Chinese toymaker Pop Mart heads to London marking Europe expansion plans

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart has opened its first store in the UK, making its expansion plan in Europe. Located at Shaftesbury Avenue, central London, the store officially welcomed customers from 20 January. According to the brand, Skullpanda, Dimoo, Pucky, and Hirono are the most popular series. To celebrate the opening of its UK operation, Pop Mart will launch its latest product Skullpanda Dark Maids and Mega collection 1000% Space Molly x Meilin • Cipher.

The brand also reached out to customers in London in the past. Last year, it participated in MCM London Comic Con and DesignerCon UK, enabling customers in the capital of the UK to know more about the brand. Currently, Pop Mart's footprint spans 23 countries and regions, including South Korea, Japan, the US, Canada, Singapore, and the UK. Looking ahead, Pop Mart said it will further expand to more markets and bring the joy of toys to the world.

However, in a recent campaign with KFC in China, the brand faced criticism for its collaboration was targeted by a consumer rights group in China. The China Consumers Association urged the public to boycott KFC China's recent collaboration with toymaker Pop Mart, which offers dolls after customers buy blind box meals. In a statement, the China Consumers Association said using limited-edition blind box sales to induce and condone consumers' irrational and excessive purchase of meal sets goes against public order, good customs and the spirit of the law.

It added that the association advocates that consumers actively establish a correct consumption idea, enhance their awareness of being frugal, practice anti-food waste, choose a simple, moderate, green and low-carbon lifestyle. Customers should also take on the social responsibility of saving resources and protecting the environment, according to the association.

Also, in mid-2021, Pop Mart apologised after receiving widespread anger from the public as it asked female job applicants about their plans to have children, and if so, when. This question sparked a public outcry on Weibo with the accusation of making money from women while exploiting them. Netizens on Weibo said that employers would worry about how a female employee can balance her life and work after giving birth to two or three children.

In response to the public anger, Pop Mart said some of its branches did not follow internal policies when asking this question. On its official Weibo account, the HK-listed Pop Mart said, "As a company whose consumers are majority-female, we always respect women very much."

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