12 Questions with Brian from Funko

1. Thought I’d start by asking some personal questions - Besides your work, what are the things you do for enjoyment, relaxation, and Fun???

Golf, attempting to work out, and family stuff like going to my daughters gymnastics and ballet classes.

2. How many hours a day do you work and has there ever been a day when you wished that you could be doing something else?

I work a lot..Much more than my family prefers, but they understand. The travel is extensive as well. As far as being at Funko..only golf tempts me to get out of the office.

3. What are you looking forward to doing in your life (other than funko related)?

Retiring in Maui, while I surf and play golf every day....

4. What does your wife think about your collection and owning a toy company?

She's not much into toys..my daughter is...Both love Funko though.

5. Now onto the Funko questions - What single piece been the biggest seller for Funko? Which are close to the top?

Darth Vader is #1, then Iron Man, then Yoda, Boba.....

6. Funko Force, Nodniks and the USB Drives are poised to put Funko on a whole new level. Where do you see these lines taking the company as a whole?

They provide us a new avenue or new customer to potentially sell our product to. This helps in theory, to grow our company. The electronics especially can bring us to new stores who would not normally carry toys or Funko products.

7. Why you physically have to go to China?

To find new factories, to check on our factory, look at new potential products lines..I go about 3-4 times per year.

What do you like to eat when you’re down there?

not much! Ugggh..I bring beef jerky and starve to death mostly.

8. Big Headz looked cool, but it seems that Funko Force replaced them, and that's not a bad thing at all. What about the lost product lines? the Star Wars Wind Ups? The Seinfeld line? The Operation Guy?

The big headz cost too much to produce versus the perceived value of the toy. Windups are the same issue. Burger King put a line of Star Wars windups out they were quite good, and gave them away...Seinfeld is still a looong and slow process, but I have hope. Operation guy was a Becker thing with Hasbro that never got off the ground due to licensing issues.

9. Have licenses with big-name companies such as Lucasfilms and Marvel made it easier to negotiation smaller licenses and have they made the Funko name more recognizable in the toy market?

Yes..absolutely. Star Wars opened the door to Wal Mart, Target and TRU..and in turn opened more licensing opportunities.

10. Any chance we might see our favorite cereal monsters get the Funko Force vinyl treatment? USB Drives? Maybe regular wobblers metallic or otherwise?

maybe..we will see the initial sales to evaluate.

11. How much does Funatic suggestion play into licenses and variations that we see?

We certainly take views into the overall evaluation process. And of course Funatics idea do make a big splash come Comic Con time.

12. Can you give us any scoop on new lines/Franchises coming out for Funko? At least to keep us satisfied until Funday?

We'll the secret has been leaked a bit, but we are doing a HUGE Music line of Nodniks, Funko Force(Non bobbles) and Wobblers of Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Bob Marley. Really cool stuff and the likenesses are super cool but Funko-ized of course. And keep an eye out for Bruce Lee and Che Guevara!
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A big thanks to Brian for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions! Take it from me, there are some awesome top secret things on the way that will make you poo your pants! Stock up on Depends or a comparable store bought brand NOW!

Hopefully this will keep everyone satisfied until Comic Con and Funday!'

-swobobafett