2025’s viral toy proves hard to find in Sioux Falls

They’re more quirky than cute.

Part plush toy, part monster, and entirely hard to find — at least if you’re looking for the real thing at retail price.

You won’t find it in Sioux Falls when it comes to Labubu, a line of collectible plush toy monster elves designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung.

But you will find the next best thing at one place in The Empire Mall — Wonderland, where owner Sinan Taskin has a selection of authentic Labubu for sale behind the register and replicas of the toy for sale on the floor.

“Since they’re collectible, they send a minimal amount, and they can’t keep up, so they’re always out of stock,” said Taskin, who discovered the toy early this year.

Labubu was licensed by China-based Pop Mart in 2019. The toy is sold in a “blind box” — buy it at retail beginning at $27.99, but you won’t know which one is inside until you open it.

Taskin sells his authentic Labubu toys for $69, which he describes as “very close” to his cost. The only retail stores for Pop Mart are in a handful of major U.S. cities at this point. Otherwise, the only way to buy from the manufacturer is online — if you can find product.

Taskin sells the replicas for $19.

“If I open the box and put them side by side, you can’t tell,” he said. “(Customers) always ask, and I say they’re not (real), but I have the original, and they say: ‘You know what? My kid is going to trash it anyway.'”

He also sells a line of clothing and accessories for the toys, which, admittedly are not the cutest thing you’ve probably ever seen.

“These days kids are kind of weird a little bit. They like monsters and stuff,” Taskin said. “These are not that cute. They’re a little scary but at the same time cute, and kids like those toys.”

About once a week, he gets a dozen authentic ones.

“And we have three or four customers every week buying the originals who are collecting them,” he said.

People constantly are coming into the store asking about them.

“It’s beneficial,” Taskin said. “For me, it’s free marketing.”