Latest news with #Smiskis
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: The craze behind blind boxes
Blind boxes have existed for decades. Whether it be trinkets in Kinder Surprise Eggs, keychains inside bright colored plastic balls from coin slot machines, or action figures in the bottom of a Happy Meal box, blind boxes were a staple in many childhoods. However, it seems as though blind boxes have reemerged in teenage and even middle-aged trends with the rise of Sonny Angels, Smiskis, Labubus, and more. What started as an innocent excitement over unboxing a small keychain or trinket has morphed into an obsession with collecting and opening more and more figurines that are notably much more costly than the surprise toys from our childhood years. According to Yue Wang, an assistant professor at USC, with these blind boxes averaging about 20-30 US dollars, it is no wonder why Popmart, a popular China-based figurine-selling company, has a net worth of approximately $22.7 billion. But what about these blind boxes causes people to spend hundreds of dollars on toys? One prominent factor is the role of human curiosity. The images of the different versions of a toy that a consumer can receive add to the experience of mystery and suspense when revealing what is inside. According to consumer psychologist Xiyun Gong, this appeal of mystery stimulates interest, and curiosity influences a consumer's incentive to buy the blind box. However, curiosity alone does not cause a global trend. In addition to blind boxes being incredibly intriguing, they have also become incredibly popular. Across all platforms of social media, you can watch thousands of videos of people unboxing their surprise figurine. With all of these popular influencers unboxing their new keychains, viewers see the online presences that they look up to all with the same accessory on their purses and bags. After watching a countless number of people form a community over their matching trinkets, it is no wonder that the Vice President of the merchandising company Team SCG referred to these blind boxes as 'not just a plush, [but] a status symbol.' Consequently, because of these connotations of blind boxes, they are not only used for one's own pleasure, but also to satisfy a desire to fit into society. Finally, the designs themselves of Smiskis, Sonny Angels, Skull Pandas, etc. are also attractive as they are a part of what is known as the 'cute market.' Started in the world of kawaii and Japanese culture, many characters such as Sanrio, Pokemon, and Hello Kitty are coveted for their cute faces and designs – and the new wave of blind boxes is no different. Since people find the blank faces of smiskis and the different themed head pieces of sonny angels so adorable, they bring out one's 'inner child,' or the positive, nostalgic emotions and comfort of childhood. This unleashing of the 'inner child' can bring about even more obsessive and emotional attachment to these blind boxes. My own mother has fallen deep into the rabbit hole of blind box nostalgia, even going so far as to dress up her labubu in different outfits depending on which purse she chooses to clip it on for the day. These behaviors may seem completely acceptable to some, even fun or entertaining. However, others view it as embarrassing and look down upon blind box consumers. Whichever way a person falls on this opinion, it is important to note that all good things should be done in moderation. It is true that too much consumerism of a singular merchandise can lead to 'fast fashion' and the discarding of these toys when a person grows tired of them, or the trend dies out. But, blind boxes can genuinely give a person an outlet to receive positive emotions linked with their curiosity and childlike innocence. Kanesaka said that blind boxes are able to ' provide a small way to introduce magic into the ordinary and [allow people] to find community through sharing, trading, and displaying them with other people.' With this quote in mind, the appeal can be seen as understandable. Still, it is wise to tread lightly when interested in the world of blind boxes, before spending too much on one good thing. Related
Buzz Feed
09-08-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
32 Best Organizers To Eliminate Clutter
A stackable, handled storage container with small compartments for all your bits and bobs. Sort Lego bricks by color, finally consolidate your bead collection, and keep your washi tape safe and scannable. Game board storage cases so you can ditch the cardboard boxes in favor of slim, easy-to-stack organizers. The transparent plastic and built-in handle make it easy to take multiple games while traveling — now you can pack Codenames *and* Monopoly. A pack of 12 shoe storage boxes, which snap together so you can finally see your floor again. Your guests will appreciate not having to climb over your pile of sneakers to get inside, your boots will appreciate not being squished into pancakes, and you'll appreciate actually being able to see all the pairs in your collection. Or a set of Shoe Slotz that lets you stack shoes on top of each other, meaning you can DOUBLE your storage space. In the words of Kelly, let's get some shoes. A set of storage bags to make proper use out of your under-bed space. They're ideal for out-of-season clothing, books, extra shoes, or anything else you don't need now but might need soonish. A five-tier document tray so you can sort through that intimidating mountain of paper on your desk. Tax docs, receipts, and fanmail (soon to arrive for your amazing organization skills) should probably all get their own sections. And the trays slide out so you can grab what you need with ease. A 5.5-foot tall curio cabinet made with rolled steel and tempered glass that will be the perfect home for all your books and knickknacks. Suddenly, your heap of plush toys will look less like clutter and more like a valuable collection. A bamboo cabinet in two styles (counter and wall mount) more than happy to obscure your kitchen clutter from prying eyes. The fluted glass is just opaque enough to hide your collection of mason jar tops and mostly forgotten kitchen tools. Itty-bitty collapsible storage crates in soothing pastel colors to give your knickknacks the vinyl record treatment. Listen, you don't have to throw away your mountain of pilfered condiment packets, but they'd look a lot nicer in one of these. A set of Command spray bottle hangers to stick to the inside of a cabinet door for easy storage, so you can grab the multi-cleaner *the second* you hear food hit the floor. A four-tier stair organizer perfect for perfume bottles, figurines, snow globes, or whatever else is currently in need of a permanent home. Whatever you display, it'll look a lot better like this than strewn across your dresser. A sturdy car organizer that'll make you feel a little better about all the random junk rolling around your car. Once everything is neatly organized, it will feel like it belongs there. Noooo, that's not a bottle of laundry detergent I forgot to bring inside — it's there for emergencies on road trips. 