JAFO's NEWS - the FUN in FunKo
POP! Exclusives for Entertainment Earth
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Funko NEWS - Funko to move to Everett with Big Expansion
THE HERALD BUSINESS JOURNAL EVERETT, WASHINGTON
Published: Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Funko to move to larger digs in Everett
By Jim Davis
HBJ Editor
Funko to move to larger digs in Everett
By Jim Davis
HBJ Editor
Funko president Brian Mariotti is heading the company that has seen
explosive growth over the past few years.
The growing company will take over the 200,500-square-feet former JanSport distribution center at 1202 Shuksan Way, said Brian Mariotti, Funko's CEO.
All 60 employees — including 17 artists — will be moved to the new site.
"We just have outgrown this facility both in office space and, more importantly, in warehouse space," Mariotti said.
Funko has seen a rapid expansion in the past few years for it's popular lines of bobbleheads and other collectibles. The company is on pace to make $43 million in total revenue this year, up from $24 million in 2012, Mariotti said.
It had just moved into a 62,000-square-foot warehouse in Lynnwood last year.
The company has licensing contracts to create bobbleheads with Marvel and DC comics, Disney and Star Wars. Some of their most popular bobbleheads at the moment come from hit television shows including "The Big Bang Theory," "The Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead."
The company also produces POP! Vinyls, smaller, more stylized figures that don't bobble or have a base. Next year, the company plans to expand into action figures, Mariotti said.
The company was founded in 1998 in Snohomish. The early product lines included bobbleheads and coin banks based on cereal advertising characters and other retro figures like Popeye and Evel Knievel.
Funko's artists design the bobbleheads and collectibles and the final products are made in China, shipped back to Funko and then distributed and sold online and in stores around the world.
Funko's biggest customers include Target, Walmart and Toys 'R' Us, Mariotti said.
The warehouse that Funko is taking over has been empty since March 2012 when backpack maker JanSport decided to leave Everett. The building is owned by the state's Department of Natural Resources.
DNR started a program in the 1980s selling land that could no longer be logged in urban areas and acquiring "income properties," including agriculture and commercial real estate.
The state has owned the warehouse near Paine Field since 2003, said Rodney Rennie, DNR's commercial property manager. It's been empty since JanSport vacated it. "Over the course of the vacancy, we did have some interest from groups tied to Boeing but nothing materialized," Rennie said. "We're happy with this group and we hope for a long-term mutually beneficial relationship."
Funko has a 12-year lease for the building with an initial rent of $96,352 per month. The state is expected to generate $15 million in rent over the life of the lease.
Mariotti said that his company is seeking to sublease the 62,000-square-foot property that they are currently leasing at 6306 202nd SW, Lynnwood.
When the company decided to move into larger digs, Mariotti said they were reluctant to move outside of Snohomish County. And they wanted a warehouse where they could grow for several years.
"Everett was one of the few locations that provided a building large enough for us," Mariotti said.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Top Chef NOLA : Season 11 Episode 9 - It's WAR : Restaurant Wars !!
The chefs create pop-up restaurants.
It’s baaack -- the beloved “Restaurant Wars” challenge. The cheftestants face this classic challenge head-on -- creating pop-up restaurants to impress the renowned judges panel, which includes chef and restaurateur David Chang.
There is NO QUICKFIRE
This is WAR !!
Bring on the FOOD !!
ELIMINATION TIME
Challenge:
SURVIVE THE WAR
Pork Tenderloin with Sunchokes and
Trumpet Royale Mushrooms
Restaurant: Found
Chef: Nina Compton
Olive Oil Poached Cobia, Blanched Ong Choy,
and Salsa Verde
Restaurant: Found
Chef: Shirley Chung
Sauteed Gulf Shrimp, Chickpea Puree, Oregano, and Lemon
Restaurant: Fin
Chef: Carrie Mashaney
Linguini with Caviar, Oyster Cream, and Fennel
Restaurant: Fin
Chef: Stephanie Cmar
ELIMINATION WINNING DISH
Roasted Black Drum, King Trumpet Mushrooms,
Oxtail, Kale, and Hibiscus Reduction
Restaurant: Fin
Chef: Nicholas Elmi
ELIMINATION WINNER
NICOLAS
Who will be the NEXT Top Chef !!
NOT - SARA
Pack your Knives & GO !!
TONIGHT'S
LAST CHANCE KITCHEN
Challenge:
Make a Savory Dish Using Mascarpone
Mascarpone Polenta With Agrodolce
Mushrooms and Swiss Chard
Chef: Sara Johannes
Mascarpone Poached Snapper With Beech Mushrooms,
Snap Peas and Potato
Chef: Louis Maldonado
WINNER - LOUIS
Keep It Up
We'll See You In The Finale !!
Check back here on Thursday's after the new episodes ..
BRAVO Wednesday nights @ 10 pm
TOP CHEF
WWF Wednesday - Bob Backlund : Champion VS Superfly Jimmy Snuka Cage Match 06-28-1982 MSG
This was posted on a Facebook page that I follow.
I remember this match very very well. Enjoy !!
Wrestling's Glory Days: MATCH OF THE DAY
'SUPERFLY' JIMMY SNUKA on his classic dive off the top of the cage at Madison Square Garden:
"I’m not a glory guy or anything like that, but it was such a great pleasure for me to wrestle Bob Backland, the champion at the time, so early on in my WWF career.
He was great to wrestle against. It was such a special night for me, because I wrestled him twice and the second time was the best...the greatest psychology I ever had with him because we clicked. We took care of it, did it right, because when we go back to that locker room brudda, you want to feel good and make sure you continue feeling that way.
Jumping off the cage at the Garden, you couldn’t even hear yourself. Nobody really expected me to do that dive. I loved it so much. Things like that just stick in your heart.”
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