- Retail Detail
- Posts
- Plush, Labubu & the $1.8B Toy Trend You Can’t Ignore
Plush, Labubu & the $1.8B Toy Trend You Can’t Ignore
Inside Flipkart's ₹583 Cr block deal, Bisleri’s Middle East leap, and which brands are next on the funding radar.
Bindu Sharma
June 06, 2025
Table of Contents
📰 India Retail Pulse
RBI Cuts Repo Rate by 50 bps to 5.5% Amid Slowing Growth
The June MPC surprised with a sharper-than-expected rate cut—third straight reduction this year. 🔗 Read more
Apple India Leases Fourth Store in Mumbai's Borivali
The 12,616 sq. ft lease includes rent-free months and revenue-sharing terms. 🔗 Read more
Medibuddy Eyes $130 Million Pre-IPO Raise
Healthtech startup backed by PE majors eyes expansion ahead of public listing. 🔗 Read more
IPL Final Sparks 15% Surge in Food Delivery & Dine-In
Platforms saw peak demand across metros and non-metros on match day. 🔗 Read more
Bisleri Taps Apparel Group for Middle East & Africa Expansion
Beverage giant eyes UAE launch and pan-regional scale in 2025. 🔗 Read more
Colgate Eyes Middle-Class Premiumization Amid Margin Pressure
Despite revenue dip, rural demand and digital plays drive optimism. 🔗 Read more
Thali Prices Fall 6% YoY as Veg Costs Drop – Crisil
May 2025 sees decline in home-cooked thali costs due to easing inflation. 🔗 Read more
Quick Commerce Cannibalizes Other Retail Channels: Kearney
Retailers see Q-commerce growth come at the cost of traditional formats. 🔗 Read more
India’s Quick Commerce Market to Hit $57B by 2030
Smaller cities are driving explosive growth in hyperlocal delivery. 🔗 Read more
Flipkart Sells ABFRL Stake for ₹583 Cr via Block Deals
6% divestment leads to an 11% drop in ABFRL stock price. 🔗 Read more
Bindu Fizz Takes on Cola Giants via Quick Commerce
Regional brands tap Q-commerce platforms to disrupt beverage category. 🔗 Read more
🌍 World Retail Headlines at a Glance
Labubu Becomes $1.8B Plush Powerhouse for Pop Mart
Celebs and social media power the collectible toy’s global surge. 🔗 Read more
Gucci Owner Kering May Sell Fifth Avenue Flagship Amid Luxury Slowdown
Talks underway with Ardian for partial stake sale. 🔗 Read more
Sephora Partners with NielsenIQ on Consumer Data Insights
Move aims to deepen omnichannel personalization strategies. 🔗 Read more
Huda Beauty Founder Regains Full Ownership
Huda Kattan buys back stake from TSG Consumer to fuel new innovation wave. 🔗 Read more
Temu's U.S. Users Drop 48% After ‘De Minimis’ Loophole Ends
U.S.-China trade changes dent discount e-com giant’s growth. 🔗 Read more
P&G to Cut 7,000 Jobs Amid Tariff Cost Pressure
Global cost restructuring includes brand exits and category divestments. 🔗 Read more
BASF Eyes €6B Coatings Sale Amid Private Equity Interest
Major PE firms including Carlyle and Bain circle deal. 🔗 Read more
Nexxus Iberia Buys Majority Stake in Skinclinic
Spanish skincare brand gears up for global growth. 🔗 Read more
EssilorLuxottica Acquires Optegra, Expands Eye Care Footprint in Europe
Deal covers 70+ hospitals across five countries. 🔗 Read more
🤖 Deep Dive: The Labubu Plush Toy Phenomenon
What’s New:
Labubu, the mischievous plush figure from Pop Mart’s "The Monsters" collection, has exploded into a global fashion and lifestyle phenomenon. Originally launched as part of the Chinese art toy wave, Labubu has now been spotted in influencer posts, luxury fashion shoots, and viral unboxings from Tokyo to New York.
Why It Matters:
Labubu’s meteoric rise isn’t just a fluke—it reflects a major consumer shift toward collectible culture, cross-category brand fandom, and emotional storytelling in product design. With scarcity drops, social media hype, and resale prices soaring, Labubu has become Gen Z’s latest obsession.
Success So Far:
Pop Mart’s global revenue crossed RMB 6.4 billion ($890M) in 2023, with designer toys like Labubu driving up to 40% of sales.
Collaborations with fashion houses and global retailers have sold out within hours.
Labubu-themed pop-ups are generating queues similar to sneaker drops.
Retail Implications:
Labubu’s rise is not just about toys—it's a blueprint for community-led product virality. Think beyond the plush:
Could your next product collab feature an emotional, character-led story?
Are you building waitlists, drops, or surprise formats to drive hype?
Are you tracking soft signals like fandom growth and meme velocity?
Action Plan for Retailers:
Study how IP-led collectibles create brand moats
Integrate collectible thinking in packaging or seasonal promotions
Explore licensing opportunities in youth lifestyle categories
Use plush-inspired displays or UGC campaigns to tap into the visual appeal
🧸 Labubu isn’t just a toy. It’s a case study in modern retail virality.
🔥 Top Funding and IPO News in Indian Retail
📊 Spotlight Insight- Retail Special
Tier 2 & 3 cities now account for 42% of all online fashion orders in India (Q1 2025)
🔗 Source: Unicommerce, Knight Frank, IndiaRetailer
✍️ About the Writer
Bindu Sharma
Bindu | Founder, World One Consulting
A seasoned entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in building and scaling successful retail brands across India. Bindu has launched ventures like Oma, Renovation Factory, and MyEpique, and worked with leading names such as Westside, GoodEarth, Kiehl’s, and Pepsico. At World One Consulting, she empowers businesses with strategic insight, brand-building expertise, and a passion for sustainable, omnichannel growth.
Looking to work with us? Book an intro call here.
Loved what you read? Or were you forwarded this newsletter by a colleague or friend?
👉 Don’t miss out—get Retail Detail in your inbox every week. Stay ahead of the curve in global retail, e-commerce, AI, and consumer trends.