Pop Mart, the designer toy brand known for characters like Labubu, Molly, Skullpanda, and Hirono, has officially entered the Philippines, marking its first major retail push in Metro Manila. The move reflects both the growing popularity of collectible art toys and the country’s strong mall-centric shopping culture.
The brand first arrived through a pop-up store at SM Mall of Asia, which opened on November 2, 2024, at the North Entertainment Mall in Pasay City. Originally planned as a limited-time installation, the store continued to draw steady crowds and was later re-opened for additional runs. This extended presence shows that interest in Pop Mart extends beyond a simple trend.
For Filipino consumers, the arrival of an official Pop Mart space has made collecting more accessible. Before this, many fans relied on overseas orders, pasabuy services, or third-party sellers, often at higher prices and with unclear authenticity. Having a physical, branded store now offers a clearer and more trustworthy way to buy blind boxes and limited releases.
The core of Pop Mart’s appeal lies in its blind box format, where each box contains a random figure from a themed series. This creates a sense of surprise and encourages repeat visits, especially among collectors who want to complete full sets or find rare “secret” variants.
After the success of the SM Mall of Asia pop-up, Pop Mart expanded through additional short-term installations. A Valentine’s-themed pop-up opened at SM Makati in February 2025, while a “Coffee Factory”-style concept was launched at SM North EDSA in December 2025. These temporary setups kept the brand visible across different parts of Metro Manila and helped the company test local preferences.
The brand’s long-term commitment became clear with the opening of permanent stores. Its first official flagship in the Philippines opened on December 19, 2025, at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City (Level 2, Building A). Covering about 300 square meters, the space offers an immersive shopping experience, with expanded product lines and exclusive releases. The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew celebrity collectors including Marian Rivera, Pauleen Luna, Jed Madela, and Hero Angeles, alongside SM Malls president Steven Tan.
A second permanent location followed on January 16, 2026, at SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Spanning 164 square meters, this store is smaller than the Megamall flagship but focuses on curated displays and popular series such as SKULLPANDA, catering to both dedicated collectors and casual shoppers exploring the trend for the first time.
Pop Mart’s expansion continued with a third official store at SM North EDSA, which opened around Valentine’s Day in February 2026. The opening replaced the earlier “Coffee Factory” pop-up at the same mall and featured the character Twinkle Twinkle, timed to the season’s gifting theme.
Together, these openings signal that Pop Mart views the Philippines as a key market in its Southeast Asia expansion. The shift from temporary pop-ups to three permanent retail spaces in under two months suggests strong and consistent demand.
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