Quby Merchandise That Consumers Love – Why Brands Are Using It To Drive Sales & Engagement
Introduction - Why is Quby So Popular?
Quby, also known as Pentol, started as a viral sticker character and has evolved into a powerful brand asset for promotional marketing. Originally launched on WeChat, Quby gained mass popularity for its cute, round-faced design, rosy cheeks, and expressive emotions. Today, Quby is widely used on WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram and is increasingly featured in brand collaborations and merchandise promotions.
This trend reflects a broader shift: brands are increasingly using character-based promotional merchandise to boost engagement, customer loyalty and sales performance.
Real retail campaigns featuring Quby gift-with-purchase merchandise – turning collectible character gifts into powerful drivers of customer engagement and repeat sales. Image credits (top left-right): 7-Eleven Malaysia / Guardian Malaysia. (bottom left-right): Northshore Plaza / Guardian Malaysia)
Market Context: Licensed Merchandise Is Big Business
Before diving into Quby case studies, it’s important to understand the scale of the industry:
The global licensed entertainment and character merchandise market was valued at roughly US$166.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach around US$268.8 billion by 2031, driven by rising consumer engagement with media franchises, collectibles and character-based products. (source: Intel Market Research – Licensed Entertainment and Character Merchandise Market)
Another industry estimate shows the licensed merchandise market generating approximately US$356.5 billion in revenue in 2023, underlining how intellectual property drives retail sales and brand reach. (source: Licensing International)
These figures demonstrate the strategic value of character licensing – including promotional merchandise like Quby – as both a marketing channel and revenue driver.
Key Indicators of Quby’s Popularity:
✔ Quby Sticker Downloads: The “Quby pentol animated stickers” pack has over 25,000 downloads, making it one of the most used character-based stickers.
✔ Social Media Engagement: The @qubysticker_lover Instagram fan page has over 16,000 followers, showing a growing digital fanbase.
✔ Merchandising Collaborations: Darlie, 7-Eleven, 4-Fingers have launched Quby-themed promotional gifts to boost sales and consumer engagement.
How Quby Merchandise Drives Engagement & Sales
Character-based merchandise works because it taps into three powerful psychological drivers:
1. Emotional Connection – Characters humanize brands and increase recall.
2. Collectibility – Limited or series-based gifts encourage repeat purchases.
3. Social Virality – Highly shareable merchandise boosts organic visibility on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Campaign Example Stats (Industry Benchmarks)
Marketing research shows that promotional campaigns featuring licensed elements typically outperform generic giveaways:
- Character-linked marketing can increase brand engagement and recall significantly more than non-character promotion formats.
- Meme-style and character content frequently outperforms generic advertising by up to 25–30% in engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares). (source: Wikipedia – Meme Marketing)
These types of campaign results correlate with what we see in Quby merchandise programs: greater social shares, repeat store visits and higher spend per transaction.
Why This Matters for Marketers:
Quby’s digital success translates into powerful brand engagement opportunities. By integrating Quby promotional merchandise, brands can connect with consumers emotionally, drive social media virality, and increase sales.
Lifebuoy x Quby: A Strategic Licensed Merchandising Alliance. Discover how Lifebuoy partnered with Quby for a high-impact licensing campaign.
Licensed Character: Colgate x Quby Promotional Ceramic Mugs. Discover how Colgate collaborated with Quby to launch licensed ceramic mugs as part of their promotional campaign.
4Fingers - Quby Blind Box GWP Campaign 2025
Campaign Type: Blind box gift-with-purchase
Marketing Strategy: Customers received mystery 4 Fingers x Quby keychains with qualifying purchases.
Results:
Increased repeat purchases as customers returned to complete the set
Higher outlet traffic during the promotional period
Strong social media buzz driven by blind box unboxings
Deeper emotional connection through playful character engagement
Marketing Lesson: Blind box licensed merchandise combines surprise psychology and collectibility, transforming a simple GWP into a game.
Darlie Malaysia - Quby Stackable Mug (Gift With Purchase)
Campaign Type: Gift-with-purchase (GWP) strategy
Marketing Strategy: Consumers received a free Quby-themed stackable mug with the purchase of a Darlie Twin Pack.
Results:
✔ Higher Basket Size Per Visit → Customers spent more than planned to qualify for the Quby mug.
