Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
The craze for the plush Chinese toy Labubu has boosted the careers of so-called toy doctors in China.
A Shanghai “toy doctor” nicknamed Heartman said he had fixed 100 Labubu toys in the last few weeks and had to ask his wife to help and move to a bigger studio.
He said repairs were 10 per cent of the price of the toy, which is considered fair because an ordinary Labubu toy retails at 99 yuan (HK$108 or US$14).
Last year, The Monsters became Pop Mart’s most popular series, seeing a 726.6 per cent increase in revenue that reached 3.04 billion yuan.
One of the reasons behind the craze, according to Pop Mart’s investor Wei Zhe, is the toy’s portability.
This portability also means the toys are subject to more injuries.
Many people shared tips on how to fix scratches and how to make its fur as shiny as new on mainland social media.
Toy doctors have grown in popularity in recent years by repairing vintage versions of the toys.
Some with a background in the fine arts also quit their jobs to become a full-time toy doctor.
