Starting a blind box collection: the complete guide
By Léna, co-founder & Art Director at swap-iit
⏱️ Reading time: ≈ 5 mins
Want to get into collecting blind boxes but don’t know where to start? Welcome. 💛 Here’s the complete guide to getting off to a good start: choosing your brand, setting your budget, buying safely, avoiding fakes and managing duplicates. Everything I wish someone had told me when I was starting out.
Contents
- What is a blind box? (a quick reminder)
- Choose your brand or theme
- Set a budget (and stick to it)
- Where to buy safely
- Avoid counterfeits
- Managing duplicates from the outset
- Join the community
- FAQ: starting a blind box collection
What is a blind box? (a quick reminder)
A blind box is a surprise box: you buy it without knowing which figure from a series you’ll get. You find out when you open it. If the terminology (chase, secret, grail…) still seems a bit unclear to you, start with our blind box glossary – it’ll save you time.
Choose your brand or theme
The most important thing when starting out: choose a theme that you’re really keen on, rather than trying to do everything at once. The all-time classics:
Pop Mart (Labubu, Skullpanda, Crybaby…)
The current giant in the market, led by Labubu. Diverse themes, a strong community, but also the sector most affected by counterfeiting. Ideal if you want to be at the heart of the hype, or if you’re looking for adorable little figurines with highly personalised themes that are bound to resonate with you.
Sonny Angel
These sweet and endearing little Japanese angels are perfect for getting started at an affordable price. Everything is explained in our Sonny Angel guide.
Smiski
Glow-in-the-dark creatures that shine in the dark (my favourites 💚). Discover all the Smiski series to choose the one that’s right for you. Each series is based on a specific theme, so you’re bound to find one that’s 100 per cent right for you!
Tip: there isn’t really one; start with your favourites – the ones that really speak to you – and you’ll expand your collection as your budget allows.
Set a budget (and stick to it)
This is THE key tip for beginners. Blind boxes are designed to make you want to open ‘just one more’ (we’ll explain why it’s so addictive). Set yourself a small monthly budget right from the start, and see collecting as a long-term pleasure, not a race. Your bank account will thank you for it.
Where to buy safely
Always prioritise official channels and authorised retailers. We’ve listed all the reliable sources in our guide on where to buy blind boxes in France. Golden rule: a price that’s too good to be true often hides a problem.
Avoid counterfeits
From your very first purchases, learn how to spot fakes, especially with Labubu, which is widely counterfeited. Our Labubu genuine vs. fake guide gives you all the criteria (teeth, QR code, packaging, material). It’ll save you a lot of disappointment.
Managing duplicates from the outset
Important news for beginners: you’re going to end up with duplicates. Lots of them. It’s inevitable – it’s not bad luck. Rather than shoving them into a drawer, get into the habit of setting them aside neatly to swap them; that’s exactly what swap-iit is all about.
Join the community
Collecting is also (above all?) about community. TikTok, Instagram, Discord, Reddit: join the spaces where collectors share their finds, help one another and swap items. That’s where your passion really comes to life, and where you learn the quickest.
That’s also swap-iit’s promise. We’re launching in September 2026, and the waitlist is already open: the first 500 people to sign up will receive a Founder’s badge for life and priority access. 💛
FAQ: starting a blind box collection
Which brand should you start your blind box collection with?
Choose the range that appeals to you most visually. Sonny Angel and Smiski are excellent, affordable starting points; Pop Mart (Labubu) if you want to be right at the heart of the hype.
How much does it cost to start a collection?
Not much, actually: a blind box usually costs around €10 to €15. The key is to set yourself a monthly budget and stick to it, as the temptation to open ‘just one more’ is very real.
How can you avoid ending up with too many duplicates?
You can’t avoid them entirely (that’s the whole point of buying blind), but you can make the most of them by swapping them for the pieces you’re missing, rather than letting them gather dust.