✔ Increased Brand Loyalty → The useful, collectible, and cute design reinforced Darlie’s brand appeal.
✔ Higher Social Media Engagement → Many shoppers posted their Quby stackable mugs online, increasing brand visibility.
Marketing Lesson: A well-designed character-based free gift can drive sales, brand engagement, and customer loyalty.
7-Eleven Malaysia - Quby Snack Box Series (Loyalty Gamification)
Campaign Type: Loyalty-driven promotion using a collectible series
Marketing Strategy: Customers collected e-Stamps to redeem a limited-edition Quby 3-in-1 Snack Box Series.
Results:
✔ Repeat Purchases Increased → Customers bought more frequently to accumulate enough e-Stamps.
✔ In-Store Foot Traffic Growth → The campaign drove more customers to visit 7-Eleven stores.
✔ Organic Social Sharing → Customers shared their Quby snack box collections on social media, increasing campaign reach.
Marketing Lesson: Gamification + character branding = increased sales & customer retention.
Watsons Malaysia: Quby-Themed Free Gift Campaign
Campaign Type: Minimum spend incentive
Marketing Strategy: Customers received Quby ceramic mugs & mini bags when they met a minimum spend.
Results:
✔ Higher Average Order Value → Consumers spent more than planned to receive the gift.
✔ Repeat Shopping Behavior → Customers returned to earn more Quby-themed gifts.
✔ Increased Brand Love → Watsons’ customer engagement improved due to the emotional connection with Quby.
Marketing Lesson: Branded character merchandise can turn a simple free gift into a powerful brand loyalty tool.
How Brands Can Use Quby Merchandise for Promotions
Collectible Merchandise for Brand Loyalty
Offer multi-series Quby collectibles to encourage repeat purchases.
Use a tiered redemption model (e.g., “Spend more to unlock premium Quby gifts”).
Best For: Retail, FMCG and F&B brands looking to increase customer retention.
Exclusive Quby Gift-With-Purchase (GWP) Strategy
✔ Offer Quby-branded tote bags, travel accessories, or lifestyle items as premium gifts.
✔ Upsell product bundles featuring Quby merchandise.
Best For: E-commerce, beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands.
Social Media-Driven Promotions & Influencer Marketing
✔ Launch a Quby-themed unboxing challenge or “Tag & Win” contest.
✔ Partner with social media influencers to showcase Quby’s appeal.
Best For: Brands targeting younger digital audiences (Gen Z & millennials).
The Future of Licensed Character Promotions
Why Quby & Licensed Merchandise Will Continue to Grow:
✅ Character branding increases customer retention & purchase frequency.
✅ Exclusive, collectible designs drive consumer engagement.
✅ Social media platforms accelerate viral marketing for Quby-themed gifts.
Looking Ahead:
Brands that innovate and personalize character-based merchandise will lead in experiential marketing & customer engagement.
Image (top from left): Unilever x Quby Lunch Box, Unilever x Quby Water Bottle, Vaseline x Quby Tote Bag. (bottom from left): Dettol x Quby Merchandise, Baskin Robbins x Quby Family Red Packets
FAQ
What is Quby merchandise?
Quby merchandise refers to licensed promotional products featuring the Quby character, used by brands to boost engagement and sales.
Why use licensed character merchandise?
It increases emotional connection, perceived value, and social shareability, often outperforming generic promotional items.
What types of Quby merchandise are popular for promotions?
Collectibles, ceramic mugs, snack boxes, lifestyle accessories and limited-edition gifts perform well.
Final Thoughts: How to Start Your Own Quby-Themed Promotional Campaign
✔ Define your campaign objective – Increase brand awareness? Drive customer loyalty? Boost purchase frequency?
✔ Select the right Quby merchandise – Ensure it’s functional, high-quality, and collectible.
✔ Integrate multiple marketing channels – Combine retail promotions, e-commerce incentives, and social media strategies for maximum impact.
Want to Create Custom Quby-Themed Promotional Gifts?
At DTC World, we specialize in high-impact, licensed character promotional merchandise to help brands increase engagement & sales.
📩 Contact us today to develop your next big Quby-themed marketing campaign!
Let’s bring Quby’s charm to your brand and create high-impact promotional merchandise that consumers will love! 🎁✨
