The Funko Fad ~ Is it Failing?

Everywhere you go shopping, from the local Walgreens to Walmart and even Gamestop you'll find Funko's POP! Vinyls stocked on store shelves. To some extent. You'll find store exclusives, limited editions, and even plastic casings for these budget priced collectibles. Oddly though that availability has somewhat slumped along the way for some reason or another. Lately in the midst of this craze that I call the "Funko Phenomenon" stores have begun to discount the toys, and even offer bundle prices in what seems like an attempt to get rid of stationary supplies. The kind of Pops that stay shelved for quite some time without much customer interest. It is slightly concerning seeing what could be possibly one of the last great toy innovations come to a crashing halt. There's no doubt in my mind that toys and collectibles are being lost among an audience who is more easily snared by the various entertainment offerings.

As a toy collector I've followed the Funko fad from it's start years ago to it's current day status. I've had the privilege to review some of the toys for Funko, and have even done some showcasing on my own dime, and my own time. What I've noticed is a continuous support of the brand by the company, and continued release of hyped "got to have" items that are definitely hard to get your hands on. The question that begs to be answered though is whether or not this hype is having any true influence on sales. Sure, the limited editions, exclusives, and giveaway editions have no doubt captured collectors' attention, and money, but with the sought after Pops being hard to find that leaves a less than desirable variety that no one really cares for or wants. The bulk of what it is Funko obviously hopes to sell.

In saying this I think it might be high time Funko reevaluates their marketing model. Instead of littering the stores with common collectibles why not help the Pops thrive by doing away with exclusives, and simply offering what customers want. It would mean more sales across the board, and it would bring more valued variety to those seeking to collect. To keep the rarity intact Funko could actually do something akin to what Hot Wheels does with their Treasure Hunt cars. Create slightly different variations of each Pop with a small stamp or tag that would show those who are looking close enough that that particular Pop is rare. Perhaps even have tiers of rarity with different color foil stamps. I think by doing it this way, and avoiding the stalemate that comes with those highly sought after Pops getting snatched up, and everything else the consumer doesn't want being left behind the company could create a universal interest in the consumer marketplace. They could boost sales, and heighten the hype while letting everyone get their hands on what they want regardless of rarity. That's just me throwing ideas out there though.

As an old time toy collector I personally like what Funko does with the Pops. I like how they include characters from literature, movies, video games, comic books, and everything else you can think of that has a character or real world person of interest involved. While the paint jobs aren't always pristine you will find that the Pops still have their visual appeal, and are good enough, in most cases, to display. There's a Pop for every collector out there, and it's the type of collectible that can be kept in the package, or enjoyed as kid would do. Funko is innovation. It's the last bastion of hope for a failing toy industry. I hope they last for generations to come, and continue to build up as well as improve upon what it is they offer.