Shopping

The shop where people queue OVERNIGHT for viral toys is coming to Trafford Centre

Labubu is about to make me la-bankrupt.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 9th May 2025

There’s a viral shop in Manchester where people queue for hours to get their hands on viral toys, and it’s now making its way to the Trafford Centre.

After already taking Manchester by storm when it initially opened back in March this year, viral toy shop Pop Mart now has its sights set on another new spot in one of the North West’s most iconic and popular shopping malls.

Known for stocking all the latest viral collectable crazes, Pop Mart is set to open its second Manchester site at none other than the Trafford Centre (TC) and will definitely bring in the same queues as its Market Street predecessor.

This comes in line with the announcement of a huge retail takeover from clothing giants Bershka, who are teaming up with Pull & Bear and Zara at TC in the old M&S unit.

The Chinese toy and collectable shop has become in high demand for stocking just one certain toy character: Labubu

This cheeky toy character is quite a marmite topic for some, with many finding the plush toys to be cute and cuddly, while others deem Labubu ‘monsters’ to be a bit creepy and off-putting.

Are we pulling from an internal office debate? Maybe…

Regardless, Labubu are widely recognisable around the world, famed for their bunny-like ears and big, wide eyes; soft, shiny fur and, most notably, a large smile with their teeth on display.

It seems everyone is after one of these Labubu character toys, with Mancs making their commute to work through the city centre, startled by the sheer length of the queues at Pop Mart.

There's a huge amount of Labubu toy characters available to collect.
There’s a huge amount of Labubu characters to collect.
Labubu has blown up online and will now be stocked in two Manchester Pop Mart location.
Labubu has blown up online and will now be stocked across two Pop Mart locations across Greater Manchester.
Credit: Pop Mart

One social media user even commented, “I went past on the tram at 7.30 this morning and there were half a dozen people in the queue already!”

Trends may come and go, but it seems this latest viral craze is here to stay as it’s now having a second resurgence thanks to lots of celebrity endorsements, including Love Island star Olivia Attwood.

Their Market St corner has lots to offer, including blind boxes, mini figurines, accessories and, of course, those infamous Labubu toys.

We’re sure the Trafford Centre venue will be just as healthily stocked.

At present, there’s no official opening date for Pop Mart’s Trafford Centre store besides the ‘Coming Soon’ signage outside the shop front, but we’re sure it won’t be too long before you can get your next Labubu fix – we wouldn’t be surprised to see even more Greater Manchester locations follow.

@zizi68277 #labubu #popmart #popmartblindbox #fyp #viral #viralgirl #viral #delulu ♬ original sound – Labubu

Are you part of the Pop Mart craze or, more importantly, what do you make of the Labubu trend?

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Shopping

Opening date for Britain’s first standalone Primark Home store in Manchester announced

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Primark Home

The opening date of Britain’s first standalone Primark Home store here in Manchester has been announced.

In case you hadn’t heard, it was announced earlier last month that our region had been chosen as the first place to get a dedicated Primark Home store.

Following the opening of its debut Home location in Belfast, Primark went on to confirm that the home of its first ever Great Britain site will be here in Greater Manchester – arriving at the popular Trafford Palazzo this summer.

The 11,900 sq ft, two-floor store will bring together the very best of Primark’s interiors offering, all under one roof.

Manchester shoppers can discover an expanded range of homeware and lifestyle essentials to give their home the glow-up it deserves, including high-quality essentials like cotton bedding and towels, soft furnishings, small furniture, and quirky ceramics.

The new store will feature Primark’s recently-launched ‘Edit’ – an elevated collection of home products such as chic tableware, plush towels, and luxury home fragrances.

It will also include a dedicated Travel Shop to help customers get holiday-ready all year round, with a range of stylish and practical travel essentials.

Primark is opening its first dedicated Home store in Manchester this summer / Credit: Primark Corporate

The addition of the new Primark Home at Trafford Palazzo doesn’t mean that any of the other Primark shops across Greater Manchester will be going anywhere though, so shoppers can still continue to get their Primark fix at the main Trafford Palazzo store, as well as on Market Street in Manchester city centre, and right through to the boroughs in places like Bolton, Oldham, Bury, and Wigan.

