Apple CEO Tim Cook recently made headlines when his surprise visit to a trendy exhibition caused a major market reaction. The Tim Cook Pop Mart Labubu meeting took place in Shanghai on Monday, October 13, where Cook visited “The Monsters 10th Anniversary Exhibition” hosted by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart. His visit, the first stop on his China tour, signaled a major acknowledgment of local pop culture IP, demonstrating Apple’s continued efforts to engage with the world’s second-largest market.
The direct result of the high-profile visit was a sharp rise in the toymaker’s valuation. Pop Mart shares (HK:9992) in Hong Kong soared by as much as 6.1% in early Tuesday trading, hitting a two-month high on the news of the Tim Cook Pop Mart Labubu connection. The dramatic stock surge underscores the viral marketing power generated whenever Cook highlights a local Chinese brand, sparking immediate investor speculation about potential future collaborations.
During the visit, Cook interacted with Pop Mart founder Wang Ning and Labubu creator Kasing Lung. Lung demonstrated how he sketches the character using an iPad Pro, seamlessly merging the trending collectible toy world with Apple’s technology. Cook also received a custom Labubu doll that was notably clutching an iPhone, a symbolic gesture cementing the ties between the tech giant and the popular blind-box toy phenomenon.
The engagement with the creator of Labubu, a toy that has generated significant global buzz, reflects Apple’s strategic push to deepen emotional and cultural connections with Chinese consumers. As the company prepares for the launch of its new iPhone Air, the highly publicized Tim Cook Pop Mart Labubu stop proves that cultural relevance remains a key component of its business strategy in Asia.
