Labubu frenzy hits Berlin as fans line up for first store in Germany
Fans were lining up outside Germany’s first Labubu store in Berlin hours before opening time on Friday, forming a long queue for the plush toy creatures with big googly eyes and sharp teeth.
Hundreds waited in the rain with umbrellas and camping chairs, some travelling from across the country to get their hands on the furry monsters that are both cute and creepy in appearance.
Many fans arrived early in the morning or even overnight, some of them bringing their own furry Labubu figures to keep them company as they waited for the Pop Mart store to open at the Alexa shopping centre.
Labubus, primarily sold by Chinese retailer Pop Mart, have become a global sensation.
Their popularity has been fuelled by influencers on TikTok and Instagram who film themselves unboxing the figurines.
In China, Labubus have long been popular. Stores there regularly attract collectors who shake the “blind boxes” carefully in hopes of guessing which figure is inside.
Labubus are sold in packages that conceal which specific figure is inside. Buyers know the general series or theme but not the exact character they are getting.
Pop Mart, founded in 2010, says it plans to open a total of three locations in Berlin.
