St David’s Shopping Centre has teased a brand new arrival for Cardiff, with POP MART confirming it is opening a store in the city.
The global designer toy brand, best known for its character led collectibles, will open its first ever store in Wales at the city centre shopping destination. Cardiff will now sit alongside cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol and Oxford as part of POP MART’s UK expansion.
POP MART is a market leading character based entertainment company and has become a huge part of modern designer toy culture. One of its most talked about characters is Labubu, the elf like monster that has become a viral must have across social media and collector communities.
Shoppers can expect a wide range of Labubu items, including plush pendants, plush dolls and collectible figures. Born as a mischievous monster character, Labubu has become one of POP MART’s most recognisable and sought after creations, often selling out almost instantly when new stock lands.
If the Leeds store opening later this week is anything to go by, the Cardiff store is likely to launch with some major products. These could include popular ranges such as Hirono and Skullpanda, as well as the UK’s first release of Hello Kitty and Friends collectibles. Fans can also expect a special celebration for the 10th anniversary of The Monsters, including a huge MEGA statement figure designed to stand out in any collection or home. Although this is only available in selected UK stores.
A major part of POP MART’s appeal comes from its blind box format, where customers only discover which figure they have bought once the box is opened. The surprise element has helped fuel the brand’s popularity and keeps collectors coming back for more.
Queues are also expected to be a big part of the launch. When Sephora opened in Cardiff last year, the queues were some of the largest the shopping centre has ever seen. While POP MART may not take over the centre in the same way, there is little doubt that demand will be high, particularly in the early days.
It will be interesting to see how stock levels are managed. During a visit to a POP MART store in New York last year, we were surprised to find that Labubu was completely sold out in store due to demand. Whether Cardiff shoppers will be luckier remains to be seen.
We’ve previously reported on Trading Standards activity across Wales, where thousands of fake Labubu dolls, often referred to as Lafufu, were seized. These counterfeit toys are known for poor quality, potential safety risks and incorrect details compared to genuine POP MART products. Now is the chance for shoppers to get their hands on authentic originals.
Whether you fully understand the hype or not, one thing is clear. POP MART’s arrival at St David’s will liekly be one of the most talked about retail openings in Cardiff this year, and it is likely to be very busy when the doors finally open.
