Pop Mart UK Puts Labubu on "Pause" — Hirono Pop-Up in London Signals New Strategy

Pop Mart has announced that, effective 19 May 2025, all UK retail stores and Robo Shops are suspending sales of The Monsters plush line until further notice. Read on for more about how a Labubu sales halt and an immersive London pop‑up reveal the toy giant’s new IP playbook.

🛠️ Built by Chase Burns Broderick
🕓 Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 6:40 AM PT
📍 Written from Seattle, Washington, USA

Labubus just got even harder to find in the UK

On 19 May 2025, Pop Mart stunned UK designer toy collectors by pausing all in‑store and Robo Shop sales of its Labubu plush toys, citing crowd‑control and safety concerns. Four days later, the brand plans to open an immersive “Runway to Nowhere” Hirono pop‑up in London’s Covent Garden. Two moves, one message: Pop Mart is spreading its bets beyond a single viral hero.

TL;DR: Labubu blind-box collectible hype got too hot; Pop Mart is cooling it down while heating up Hirono.

Hirono’s gone off-grid—store’s shuttered, calls are cryptic. 👀📞 London’s latest Pop Mart mystery starts here: Where is Hirono, and what’s he planning next?”