In 2024, Lisa BLACKPINK posted a photo with Labubu Macaron on Instagram, causing the "mystery box" doll trend from POP MART to explode across Thailand. To this day, people queue up at Central World every month to get new Pop Mart mystery boxes. #mysterybox has become a hashtag with almost 1 million posts on TikTok.
The question is — how can your business leverage this trend? You don't need to sell dolls. Just incorporating the "mystery box excitement mechanism" into your marketing can be effective. In this article, the Octopus team has compiled 7 ideas for mystery box/lucky draw equipment that can be used for events, campaigns, and shop decoration, along with suitable materials for production.
Trend fact — POP MART started using "mystery boxes" in 2016 due to an excess of toy stock. They put items into boxes without revealing what was inside; you had to open it to find out. As a result, customers paid more for the "thrill of anticipation," and sales grew nearly 100-fold in 10 years. This mechanism is called "Variable Reward" and can be applied to any business.
6 Production-Ready Equipment for Your Campaign
Mystery Box / Lucky Draw Box
ACRYLIC LUCKY DRAW BOX · With hand slot
Concept: Clear acrylic box (3-5mm) with a hand slot on the top lid + brand logo printing + filled with coupons · tickets · gifts · prize cards for customers to draw.
Suitable for: Store opening events · Company anniversaries · Roadshows · Conferences · Birthday promotions.
Die-cut Standee Shaped Like a Mystery Box
POP-UP STANDEE · Die-cut foam board
Concept: Die-cut foam board standee shaped like a mystery box, 60-150 cm tall + stand + printed with "Win a mystery box - Purchase over ฿xxx" · Place at the storefront to attract attention.
Suitable for: Restaurants · Cafes · Clothing stores · Cosmetic stores · Brand activation events.
Display Case for Collectors
ACRYLIC DISPLAY + LED · For collecting dolls
Concept: Acrylic display case (3-5mm) clear on 4 sides + LED strip on top + 3-4 shelves + foamboard base — for displaying collectible Art Toys / Figurines / Funko Pops.
Suitable for: B2C sales to Pop Mart / Funko / Sonny Angel collectors · Art Toy stores · Bedroom decoration · Office display.
Mystery Gift Box
CUSTOM PRINT BOX · KONICA HC + DIECUT
Concept: Box printed with Konica High Chroma high-resolution · Unique designs for each box · Contains various mixed products unknown to the customer before opening.
Suitable for: Subscription boxes · Beauty boxes · Snack boxes · Corporate gifts · Wedding gifts · Anniversary bundles.
POSM "Win a Mystery Box" + QR Lucky Draw
SHOP COUNTER SIGN · Sticker + Sign
Concept: Standee/acrylic sign + QR Code for a Lucky Draw app (Wheel of Names · Gleam · Whayl) — Customers scan and win prizes themselves without needing a physical box.
Suitable for: Small shops that don't want to prepare items themselves · Promotional periods for restaurants · Convenience stores · Payment counters.
Die-cut Corrugated Box for Event Giveaways
CORRUGATED GIFT BOX · Foam board/PP
Concept: Corrugated/PP Board box in cube/hexagon shape + vibrant colors + foldable — For giveaways at concerts, running events, workshops · Customers receive a box without knowing what's inside.
Suitable for: Goodie bags · Welcome kits · Speaker gifts · Workshop materials · Event activation.
7Simulated Gashapon Machine — For Photos and Booth Decoration
⚠️ Important Note: Octopus can only create the "gashapon machine frame" for photos and decoration — it is not a machine that dispenses capsules for coins. Used for Photo Zones at exhibitions · POP UP Booths · Pop Mart themed store decoration.
Concept: Foamboard/acrylic frame in the shape of a gashapon machine, 1.2-1.8m tall + printed design + visible simulated capsules in the upper part — No coin-operated mechanism.
Used for: Event Photo Zones · Anime/Comicon booths · Japanese-themed store decoration · Content background · Pop-up displays in malls.
How to Start — 3 Easy Steps
1. Talk to the Octopus team via LINE @octopusdesign — Send reference images of what you want + state your budget + desired usage period · 2. The team will provide a mockup + price within 1-2 days · 3. Approve and produce — General work 3-5 days · Custom acrylic boxes 7-10 days · Photo prop cabinets 10-14 days.
Team's perspective — Before ordering "mystery boxes" for your campaign, try to answer these 3 questions: (1) What will customers do to get the prize (purchase over ฿xxx? Follow IG? Tag friends?) · (2) What are the prizes inside the box (physical items? coupons? discounts?) · (3) Is it for single use or reusable? — The answers to these 3 questions will help you choose which of the 7 ideas above is best for you.
Start making mystery boxes for your campaign
Send references + budget. Our team will provide an estimate within 1 day · We can produce all custom sizes according to your brand · Use them in your next campaign immediately.
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