🙂↕️ An apartment-like shelf to house your many Smiskis when they're not hiding in various nooks and crannies. Now that they're all together, you can strategically place a black light bar or two for a 24/7 glow show. A shower caddy shelf for the corner of your bathroom or shower stall because every inch of your home deserves multi-level storage options. The cute little soap dish is honestly enough to sell me on this, tbh! A dust-free sectioned tray that'll help you sort your jewelry and various baubles, encouraging you to wear more than the same pair of earrings every day. Remember those gold studs your grandma gave you? Now you can actually find them! A slender storage cabinet you can sneak into the little space next to the toilet. Cleaning supplies, extra toilet paper, and reading materials are now conveniently within reach! An under-cabinet drawer that'll bring order to whatever cabinet you've been avoiding lately. Grabbing a sponge will now be a two-second activity instead of a 15-minute scavenger hunt. Under-cabinet containers you can install in areas that were previously considered at capacity. They maximize space under sinks, in pantries, and beneath shelves, meaning you can finally fit even more stuff in your home! The jars are airtight and self-seal when you put them back, so you can store anything from coffee beans to cotton swabs in them. A wallet holder that hooks under your closet shelf and provides a structured place for your favorite pouches to live. While this is made for wallets, there's no need to limit yourself! Use it for snacks, stationery, accessories, sandwich bag boxes, etc. A thin rolling shelf to slip in that weird space between your fridge and cabinets. Or between your laundry machine and the wall. Or in the garage next to your car. Wherever you have a tiny sliver of unused space. A silverware sorter that takes up very little space in your drawer but can fit up to 24 pieces of cutlery. With the extra space, the possibilities are endless. Maybe it's time for a novelty monstera slotted spoon? A set of airtight food storage containers so you can ditch all the ripped cardboard and leaky flour bags you have in the cabinet right now. Speaking as someone who recently dealt with a pantry moth problem, airtight storage is the way to go. A plastic bag dispenser that neatly fits in your drawer so you don't have to battle with five crushed cardboard boxes. You can store this horizontally in a drawer or get fancy and mount it vertically in a cabinet. A tea bag organizer for avid tea drinkers who are sick of getting hit with an avalanche of boxes every time they open their cupboard. This slim device can fit up to 120 standard-sized bags. An interlocking storage organization set that lets you harness the power of CUBES. Assemble them in whatever grid works best for your closet. The set comes with a little rubber mallet so you can feel like Bob the Builder while creating your ideal storage unit. A car seat storage bag so everything you need is in one place instead of rolling around under the seats. Your passengers will finally have leg room AND a cold drink because this thing has an insulated cooler pocket. A CovoBox made from reclaimed books and sustainable wood that's hollow on the inside, so you can hide your router, cable box, or other unsightly wires. Now you can look neat *and* well-read. An over-the-cabinet-door holder so you can fit even more cooking sheets, cutting boards, and other flat kitchen items in your kitchen. A revolving hardwood organizer for ties, necklaces, lanyards, or other easy-to-hang items. You can hold up to 24 items, so the sky's the limit here. Maybe I'll start a bowtie collection for my dog? Clear drawer organizers to turn your junk drawer into just a normal drawer where you actually find stuff. Oh, you need a rubber band? Here you go. A bottle opener? No problem. A genius T-shirt roll holder that'll keep all your shirts tidy, easily accessible, and out of your drawers (meaning more space for more clothing). And a *solid* wood* cube organizer to store books, toys, clothing, records, or other items in need of a home. The 3x5 pine wood shelving is compatible with most square bins and will last a heck of a lot longer than the particle board unit you're rocking with now.
CNA
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Life-sized Smiski to make appearance at Kinokuniya Takashimaya
Smiskis are all the rage right now – tiny, glow-in-the-dark collectible figurines from Japan that have charmed fans with their unique human-like poses. Whether it's reading, doing yoga, meditating, or cheekily hanging off your phone (à la the popular Sonny Angel), collectors have accumulated shelves worth of these little figures, making their own Smiski set-ups. Now, you can take your obsession to the next level. A life-sized Smiski will be at bookstore Kinokuniya's main outlet in Takashimaya on Saturday (Jul 19) from 2.30pm to 5pm. You can grab a photo with it during one of three photo sessions. There's a session from 2.30pm to 3pm, another from 3.30pm to 4pm, and the last one is from 4.30pm to 5pm. Aside from meeting the giant blank-faced creature, fans who purchase two or more Smiski items during the fan meet will be able to redeem a Smiski-themed masking tape, while those who purchase five or more Smiski items can redeem a Smiski drawstring bag. Offers are while stocks last. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Books Kinokuniya 🇸🇬 (@kinokuniya_singapore)
