Last summer, I hit the Funko Pop! To keep peace in the family, I later tracked down a second elite enforcer in Las Vegas. On a lucky Pop! As head Funko guy for all three Spokane stores NorthTown, Spokane Valley and Division , he has spent the past nine years pop-ping out orders for the whimsical characters. The company was founded in by Snohomish, Washington, toy lover Mike Becker. His first product was a Wacky Wobbler bobblehead featuring the nostalgic Big Boy hamburger mascot.
With that seed planted, in , the Funko Pop! Now a multimillion-dollar operation based in Everett, today the lineup boasts more than 13, figures. If society embraces it, there is likely a Funko for it. Music superstars. Film, comic book and gaming icons. Television actors. Sports legends. With a few online swipes, you can even Pop!
The Spokane woman was introduced to the world of Pop! A house cleaner by day, Carmack scours and sweeps the internet during her evening hours in a hunt for new Funkos. She now owns nearly 3, of the kitschy collectibles. That massive inventory features every Pop!
Over the years, her floor-to-ceiling display has evoked gasps, chuckles and even insensitive comments. While fans of Groot and Yoda grumbled over that waste of precious vinyl, the brand has retained a diehard following.
Ultrarare Funkos have been known to command huge prices. Bruininks said those hoping to cash in on collectible Pops! While stocking shelves, she enjoys chatting with customers and is happy the items she sells are tied to our local region. Feeling chilled to the bone while fishing in January is an endurable compromise for doing something you love. The nostalgic collectibles are a favorite with older shoppers. I opened the Funko floodgates. For some, that is indeed the endgame.
