The Natick Mall excitement meter is ticking up a notch for collectors and aficionados of the ever-popular Labubu dolls. Pop Mart, the juggernaut behind the collectible figures that have seized social media with their quirky charm, is planting its first flag in Massachusetts at the Natick Mall. While the precise opening date is yet to be disclosed, the mall's newest tenant aims to feed the fanaticism that has surrounded the toothy, fluffy monsters since their inception.
Labubu, for those uninitiated, isn't your average doll. Created by artist Kasing Lung, these dolls, based on a Nordic-inspired picture book, have nestled themselves into the heart of pop collectibles culture, not unlike the Beanie Babies or Furbies of decades past. Their market appeal is only heightened by the blind box strategy employed by Pop Mart — the element of surprise serving as a tantalizing lure for buyers — despite the company's silent treatment on the store's official launch date, as reported by NBC Boston and echoed by mall signage captured in fresh TikTok leaks.
But it's not just the rarity and the serendipity of what's in the box that stokes demand. With knockoffs unfortunately rife, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued warnings, prompting customers to seek out authentic Labubus. These genuine articles are apparently so coveted that a Beijing auction house once sold a four-foot-tall Labubu sculpture for a staggering $150,000, MetroWest Daily News notes, highlighting the global furor for these distinctive figures.
And while Labubus have already invaded Natick's retail ecosystem via stores like Newbury Comics and Showcase, Pop Mart's official presence marks a pivotal move. The store will take over a location that once housed a jewelry retailer and join a portfolio that boasts partnerships with franchises including Disney and Harry Potter, avers MassLive. The new storefront sprinkles an extra layer of legitimacy, to a product line that has both, enjoyed accolades and endured counterfeit woes.
In preparation for the frenzy, Pop Mart has already signaled upcoming releases via preorders on their app. With blind boxes 'Big into Energy Series' and 'Exciting Macaron' poised for unveiling, as well as a restock of the 'Have a Seat' series – it's a telling forecast that the appetite for Labubu is not only insatiable but also brilliantly marketed. It's a consumer dance between the hope of snagging something rare and the thrill of mystery, a dance that will soon have a new stage in the heart of Massachusetts.
