Walking into the Five Below toy aisle on a restock morning often reveals an picked-over display bin. The product driving the foot traffic is manufactured by RMS USA, an impulse novelty supplier that struck algorithmic gold by mimicking authentic dim sum presentations. Each blind bag collectible is housed in an interlocking plastic steamer basket designed to be stacked, housing a powder-coated, ultra-slow-rising TPR (thermoplastic rubber) stress toy shaped like a traditional soup dumpling or bao.
The sensory appeal drove millions of views on TikTok and Instagram Reels under hashtags dedicated to ASMR desk toys and stress relief squishies. The tactile powder coating eliminates the sticky residue common to cheap silicone toys, giving the dumpling an oddly authentic dough-like finish. Because each sealed steamer conceals one of several facial expressions, ranging from sleepy and weeping to rare metallic finishes, the blind bag format prompted impulse buying in multiples rather than single-item sales.
When demand crested, store displays emptied within hours of delivery trucks arriving. That scarcity laid the groundwork for confusion, as frantic shoppers started mistaking nearby display pricing for the actual cost of the item.
