Licensing Show brings business opportunity for Mobile Girl accessories

To provide users a better online experience, we will conduct website system update from 17:30 to 22:30 on 9 July 2025 (HKT). The website function will be suspended during this period. All services will be returned to normal once the update is completed. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Website System Update Notice

Customers responded well to the online pre-order of the licensed accessories of Mobile Girl–pillows and shopping bags–and those sold at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year market.

Mobile Girl and her good friend kitty on lucky banners, the accessories are therapeutic to the mind.

Mobile Girl night lights attracted many customers.

The visit to the Hong Kong International Licensing Show linked Marcus (right) with Mobile Girl’s licensor.

23 April 2018 

<h4><strong>Many popular social media stickers are entering the physical world in recent years, driving business opportunities for accessories licensing. A young man in Hong Kong has turned his fanhood for “Mobile Girl MiM” into a business, and has become an accessories licensor. After testing the market at this year’s Lunar New Year market, he decided to start his own licensing business.</strong></h4><p align="justify">Last year, this young man visited the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) Hong Kong International Licensing Show looking for accessories of Mobile Girl. Although he found that the company had not yet released any products, he ended up acquiring the exclusive licensing rights for Mobile Girl accessories in Hong Kong, bringing the online character into the physical world.</p><br /><h4><strong>Mobile Girl with a phone tucked into her waistband captivates a million fans</strong></h4><p align="justify">Created by a Korean company, Funnyeve, Mobile Girl has a big round face and a pair of small eyes. She is always wearing a yellow shirt and black shorts with a phone tucked into her waistband. It is a reflection of the social phenomenon of phubbers always looking at their phones without paying attention to others. The creator hopes to raise people’s awareness of modern human interaction. In 2013, Mobile Girl’s stickers were launched on Facebook and LINE and captivated millions of fans, including Marcus, the young man from Hong Kong. <br /><br />Marcus has always liked fun anime accessories, as he thinks these products are therapeutic to the mind. When he saw Mobile Girl on Facebook for the first time, he felt that she was very cute and lively. He started to learn more about her story and became one of her one million fans worldwide, closely following Mobile Girl’s every move.</p><br /><h4><strong>Winning Mobile Girl’s exclusive licensing rights in Hong Kong with enthusiasm</strong></h4><p align="justify">In 2015, Marcus learned from the official website of Mobile Girl that the licensor was coming to the Licensing Show. He contacted the company through Facebook hoping to buy the accessories; only to find that the Korean company had yet to launch any. Two years later, the licensor joined the fair again and released the character’s product samples on Facebook. Marcus visited the fair again and met the creator of Mobile Girl, but still no products were available. As a fan of the character, Marcus wanted the accessories and he negotiated with Funnyeve for the licensing rights.<br /><br />Marcus had previously worked for magazines and online media, and is strong at marketing and promotion. He also likes to draw Mobile Girl and hand-make his own characters. This passion for the character impressed Funnyeve, and he finally acquired the character’s exclusive products rights in Hong Kong.</p><br /><h4><strong>Testing Market Response at the Chinese New Year Market </strong></h4><p align="justify">Marcus’ initial target was to open a pop-up store for Mobile Girl at shopping malls. He decided to use this year’s Lunar New Year Market at Victoria Park as an opportunity to test the market. He launched five types of Mobile Girl accessories, including lucky banners, pillows, night lights and shopping bags and offered the products for online pre-orders. This first batch of more than 2,000 pieces of products was almost sold out. He became confident with the character’s accessories business and decided to focus on developing it. He quit his job and set up his own company “Start Over”. He wanted to expand the sales channels and planned to set up an online store and distribute to department stores and convenience stores. He also sought to partner with brands and shopping malls to increase offline product exposure.</p><br /><h4><strong>Licensing Show prompts entrepreneurship </strong></h4><p align="justify">Marcus’ visit to the Hong Kong International Licensing Show connected him to Funnyeve and to the licensing industry. This prompted him to start his own business. He sees great market potential in licensing. At the fair, he met Hong Kong companies, such as retailers, brands and agents, looking for new characters. He also got the opportunity to collaborate with a local leisure magazine and supplied Mobile Girl shopping bags as magazine premiums. With the encouragement of his family and friends, and the enthusiasm of his designer friend who joined the team to design new products, Marcus is now planning to release more character accessories.</p>

Events at a Glance

Supporting Organisations

Success Stories

Previous Event Information

Events

e-Fair Catalog 2025

Exhibitor List 2025

Hong Kong Licensing Force Showcase

SME Export Marketing Fund

Resource Centre

Exhibition

ALC Programme

Licensing Academy

Media Partners 2025

Press Releases

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Media Centre

Press

HKTDC Marketplace app & E-badge

Visitor's rules and regulations

Caution on third party promotional offer

Visit

Visa/Permit for Entering Hong Kong

Visa Application & Travel Arrangements to Mainland China

Hotel Offerings

Airfare Offerings

Customs Requirements on Cross-border Cash Controls

Travel to Fairground

Explore Hong Kong

Extreme Weather Arrangement

Travel Info

Market Trends

SME Support

Intelligence & Services

Enquiries

HKTDC Events

Intelligence Hub

Booth Format

About Licensing Academy

EVENT AT A GLANCE

More than nine lives for this brand

Character brand became online sensation with cute animal looks

Local character Charging Buddies Take Fly at Licensing Show

Hong Kong’s tumblers wobble into Taiwan

Taiwanese cat characters promote culture overseas

Old Master Q-themed restaurant serves up unique experiences and licensing opportunities

Cute characters go global through Licensing Show

Japanese animated character pops out from greeting cards to the global market

Spreading Hong Kong’s can-do spirit through licensing

Sing Sing Rabbit reaches for stars

Local start-up brand soars to the international stage

From comic strips to shopping mall

Taiwanese enterprises tap the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets with popular characters

Second-generation toy and gift manufacturer finds business opportunity in licensing

Art Brand on Licensing Journey to Make Social Impact

Korean Cartoon Character Breaks into Asian Market by Brand Licensing

Japanese firm set to tap Asian markets with licensed brand CRAFTHOLIC

Hong Kong company opens ceramic mugs market in ASEAN through Thai and Japanese character licensing

Van Gogh’s universal appeal brings endless licensing opportunities

Homepage

Media Partners

Circular

Business Matching

Contact Us

Resources Centre

Advertising Opportunities

Asiawide Franchise

Business Focus

CharaBiz.com

I Love Character

Total Licensing

Supporting Organisations 2025

Character Databank

Universe Business

Value-added IP Services

Video-on-demand Pass

Additional Facilities & Services Order Form

Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2023

Asian Licensing Conference 2023

Caution on Third Party Promotional Offers from Fair Expo / Fair Guide / Expo Guide / Event Fair

Fast Action Scheme

Caution on Rental of Credit Card Payment Terminals

Special Circular: Enforcement of Green Card System for Stand Fitting Contractors at HKCEC2010