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Pop Mart Suspends UK In-Store Labubu Doll Sales After Safety Incidents

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Pop Mart halted all UK in-store Labubu doll sales in May 2025
  • Decision followed crowd surges and fights at restock events
  • Online Labubu sales continued despite in-store pause

Pop Mart suspended physical sales of Labubu dolls in the UK in May 2025 after multiple safety incidents at restock events. The company continued to offer the dolls through online sales channels during this period.

The halt affected all 16 Pop Mart stores across the UK, including Roboshop locations, and was intended to address potential safety risks following reports of customer altercations and overcrowding. The company stated that in-store sales would remain paused until at least June 2025.

Labubu dolls, created by artist Kasing Lung in 2015 and later licensed to Pop Mart, became widely popular through celebrity endorsements and blind-box releases. The brand’s popularity contributed to high demand and large turnouts at restock events, which led to the safety concerns cited by Pop Mart.

Despite the suspension of in-store sales, Pop Mart maintained availability of Labubu dolls through online drops, allowing UK customers to continue purchasing the product. The company’s approach aimed to reduce physical crowding while still meeting consumer demand.

What the numbers show

  • Labubu generated around 3 billion yuan (US$420 million) in revenue for Pop Mart in 2024
  • Pop Mart’s overseas revenue in 2024 rose by over 375% to about 5.07 billion yuan (US$700 million
  • New Labubu variants were released in August 2025, priced from US$22.99 to US$114.99

In August 2025, Pop Mart introduced new Labubu versions, including a mini pendant and a long-fur plush doll, with prices ranging between US$22.99 and US$114.99. These releases occurred after the initial suspension of in-store sales in the UK.

Counterfeit Labubu dolls, lacking proper safety markings and featuring incorrect designs, were seized by UK trading standards authorities due to choking hazards. Hull City Council’s Trading Standards team confiscated hundreds of these counterfeit items and advised consumers to verify authenticity using holographic stickers, QR codes, and UV-detectable seals.

Labubu’s strong sales performance contributed substantially to Pop Mart’s overall revenue, with the dolls representing a significant share of the company’s earnings in 2024. The overseas market, including the UK, played a key role in this growth.

Pop Mart’s decision to pause in-store sales in the UK followed several incidents involving crowd surges and fights at restock events. The company stated that the suspension would continue until safety concerns were addressed and conditions improved in its UK locations.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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