  • Branded gear (t-shirts, mats)
• Threats:
  • Well-established fitness events may clamp down
  • Slack platform fatigue could reduce turnout

That night, I saw Labubu hanging from a handbag, and thought, “What on earth makes this a trend?’ But now I can’t stop imagining how to scale this trend. This plush has more personality than half the executives I’ve met in the conference. And possibly better branding too. So, the next time you see a monster charm hanging off a bag, chuckle at the clever marketing genius behind it and maybe even consider how you might ride the wave of this whimsical trend. 

What Would You Choose?

• Invest in one concept? Which one jumps out to you and why?
• Want a detailed financial model or pilot plan? I can build it out.
• Or maybe you’ve got a wildcard idea? I’m all ears.

Let’s pick a winner and I’ll help you plot a VR Experience spot, craft ale, subscription services… or whichever Labubu world you want to build next.

Until next time,
Love,
Jasmin 🧸