What Is Pop Mart? Unboxing the Collectible Craze

13th May 2025 EDT RELEASES

What Is Pop Mart? Unboxing the Collectible Craze

Discover Pop Mart's rise, iconic IPs, and how this global company became a surprising force in modern collectibles & youth culture.

What Is Pop Mart? Unboxing the Collectible Craze

Pop Mart Retail US$

There’s a thrill in the unboxing, a joy in discovering a new character, and a shared excitement within the community. This is the feeling Pop Mart has bottled and distributed globally, becoming a titan in the collectibles world.

While brilliant artists like Hong Kong’s Kasing Lung give life to figures like the beloved Labubu, it’s Pop Mart that provides the stage, the blind box magic, and the ecosystem for these and many other fantastic IPs. They haven’t just participated in the collectibles game; they’ve redefined it, carving out a massive space in youth culture.

Stick around as we unpack the history and impact of this game-changing company.

What Is Pop Mart

At its core, it’s the company that cracked the code on collectible art toys for the modern era. It began in Beijing back in 2010, not as a toy empire, but initially a relatively quiet—even struggling—lifestyle goods store focused on Japanese products. The pivotal shift arrived six years later, in 2016. Founder Wang Ning noticed a runaway success story on his shelves: the Japanese blind box series, Sonny Angel.

A spark of inspiration led him to poll customers online about other characters they adored, and one name consistently rose to the top: Molly, the creation of Hong Kong designer Kenny Wong. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Ning personally sought out Kenny Wong in Hong Kong, proposing a game-changing partnership: Pop Mart would acquire the IP rights, handle the manufacturing and production, and crucially, sell Molly figures using that potent blind box format.

The debut was electric: the Molly “Constellation Series” blind box, released in July 2016, saw 200 pieces vanish in a mere four seconds during pre-sale on Tmall. This wasn’t just a success; it was the moment the Pop Mart phenomenon was born.

By mastering the blind box concept—which allowed for controlled production, cost efficiency, and, most importantly, the addictive thrill of the unknown—Pop Mart didn’t just sell toys; they sold an experience. Each series, typically featuring around 12 standard designs plus a coveted, rare “hidden” figure, turned buying into a treasure hunt.

As Wang Ning himself noted, the value for the buyer isn’t just the toy itself, but the sheer anticipation of opening the box and the satisfaction of the reveal—an emotional connection that often surpasses the item’s physical worth.

This strategy, coupled with their subsequent drive to collaborate with a diverse array of global artists beyond Molly, is the secret sauce that positioned Pop Mart as the revolutionary force it is today.

Why Is Pop Mart So Popular?

What makes these seemingly simple figures packed into blind boxes so incredibly popular? It’s a potent blend of clever strategy and psychological mastery. At the core is the blind box mechanism itself, which isn’t just a packaging choice; it’s the secret sauce that transforms buying into a thrilling game.

With 12 standard figures and a rare chase “hidden” edition in each series, you never know exactly what you’ll get until you unbox it. This creates an irresistible element of surprise and the exhilarating feeling of a miniature treasure hunt—a dynamic that researchers have linked to psychological factors like the thrill of a gamble and even an element of “artificial scarcity”, driving excitement and repeat purchases.

Beyond the unboxing addiction, Pop Mart is also a master curator. They’ve built a vast universe by partnering with over 350 different artists, designers, and even major brands like Disney and Harry Potter.

This isn’t just about licensing big names; it’s about actively discovering and elevating unique, sometimes niche, artistic IPs. Characters like the ever-popular Molly, the melancholic CRYBABY, the mysterious SKULLPANDA, The Monsters, and DIMOO offer a diverse aesthetic appeal that resonates with varied tastes and fosters a strong sense of collectible value.

This massive, rotating roster of unique characters, coupled with the engaging blind box experience, hits a sweet spot particularly with Millennials and Gen Z. Researchers speculate this demographic has a strong appreciation for aesthetic objects and personal expression through collecting.

The combination of accessible price points (for blind boxes), unique designs, the thrill of the chase, and a constant stream of newness has fueled a collecting frenzy that translates directly into staggering success—like the over US$165 million in net profits from blind box sales alone reported in 2023. It’s a phenomenon built on surprise, art, and tapping into the modern collector’s mindset.

To truly appreciate the diverse universe Pop Mart has built, let’s dive into some of their most iconic and sought-after collections and characters that define the brand’s unique appeal.

The Monsters “Exciting Macaron” Plush Series [Box]