Have you heard of Funko Pop collectibles? Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve probably seen them. Funko Pops, the increasingly popular 3.75-inch vinyl figures are easily identifiable by their square shaped heads, disproportionately small bodies and large, pupil-less eyes.
In the past few weeks, we’ve sold more than 1,600 Funko Pops from one collector during two specialty auctions.
New Funkos typically sell for $10-$15 each at retail stores. The most sought after Funko Pop during our auction was a Star Wars figure of Luke Skywalker as a Stormtrooper, which sold for $475 – that’s not a bad return on a $10 purchase.
While Funko started in 1998, the current form of Funko Pops officially debuted at the New York Toy Fair in 2011. Today, Funko has more than 1,100 licenses with companies ranging from Disney to sports franchises that fuel the collectibles popularity.
Funko sold more than $189 million worth of products in the first three months of this year.
Why are people so interested in Funko Pops? Mostly, because they’re fun. The collectible figures run the pop-culture gamut from superheroes and iconic TV show characters to sports stars and breakfast cereal mascots.
Some people are fanatical about their Funko collections. A Knoxville, Tennessee man set the 2021 world record for the largest collection of Funko Pops. His collection of 7,095 Funko Pops beat out the 2020 record holder by more than 2,000 Funkos.
The popularity of Funko Pops has many people wondering if this will be an ongoing trend or if Funko Pops will see their popularity rise and fall quickly like the interest in Beanie Babies did in the late 1990s.
It’s still too early to tell if Funko Pops will generate lasting interest or if they will be a short-lived craze. I wouldn’t count on Funko Pops as an investment to pay for my son’s college education or my own retirement. But, if you enjoy them – by all means collect them!
There are a few things you should keep in mind about anything you decide to collect.
- The better the condition your item is in, the higher the resale value will be. Most serious Funko Pop collectors are looking for Funkos that are still in the box.
- Rare items receive higher bids. The Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper I mentioned earlier was one of only 1,000 created for the Emerald City Comic Con. Its rarity helped drive up the price.
- If you are planning to sell, keep an eye on the market and sell before prices begin to drop.
As always, if you’re not sure about the value of your collection, take advantage of a free appraisal fair or consult with a certified appraiser.
Erik Hoyer owns EJ’s Auction & Appraisal in Glendale.
Contact him at erik@ejsauction.com, www.ejsauction.com or 623-878-2003.FUn
