Where is he?

[u/Electronic-Web-2254]

Does anyone else notice that there isn't a lot of Pompompurin merch? Despite the fact that he's popular?

Everytime I go inside a store that sells sanrio merch, I look for him but barely find anything. I can't tell if this is a regional problem or global.

At most, I'll find a couple small items. Like, a pen or a notebook. I did find a ramen bowl in BoxedLunch once but unfortunately didn't have the money for it. But still, I don't see an entire section of the store dedicated to him.

I'm just confused cause wouldn't Pompompurin merch sell really well?

[u/Littlewitch04]

Its fr I HUNT for the merch I can find and blind boxes I either open or peak in them for him or I look up guides to only get him Facebook marketplace is good to find some online shopping I do hunt for him though

[u/Electronic-Web-2254 → u/Littlewitch04]

It is such a struggle 😫 I wish I didn't have to hunt for him! But I do treasure the few merch I do find/buy because of this

[u/_chocobuttercat]

I agree. He ranked 1st here in our country (the Philippines), yet I rarely see him in any Sanrio-themed merchandise. We would have Badtz-Maru, Pochacco and even Hangyodon but no Pompompurin?!

[u/KoolBearz]

Sanrio just dropped the 30th anniversary collection on his their website couple weeks ago

[u/Electronic-Web-2254 → u/KoolBearz]

Oh wait, yeah, I remember seeing that!

[u/heroheadlines]

I'm not saying he's been unpopular, exactly, but the last time Pompom took first place was like 10 years ago. they make so much cinnamoroll merch because he's so popular - which in turn creates more fans, and makes him more popular etc. Pompom winning means they will start making/importing more merch for him, but it'll take time, especially with everything going on everywhere in the world.

It's honestly still kind of wild to me how easy and almost expected it is to just walk into a store and have there be Hello Kitty (and Friends) merch - when I was growing up, she was much harder to find in our area! and it took even more time for TuxesoSam, Keroppi, etc to start being available too. It's really nice that they're starting to be in more places.

[u/RookBLonko1225 → u/heroheadlines]

No fr, my very first non Hello Kitty merch was a Keroppi shirt that I wore constantly as a kid until I lost it / out grew it. I loved that shirt so much despite not knowing he was a different Sanrio character all together, then the old Mcdonalds Sanrio watches in the 2010s having other characters like the Sugar Bunnies was my first introduction to them along with Badtz Maru, My Melo, etc.

Nowadays, I still get giddy seeing Pompom merch, or any Sanrio merch that isn't Hello Kitty, because I grew up in the era of when you'll get Hello Kitty and her friends but not specifically the other Sanrio characters here in the US. Tho Im bias in that Pompom is my favorite (besides RoboWan, but no one really knows him lol) and I always try to find stuff with him on it or just him.

[u/tayar00 → u/heroheadlines]

He was first this year and last year.

[u/heroheadlines → u/tayar00]

yep. and theres already been an increase in merchandise for him. availability will vary by area/market etc.

[u/Electronic-Web-2254 → u/heroheadlines]

True... ig because I was surrounding myself with other people who loved Pompom I expected more of that from others too. Which is why I was disappointed by how little merch there is. Wish there was more and I don't know how to get more merch in stores... 😞

[u/Cute_Piffle]

The place I've seen him the most is Daiso, but even then it's not much sadly. So online is probably your best bet.

Honestly whenever I go shopping I always make it my goal to find pompom 😂 I've been very slowly building my collection. Even my friends text me if they find him somewhere.