Noodoll Founder Speaks at MarketingPulse & eTailingPulse 2026

Noodoll Founder YiYing Wang was recently invited to speak at MarketingPulse & eTailingPulse 2026, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The organisers describe the event as “one of Asia’s leading marketing and e-commerce conferences, bringing together industry experts to share insights, innovations and build global connections”.

YiYing was invited to speak on the topic “Harnessing Youth Engagement: Oshikatsu, Healing Economy and IP Marketing.” Her talk explored how brands can build meaningful connections with younger audiences by combining creativity, storytelling and emotional design.

She shared how Noodoll has grown from a small design idea into a globally recognised character brand — rooted in a simple goal: creating characters that bring joy, comfort and playfulness into everyday life.

As one Noodoll customer expressed:
“Deeply moving and unforgettable… it captures our timeless need for lasting friendship through a character of limitless potential.”

If you’d like to learn more about how the brand first began, you can read more about our story on the Noodoll website.

A key part of the talk focused on the power of IP (intellectual property) marketing and character-driven storytelling. Rather than simply creating products, Noodoll has always focused on building a world of characters with their own personalities and stories.

By doing this, products become more than just objects, becoming something people can connect with emotionally. This approach helps customers engage more deeply with the brand, whether they are discovering a new character for the first time or adding another favourite to their collection.

One attendee shared:
“The discussion on IP marketing for Noodoll was both fruitful and inspiring — showing how character design can spark meaningful connections.”

You can see this character-driven approach across many of our plush and lifestyle products, where each design is created with its own playful personality.

Another theme explored during the talk was the growing influence of the healing economy, a trend where people increasingly seek products and experiences that bring comfort, positivity and emotional wellbeing.

For Noodoll, this idea has always been central to the brand. The characters are designed to feel friendly, comforting and joyful, creating small moments of happiness in everyday life.

At the same time, these ideas are closely connected to our commitment to responsible design and production. Creating products thoughtfully and ethically is an important part of how we bring our characters into the world. 

The talk also touched on youth engagement and how younger audiences today look for authenticity and emotional connection in the brands they support. By combining storytelling, design and community, brands can build stronger and more meaningful relationships with their audiences.

Reflecting on the experience, YiYing shared:
“Opportunities like this allow me to step back and reflect on the journey behind Noodoll, not just what we create, but the intention and values that shape it. Sharing that story, and seeing it resonate with others, is incredibly rewarding.

Being part of such open and thoughtful conversations, exchanging perspectives with fellow panellists and hearing different viewpoints, is equally valuable. In a fast-moving world, these moments of genuine reflection and connection feel especially meaningful.”

It was a wonderful honour for YiYing to share the Noodoll journey with such an inspiring international audience. Being part of these conversations allows us to reflect on the values that have shaped the brand, creativity, imagination and a desire to create products that bring people joy.

At Noodoll, we believe there’s no life that can’t be brightened with a little playfulness. From our earliest Ricespud sketches to the growing world of characters today, we’re excited to keep exploring new ways to tell stories, connect with our community and share joyful designs with people around the world.