Comparing IP-Driven business and Traditional Consumer goods business- Evaluating the Investment Potential – Using a case study of POP MART
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/xn5xp629Keywords:
IP-driven businesses, Emotional consumption, Investment valuation, Pop MartAbstract
This study evaluates the investment potential of IP-driven businesses in comparison with traditional consumer goods business with a case study of Pop Mart used. For methodology, a mixed-methods approach is used by combining a questionnaire data from consumers with secondary financial data and literature. Results show consumers rated IP-driven businesses significantly more attractive, blind box mechanism importance acts as the only significant predictor of willingness to pay a premium, and a strong correlation between premium willingness and brand loyalty. These findings support that IP-driven businesses generate more durable pricing power and higher profitability than traditional peers, with Pop Mart’s premium valuation defensible under both P/E and income-based IP valuation frameworks, contingent on IP diversification.
References
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