Fans of viral Labubu dolls have reacted angrily online after its maker pulled the toys from all UK stores following reports of customers fighting over them. The soft toys became a TikTok trend after being worn by celebrities like Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Now some retail experts are warning the stop on stock will only heighten demand. Labubu is a quirky monster character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and popularised through a collaboration with toy store Pop Mart. Since gaining celebrity status they've gone viral as a fashion accessory. In the UK, prices can range from £13.50 to £50, with rare editions going for hundreds of pounds on resale sites such as Vinted and eBay. Pop Mart said it was working on a fairer system for when the toys return to its shelves. But fans on social media were not happy at the decision to pull the dolls. Collectible brands like Labubu use scarcity as "a powerful tool". Labubu will return to physical stores in June, and they are currently working on a new release mechanism that is better structured and more equitable for everyone involved.
BBQ - How should Labubu better handle the distribution of the dolls?
