Lipstick theory argues that, in times of economic uncertainty and recession, consumers prefer to buy small luxuries than to make great expensive shopping.
The Labues are everywhere – thumbnails, accessories and even pop character from the character of pop Mart can be found there. What I probably didn’t know is that the collectible has even arrived in the economy. And the lipstickcoined in 1998 by economist Juliet Schor, who describes moments of recession from the purchase of small luxuries.
According to the hypothesis, when the economy is not going well, consumers stop making expensive shopping, such as international trips or cars and houses, and start to spend the little money they have with small pleasuresnot too expensive. This was first identified in the increase in luxury lipstick sales, which originated the name – but the theory can also be applied to the Labus.
Lipstick effect and toil
Much has already been theorized to try to explain the labubus fever, with psychologists suggesting a “Infantilization” of adult fashions or the appeal of the “ugly but beautiful”, as well as the nostalgia of the collectible and the unknown appearance of the blind box. The lipstick effect seeks a deeper economic reason.
Pop Mart cliffs cost between 20 and 40 euros in the most traditional editions, an affordable price compared to luxury designers accessories, technological devices of the latest model or sports cars. Other economists studied the lipstick effect and saw a correlation between the purchase of small pleasures and the Feeling of control and self -esteem by consumers. In addition, the buying of the cliffs is also a way for the buyer to show that he is participating in the culture of the moment, a symbol of belonging.
There are those who claim that, then, the viralization of Labus and other products such as Bobbie Goods and Sonny Angels is a prophetic event, an indicator that the recession is coming, but the relationship between the facts is probably the opposite: economic uncertainty leads to the viralization of such products.
