The store sells a must have viral toy
Trafford Centre shoppers queued for five hours today as a new store opened its doors. The eagerly-awaited POP MART attracted fans who were keen to secure the viral toy Labubu’s - as well as a number of other in-demand collectables.
Known around the world for its blind boxes and collectable toys, POP MART first launched in China in 2010. It opened its latest store today, August 16, at the indoor shopping centre’s Lower Regent Crescent. And fans queued up hours in advance to be the first to get their hands on the viral toys, The MEN reports. The store opened its doors to customers at 10am and at the very front was Susan Ghosh, her daughter Ajaya Ghosh and friend Lily Harding. Anticipating long queues, they arrived at the Trafford Centre the night before, at around 10:30pm. Susan said: 'We had deck chairs, blankets and snacks. 'I know not to bring any of those things, but security were really, really good and they let us. We even got given numbers to so we knew where we were in the queue if we needed to go the toilet. 'She's already got a set of 12, but she's hoping to add some more and I'm looking to get one for myself as well, the large Labubus.' Another keen customer who arrived early at the Trafford Centre was Caprice Whitehead, 34, who travelled all the way from Nuneaton with friends and family for a chance to add to her growing collection. She said: 'I've been collecting for three months now. It's like a bit of nostalgia that reminds you of the moments you were a younger child. 'I got onto it before my kids and they basically caught on. The closest store to me is in Birmingham, but I thought I'd come to this one to support the company and it's a great opportunity to meet different people.' While Keely Hawkins and her family managed to arrive only two hours before the store opening, they were just as excited. Speaking to the M.E.N, Keely said: 'This will be the first real Labubu. I went to a different country recently and I saw that they were selling fake ones for about £10, but I thought, rather than buy a fake that's can be unsafe, why not go to the actual source and get a real one.' When asked why she loved Labubus, little Beatrice said: 'Because they are cute and some people are scared of them.' Serving as the second Greater Manchester store, following the opening of the Market Street hop earlier this year, POP MART has generated a cult-like following with people queuing up for hours in order to get newly-released toys, which often sell out in minutes. While many will recognise the brand for its Labubu toys - which are small monsters featuring high, pointed ears and serrated teeth that often come with a bag clip - POP MART also sells viral toys, like CRYBABY and Kubo, and also has collaborations with big brands including Disney, Marvel, Spongebob Squarepants and many more. Afiah Kofie, Marketing Manager for POP MART, said: 'We’re really excited to be opening at the Trafford Centre. It’s an ideal place for us to expand and connect with more fans, and aligns perfectly with our goal of making POP MART’s characters and experiences accessible to a wider audience.' As well as the range of Labubu toys, from The Monsters family, the Trafford Centre store will also sell some of its other favourites, including Molly, Dimoo, Skullpanda, Hirono, and Twinkle Twinkle - with some exclusives being sold to mark the store’s opening. Afiah said: 'There will be limited edition products, seasonal exclusives, and gift-with-purchase promotions to mark the opening. While the full offering is in line with other stores, we’re always refreshing the experience with rotating product lines and pop culture collaborations.' POP MART say the Trafford Centre store, which spans 1,400 sq ft, has been created to be hone in on the brand’s ‘fun and creative spirit’ - therefore there are immersive areas for fans to explore and take photos of whilst browsing the aisles. With the brand now having more than 500 stores across 30 different countries around the world, demand is hot for each line of their products. Ahead of an expected big turn-out, Trafford Centre bosses implemented strict rules for the opening day of the store - with no queuing allowed until 5.30am ahead of its 10am opening. Asked why people have connected so much with the brand, Afiah said: “POP MART brings together art, play, and surprise in a way that really connects with people. The collectible blind box format makes the experience fun and repeatable, and we’ve seen customers spend time carefully choosing boxes, trading with friends, and even filming their unboxings to share online. “It’s not just about the product - it’s about the joy and community that comes with it. Our stores are vibrant spaces where fans come together and build shared experiences.”
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