I get the same DM at least five times a day. It's not asking what's in stock, or when we're getting a restock. It's always some variation of the same question: "What's the next LABUBU?"
And I get it. I really do. The thrill of the hunt is a huge part of this hobby. But honestly? I think it's the wrong question to be asking. It's a question born from the absolute chaos that was The Monsters Exciting Macaron series, and I think we're all still recovering from that sugar rush.
Let's be real for a second. The Macaron series broke the internet. It was a perfect storm. The pastel colors were ridiculously cute, the designs were top-tier Kasing Lung, and the social media algorithm gods smiled upon it. I remember getting my first case in. I hadn't even finished unboxing it for the shop before the pre-orders sold out. It was madness.
A single blind box, retailing for about $17, was suddenly a golden ticket. People were pulling the secret "Soy" Macaron and flipping it for $800, $900, even over $1,000 at its peak. I saw the regular Chestnut Cocoa figure, not even a chase, selling for $60-$70. It was a bubble. And like all bubbles, it had to pop.
Now, those prices have come back to Earth. You can get most of the regular Macarons for a much more reasonable price. But the hangover from that hype remains. Everyone is now conditioned to look for the next one. The next series that will explode in the same way. The one that will make their collection "valuable."
This constant search for the next big thing puts a ton of pressure on every new labubu release. It's like every series is auditioning to be the next Macaron.
Take the Flare Labubu series, for example. Officially called The Monsters Constellation series. Cool concept, right? Zodiac signs, space helmets, a bit of a sci-fi vibe. The designs are solid. The secret, Sagittarius, is a fantastic sculpt. When it dropped, the hype was there. People were excited. But it wasn't Macaron-level hysteria.
And I heard some people express… disappointment? Not in the figures themselves, but in the fact that they didn't instantly triple in value. I had customers asking if they should "invest" in a case. My answer was, and still is, "Only if you love the designs."
Here's a detail you won't find on a product page: the vinyl on the Flare series feels slightly different from the Macarons. It's a bit harder, less "gummy." The paint application on the helmets is incredibly clean, but I did notice on the first batch we got that the visors had a tendency to have micro-scratches straight out of the box. It's a tiny thing, something you only see when you're inspecting dozens of them for your store, but it's a reminder that these are mass-produced art pieces. They aren't flawless gems. Chasing them purely for financial gain is a recipe for disappointment.
This whole situation creates a weird dynamic for collectors. You feel this pressure to buy a case of every new series just in case it's the next big one. The FOMO is intense. You see people posting their hauls on Instagram and TikTok, and you feel like you're falling behind.
It's also made scoring any new release a nightmare. The moment a new series is announced, the bots and the resellers descend. It makes it incredibly hard for genuine fans to just… buy a toy they think is cute. The whole process can feel exhausting, and if you're new to this, figuring out the patterns of when stores restock is a job in itself. It's a constant battle against "sold out" screens.
Real Talk: You Don't Need Every LABUBU
This is the part where I'm supposed to tell you to buy everything to complete your collection. But as a collector first and a seller second, I'm telling you the opposite.
You do not need to buy every new LABUBU series.
There. I said it.
It's easy to get caught up in the hype cycle. Pop Mart is brilliant at marketing. They drop new series frequently, creating a constant sense of urgency. But chasing every single drop is the fastest way to burn out and, frankly, go broke. You'll end up with a shelf full of figures you bought out of obligation, not love.
My advice? Slow down. Look at the announcement photos. Really look at them. Do you love the theme? Do the individual designs speak to you? Is there one specific figure that makes you smile? If so, great! Try to get that one. Buy a few blind boxes and enjoy the surprise. If you don't feel that spark, it is 100% okay to sit this one out. I promise, another series will be along in a few weeks.
The joy of collecting is curating something that is uniquely yours. It's not about having the most complete or the most valuable set. I have some older, less "hyped" LABUBU figures on my shelf that I would never trade, simply because I love their goofy expressions or the memories attached to finding them. They aren't worth much on the secondary market, and I could not care less.
If a series doesn't resonate with you, save your money. Wait for one that makes your heart sing. Your wallet and your shelf space will thank you.
A Seller's Confession: The Hype is Terrifying
From my side of the counter, the hype is just as stressful. When a new series is announced, I have to make a calculated guess. How many cases should I order for PopNya?
If I order too few, I sell out in seconds and have a hundred disappointed customers in my inbox. People get frustrated, and I feel terrible because I want everyone to get the toys they love. It's a huge challenge to keep a healthy LABUBU collection in stock for everyone who wants one.
If I order too many, and the series turns out to be a slow burn rather than a massive hit, I'm stuck with a mountain of inventory. That's capital tied up that I could be using to bring in other cool toys. It's a high-stakes guessing game.
The Macaron series taught us sellers a lesson. The demand was so far beyond anyone's predictions that no one could keep them in stock. Now, with every new labubu drop, there's a temptation to go all-in. But that's not a sustainable business model. The market is fickle. What's hot today might be sitting on clearance shelves in six months.
That's why you'll see smaller stores like mine be a bit more cautious. We'd rather sell out and try to restock than order a thousand boxes and be unable to move them. It's a delicate balance between meeting demand and not getting burned by fleeting hype.
So when you see a new series sell out instantly, it's not always because a store under-ordered. It's often because the demand, fueled by the search for the next labubu, is astronomically high right at launch. My advice is to be patient. Often, after the initial wave of hype-buyers and flippers, a second or third wave of stock becomes available, and things calm down.
So, What Is Next? (And a Better Question to Ask)Look, I don't have a crystal ball. I can't tell you with certainty what the next "it" toy will be. It could be another LABUBU series with an irresistible theme. It could be a collaboration with a huge artist. It could be a completely different character from the Pop Mart universe that suddenly captures the public's imagination.
But instead of asking "what's next?", I propose a better question: "What do I love?"
Start there. Follow artists, not just brands. Kasing Lung's work is so much more than just LABUBU. Explore his art prints, his other characters like Zimomo or Tycoco. See what connects with you on a personal level.
Maybe the next big thing for your collection isn't a hyped blind box series at all. Maybe it's a single, larger-format vinyl piece you save up for. Or maybe it's hunting down an older, forgotten series that you personally find beautiful.
Collecting should be a joy, not a job. It's about building a little world of characters on your shelf that bring you a spark of happiness in your day-to-day life. If a new labubu release is part of that, fantastic. We'll do our best to have them for you. But if it's not, don't sweat it. The most valuable collection is the one that reflects your own unique taste.
So take a breath. Ignore the noise. And the next time you feel that FOMO creeping in, just take a look at the figures you already own and love. That's the real treasure. And if you're ever curious to see what's out there without the pressure, you can always browse LABUBU figures on our site and see what catches your eye.
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