“The opening of Primark Home at Trafford Palazzo is an incredibly exciting moment for us,” commented Mark Whittaker, who is the Managing Director at Peel Retail and Leisure. 

“Not only because we are the first destination in Great Britain to do so, but the opening is going to be adding a leading concept to our already unique mixture of immersive shopping and leisure experiences.

“Primark Home will have something for everyone, and we look forward to the store opening in summer.”

The store will bring together the very best of Primark’s interiors offering, all under one roof / Credit: Primark Corporate

Ceara Doyle, who is the Store Manager at Primark Trafford Palazzo, added: “It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing the Primark Home concept to Trafford, and I know there’s already lots of anticipation locally for opening day.

“We’re busy working behind the scenes to bring the new space to life, alongside a refresh of our main Trafford store, and we can’t wait to welcome shoppers through the doors.”

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Primark Home store will officially be opening down at Trafford Palazzo on Friday 29 August, and launch day plans are set to be announced it due course so keep your eyes peeled.

Featured Image – Primark Corporate

Shopping

Cult favourite clothing brand Clints has dropped the lineup for the first-ever music festival

Danny Jones Danny Jones CLINTS streetwear festival Manchester info

Popular Manchester street and footwear brand, Clints Inc., has now revealed the lineup for its first-ever music and culture festival to mark five whole years in fashion – and it’s looking big.

The highly sought-after clothing and sneaker make started out from a bedroom in Moston and is now a premium label in British urban, skating, UK grime and hip-hop culture, having been worn by many famous names and welcoming even more through the door of their Deansgate shop.

Located in the ABC Buildings on Quay Street next to Spinningfields, the flagship Clints store opened back in 2022 and is much more than a place to buy some new drip: it’s a place that showcases art, music, and a whole sub-sect of shopping beyond just skate silhouettes and trendy trainers.

As hack as it might sound to some, wearing this brand comes along with immersing yourself in the wider style and scene; the very same scene being celebrated in tandem with their fifth birthday.

Up until recently, details were still scarce, but now the debut Clints Fest lineup has dropped, and there are some big names on board.

Set to take place at Barton Aerodrome, a.k.a. City Airport, over in Eccles, the live performers confirmed for 2025 span multiple genres, spotlighting both music veterans and up-and-coming artists from all over.

Legendary DJ, producer and MC Mike Skinner – most famously for his music with The Streets – tops the bill, alongside Tottenham-born rapper and grime artist, Chip (formerly known as ‘Chipmunk’).

There’s plenty of local love on show too, with Manchester R’n’B, jazz and soul singer, Victoria Jane, also set to perform, among many other acts from around the region and beyond.

Other names include the equally soulful hip-hop and rap star, Kofi Stone, as well as fellow Manc and rising DJ, Sammy V, plus plenty more.

On the launch of the event, Founder Junior Clint said: “We’ve built Clints on the back of our supporters embracing the DIY spirit. This festival is the ultimate expression of that ethos. Housing both music legends with upcoming artists is our ambition with Clints Fest, and we can’t wait to deliver it.”

mike skinner
Mike Skinner
who is playing clints fest 2025?
Chip, formerly known as Chipmunk
Credit: Simon Crompton Reid/John V Edwards (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clints Fest (the inaugural one, at that) will take place on Saturday, 6 September, over in the Salford suburb of Barton-upon-Irwell, kicking off from 12pm and wrapping up around 10:30pm. 

You can expect the festival to be packed to the rafters with die-hard followers of all things Clints and streetwear; here’s hoping this is just the first of many.

While the pre-sale and the first phase window for early access have both fully sold out, the second phase has now gone live, with general admission tickets available from £45.

You can grab yours HERE.

clints manchester shop
clints inc.
manchester streetwear
Credit: The Manc Group

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/CLINTS Inc (via Instagram)

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