The Impact of Pop Mart on Consumers’ Buying Ideas: Based on the Trillion-Yuan Trendy Toy Industry

Abstract

China’s trendy toy market has grown rapidly and is expected to reach 87.7 billion yuan by 2025. As a leading company in this industry, Pop Mart has changed how people view buying and collecting through its “IP Pyramid” business model. Instead of focusing on practical use, Pop Mart highlights emotional value, symbolic meaning, and long-term collection. This study uses a mixed research method, including academic research, industry cases, and survey data, to explore how Pop Mart influences consumer behavior. The results show three main changes: consumers shift from functional buying to symbolic and meaningful consumption, from individual purchasing to socially influenced consumption, and from short-term spending to long-term collecting. These trends are strongly connected to technology, cultural identity, and Generation Z. Although the trendy toy industry supports creativity and emotional satisfaction, it also creates risks such as irrational spending and financial pressure. This study helps explain modern consumption changes and offers suggestions for sustainable industry development.