IP-driven companies can transcend business cycles to achieve longevity: Pop Mart founder

Wang Ning, founder and CEO of Pop Mart, China's leading designer toy company, said an IP-driven company can transcend business cycles and achieve longevity if it is built around a deeply recognized intellectual property.

In a recent interview with the China Central Television, Wang also said his company is committed to long-term operations, and iconic IPs like Labubu still have immense untapped value.

Labubu, a quirky monster-faced doll whose intellectual property is owned by Pop Mart, has taken the world by storm this year, captivating fans across generations and even earning admiration from global celebrities such as football legend David Beckham and American music icon Rihanna.

Despite its meteoric rise, some observers question whether Labubu and Molly, another flagship Pop Mart character, can remain popular over time, or whether they will eventually be put into drawers and forgotten like past fads.

Wang is optimistic and confident as he sees enduring value in widely acknowledged IPs.

"I've just returned from Europe, and whether in China or around the world, you see everyone -- from children to elderly people -- pointing at this character and saying, 'Hey, that's Labubu!' I think that represents its tremendous value. Internally, we've been saying it feels like we've discovered a gold mine," said Wang.

"The value of an IP lies in being recognizable -- when you see it, you know it. When even a child can look at it and say, 'That's Labubu', that's when its real value begins. This value will grow alongside that child throughout their entire life. I think a truly great IP company should focus on how to properly operate and nurture the IP itself," he said.

Wang stressed that a temporary lull in public discussion does not diminish an IP's worth. He pointed to enduring global icons like Mickey Mouse, Pikachu, and Hello Kitty as proof that cultural relevance can transcend cycles of popularity.

Even if people aren't talking about them every day, these IPs still carry enormous value, he said.

He noted that while Pop Mart is still a young company -- founded just 15 years ago -- it is built on principles of respecting time and embracing long-term vision.

"The defining feature of an IP-driven company is that once you successfully cultivate a few outstanding IPs, even if the business experiences ups and downs, I truly believe such companies can be long-lasting. Look at Hello Kitty, it's already had a history of 50 to 60 years. Disney has been around for over a century. There may be peaks and valleys along the way, but the most compelling value of an IP is its ability to transcend business cycles. Our team is still young, and that gives us plenty of patience. We hope to build something that endures," said Wang.

IP-driven companies can transcend business cycles to achieve longevity: Pop Mart founder

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media