Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the craze that’s taken much of the world by storm: The strange-looking stuffed toys called Labubus, and fans can’t get enough.
From long lines stretching down the block to online bidding wars reaching six figures, the “so-ugly-it’s-cute” creature has become a must-have. Even celebrities, from Lizzo to Kim Kardashian, are getting in on the hype.
So, what exactly is a Labubu, and where can you find one in the Daytona Beach area?
What is a Labubu?
Think part gremlin, part fairy tale monster. With a fuzzy body, sharp ears, wide eyes and a mischievous grin, Labubus look like something out of “Where the Wild Things Are.”
The quirky creature was dreamed up in 2015 by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of a Nordic-inspired picture book series called The Monsters, according to Business Insider. Four years later, Chinese toy giant Pop Mart brought Labubu to life as a collectible, and a cultural icon was born.
What do Labubus cost?
First introduced in 2019, by June 2025 more than 300 different Labubu figurines had been released, ranging in size and price, from $15 for a 3-inch figure to $960 for a 31-inch “mega” edition, according to Pop Mart. Third-party websites list them at $5,145 and above. Expect to shell out about $85 for a mid-sized figure.
Can you find real Labubus in the Daytona area?
The collectibles and their related merchandise are sold almost exclusively by Chinese retailer Pop Mart and sold in “blind boxes,” so the buyer doesn’t know the doll’s color or design until the box is open.
Since the only physical Pop Mart store in Florida is in Miami, your best bet is online.
You can find Labubu on the Pop Mart site, Amazon and possibly other authorized dealers. You can also check Facebook Marketplace for Labubu listings in the Daytona Beach area but be sure to verify authenticity. Search for “Labubu” or “Pop Mart” on Facebook Marketplace within the Daytona Beach area. Carefully check the seller’s profile, read reviews, and compare the product details with official Pop Mart information.
Flea markets or local collectible or hobby stores may also have Labubu. But again, make sure they are not counterfeit.
How can I tell if a Labubu is fake?
Like any other pop-culture craze (think Cabbage Patch Kids in the 1980s) once the fad reaches fever-pitch level, it is rife for copycats, otherwise known as knock-offs.
Here are some tips for buying an authentic Labubu, according to the Pop Mart World website:
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What are Labubus? Here’s what to know about the viral toy everyone is talking about
Reporting by Colleen Michele Jones and Jennifer Lindahl, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
