How Funko Moved From a Family Garage to a Hollywood Studio Lot

Trey Williams

It was a big year for Funko, the company known for those small collectible vinyl bobbleheads from everyone’s favorite film, TV series, band, athlete or pop culture icon. The company has capitalized on some impressive growth in 2019, opening its second brick-and-mortar store, a 40,00-square-feet monument to pop culture collectibles in Hollywood, and inking a deal with Warner Bros. to bring stories based on the brand to the big screen. Also Read: Funko Toys to Become Animated Movie at Warner Bros. Funko’s stock, which has taken a hit in recent months, is still up roughly 11% in the last 12 months. And in its third-quarter earnings report, Funko said its sales increased to $223.3 million, a 26% bump compared to the same quarter a year ago, while its net income jumped to $15.5 million from $7.6 million year-over-year. Funko CEO Brian Mariotti spoke to TheWrap about his decision to buy the then mom-and-pop bobblehead company in 2005, taking it from a family garage in Washington state to a Hollywood studio lot. What was Funko like when you took over? It was very much a family-run bobblehead company. [Mike Becker] started the company. His wife was the one who processed orders; his brother...

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