Badges, merch, BJDs and cotton dolls.
Summaries are AI-generated
The co-created toy IP CHOUCHOU, featuring an 'imperfect' image, has garnered market attention. With Li Yuchun deeply involved in the design, it is seen as a new sample for Chinese original IPs going global.
Jazwares launches 10 LED inflatables, each 3.5 feet tall and $39.99, with Farryn exclusive to Menards.
潮玩行业经历集体收缩，潮玩星球、暴蒙、漫库等品牌关店，GOODSLOVE一个月内关闭12家门店。LABUBU出现破发现象，行业面临单店盈利模型跑不通的挑战。
A new U.S.-China trade agreement aims to provide more favorable tariff treatment for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods in each direction. Toys, children's car seats, holiday decorations, and small appliances are among the categories expected to benefit.
Disney's global retail sales reached $63 billion in fiscal 2026, retaining its title as the world's top brand licensor. The Asia-Pacific region saw record-high performance and growth, significantly boosted by hit content like Zootopia 2 and Toy Story 5.
Zsiga's 'Life Show' MINI figures are released at 89 yuan, selling out quickly with high social media engagement. The analysis suggests this price drop from 399 yuan validates the mass-market potential of high-interaction categories, potentially becoming a major category after plush toys.
The IBTE Indonesia International Toy and Art Toy Exhibition will be held from August 18 to 21, 2027, in Jakarta, covering 20,000 square meters with over 1,000 booths and expecting 40,000 international buyers. The event features categories like building blocks, blind boxes, figures, and anime merch, aiming to provide a B2B platform for Chinese companies to enter the Southeast Asian market.
On September 7, Pop Mart's IP YOYO launched a collaboration with Luckin Coffee featuring rich merchandise. YOYO, an in-house artist IP, generated nearly 500 million in revenue in the first half of 2026, with monthly sales exceeding 100 million.
China's designer toy market reached 168.9 billion yuan in 2024, yet over 155 stores closed in the first half of 2025, signaling a shift from overseas IP dependence to domestic content and market polarization.
NeeDoh squishies became a hard-to-find hit in 2026, driven by their stress-relief appeal and social media. However, a class action lawsuit alleges they can rupture and cause burns when exposed to heat, and counterfeit products are also spreading.
Funko filed an SEC 8-K on August 6, 2026, disclosing financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. The company stated it will participate in investor meetings, with presentation materials filed as exhibits.
Taobao released the '2026 New Opportunities in Designer Toys' report, noting the domestic market exceeds 250 billion yuan. It analyzes five potential sectors: blind boxes, game merch, TCG, large figures, and IP derivatives, suggesting brands leverage interest-based marketing and content operations.
Taobao released the '2026 Taotian Toy New Opportunities' report, indicating the domestic market exceeds 250 billion yuan. With 36 million post-00s consumers and a 25% penetration rate, the report segments the market into three circles and highlights five key growth sectors: gaming peripherals, 'Three Kinds' clothing, celebrity merch, models, and trading cards.
Taobao released the '2026 Taotian Designer Toys New Opportunities' report, indicating the domestic market exceeds 250 billion yuan with over 36 million Gen Z users. The report divides the market into three circles and analyzes five growth sectors: game esports peripherals, 'Three Pits' clothing, celebrity peripherals, models, and trading cards.
Top card companies like Kayou and Hitcard are shifting from card-only to diversified entertainment, expanding into toys, stationery, BJD, and TCG products to build diverse matrices.
Funko reported 5% sales growth and a record 44% gross margin in Q1, with a new 4-inch blind box series announced for San Diego Comic-Con and Bitty POP! expanding into Walmart.
Funko released its Q1 2026 financial results on May 7, 2026, along with investor meeting presentation materials.
Funko reported Q4 revenue of $273.1 million, down 7% year-on-year but beating expectations by 4.8%. Supported by partnerships with franchises like One Piece and Marvel, the company delivered two consecutive quarters of solid results, though its stock has fallen 26% to $3.18 since the report.
'Goods' refers to merchandise themed around anime and games, with a market size of 168.9 billion yuan in 2024. The rise of domestic IPs drives market development, but challenges like unstable supply chains and short-sighted IP operations persist.
Due to the US-Iran conflict and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, soaring crude oil prices have driven up plastic raw material costs. A Japanese anime merch company announced it will raise product prices. Some domestic merchants have delisted acrylic products or stopped production, and industry insiders worry this will affect summer convention preparation and participation.
New toy brand OHKU achieved nearly 10 million yuan in monthly revenue and over 50% gross margin within a year of founding, securing a 100 million yuan first-round funding in late 2025. With 80% of revenue from overseas markets and 4,000+ sales points globally, it focuses on its own IP 'Fuzzy Monster'.
Shanghai shop owners face high rents, fierce competition, and inventory pressure, using consignment models to share risks and leverage inbound tourism.
Sunsunny and Suplay have filed HK IPO applications, joining previously queued companies like Kayou and 52TOYS. Sunsunny ranks first in the affordable 3D IP toy market, while Suplay leads the non-battle card market.
Sunny submitted a prospectus to the HKEX on January 8, backed by Hillhouse Capital and targeting affordable designer toys priced between 3.9 and 19.9 yuan. Relying on licensed IPs, the company's gross margins are lower than peers like POP MART, and it plans to use IPO funds to strengthen its in-house IP capabilities.
52TOYS filed a prospectus with the HKEX, planning to raise funds for direct store construction and expansion in Southeast Asia, the US, and Japan. With 2024 revenue of 630 million yuan and a net loss of 122 million yuan, the company has a gross margin of 39.9% and relies heavily on licensed IPs, with core contracts expiring in 2026-2027.
Collectibles company Funko reported a $41 million loss in the second quarter, with shares plunging more than 35% in reaction to the poor earnings call.
The 'Dimensional Gala 2.0' at Jing'an Joy City sold over 10 million in 4 days, while POP MART's ZX created a sales record of over 500 million in 18 months. The article analyzes how Shanghai transforms anime merch consumption into a 'circle economy' model for physical retail through verticalization, differentiated positioning, and mixed formats.
'Goods' refers to anime and game merchandise. China's market size reached 168.9 billion yuan in 2024, up over 40%. Domestic IPs like Genshin Impact and Arknights drive consumption, with female buyers rising to 78%. Badges are the most popular item. Malls in Qingdao and Shanghai boost footfall by introducing 'Goods' stores, with Shanghai's Bailing ZX creating a 3-8x increase in daily traffic.
Takara Tomy Arts announced the ‘Himitsu no Aipuri Gameki Pouch’ on its e‑Group e‑commerce site, priced at ¥3,850 and available for reservation from 18:00 on July 4, 2025 until 23:59 on August 10. The shoulder‑type pouch mimics the arcade game’s monitor, features a transparent PVC window for displaying Aipuri cards or plushies, and includes interior and rear pockets for practical storage.
China's third-largest IP toy company 52TOYS filed a prospectus with the HKEX, reporting 630 million yuan in revenue and 32.01 million yuan in adjusted net profit in 2024, showing a significant gap with market leaders. The company seeks growth by expanding licensed IP and accelerating overseas expansion, but faces challenges including low gross margins, high channel dependency, and bottlenecks in developing its own IPs.
