MR D.I.Y. brings quality to life with giant rice cooker pop-up

MR D.I.Y. has turned product assurance into a playful marketing experience with its first-ever giant rice cooker pop-up in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. The installation, part of the brand’s nationwide “Kini, produk MR D.I.Y. tahan lebih lama” ("Now, MR D.I.Y.'s products last even longer") initiative, invites Malaysians to step inside a 16-foot-tall rice cooker to experience the retailer’s promise of long-lasting, high-quality products.

Complete with rising “steam,” lively music, and family-friendly activities, the pop-up demonstrates how MR D.I.Y. is translating its value proposition into an interactive, attention-grabbing campaign.

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Alex Goh, vice president of marketing at MR D.I.Y. Group, explained the thinking behind the initiative: “These products represent who we are: a brand that’s creative, accessible, and always thinking of our customers. For over 20 years, Malaysians have trusted us to deliver quality at affordable prices. Today, we’re demonstrating that our products are designed to last. With ‘Kini, produk MR D.I.Y. tahan lebih lama,’ we’re proving that ‘cheap’ can be good, and good doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s all part of how we deliver value beyond ‘Always low prices.’”

Visitors to the pop-up, which runs from 1 to 12 October 2025 at Fahrenheit88, can explore a variety of activities designed to bring MR D.I.Y.’s quality promise to life. Highlights include live demonstrations of steaming rice in action, interactive challenges such as the "whisper challenge", and meet-and-greets with 20 PANDAi mascots. The campaign also debuted limited-edition merchandise, including BUDDiY mini plushies—Steamie the rice cooker, Sizzy the iron, and A-Ha! the lightbulb—as well as PANDAi sling bags, available exclusively at the pop-up. Purchases of RM25 or more on MR D.I.Y. products or PANDAi sling bags qualify for a complimentary mini plushie.

At the launch of the giant rice cooker pop-up in Kuala Lumpur, MR D.I.Y. went all out, rolling out a red carpet and staging a lively catwalk where models showcased the brand’s home appliances, including rice cookers, extension cables, speakers, electric kettles, and irons. Adding to the spectacle were over 10 PANDAi mascots bringing energy and fun to the event. MR D.I.Y. also invited content creators, influencers, and members of the media to help amplify the buzz around the pop-up, the limited-edition merchandise, and the BUDDiY plushie drop.

The pop-up also ties into a broader retail campaign, with “Kini, produk MR D.I.Y. tahan lebih lama” being rolled out across more than 1,500 MR D.I.Y. stores nationwide. The initiative focuses on products certified by national and international standards bodies, including SPAN for water fittings, SIRIM for quality and safety standards, COC EN71 for toy safety, and MCMC for multimedia equipment, highlighting the durability and safety of MR D.I.Y.’s wide-ranging offerings.

MR D.I.Y. is not the only local brand dropping plushies this year. As Gong Cha Malaysia wrapped up its 14th anniversary celebrations, it debuted four character plushies: Brownie Mars, Berry Eilish, Boba Marley and Taro Swift. Each character was crafted to reflect not only pop culture references but also popular Gong Cha drinks. Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee unveiled the relaunch of its "ZUS Buddy" plushies, this time, with a range of emotions and expressions. The "emotional support buddies" plushie campaign ran for six weeks until end July. 

KFC Malaysia also introduced three 3.5-inch tall plushie capybaras, each with their own quirky personality and backstory. Once ordinary capybaras who escaped the zoo, Chiket, Buck Buck, and Zingi became utterly obsessed with the irresistible aroma of KFC, transforming into the “Kepcibaras” in their quest to devour all things crispy and delicious. More recently, Nestlé Ice Cream released four plushies, which were given away to visitors who completed purchases at its Ice Cream Festival. The adorable plushies included a Kit Kat stick, a Drumstick cone, a La Cremeria pint, and a Musang King ice cream stick.

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