CONSUMER

$30 million of Funko Pop! toys will be thrown in the trash

Mar 5, 2023, 7:28 PM | Updated: 7:39 pm
A man points to a shelf of 'Funko Pop' at the tenth edition of DreamHack, at the Forum center Feria...
A man points to a shelf of 'Funko Pop' at the tenth edition of DreamHack, at the Forum center Feria Valencia, on July 1, 2022, in Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain. Thirty million dollars worth of Funko Pop! figures will soon make their way into the hands of a new collector: The garbage collector. Rober Solsona/Europa Press/Getty Images)

(CNN) — Thirty million dollars worth of Funko Pop! figures — those big-headed, vinyl pop-culture dolls — will soon make their way into the hands of a new collector: The garbage collector.

Funko said in its fourth quarter earnings report that a combination of waning demand for the toys and a surplus of inventory is creating financial trouble for the company. Last year, they had to rent excess warehouse space just to hold the buildup of Funko figures, which range from Baby Yoda to Eddie Van Halen.

Funko was holding onto about $246.4 million worth of dolls at the end of 2022. That’s 48% more than what they had on hand just one year before.

The company intends to “eliminate” a bit of that nearly $250 million in inventory in the first half of 2023 “to reduce fulfillment costs by managing inventory levels to align with the operating capacity of our distribution center,” Funko said in a statement Wednesday. “This is expected to result in a write down in the first half of 2023 of approximately $30 to $36 million.”

In short, the product they’re storing is now worth less than the cost of keeping it on hand, so they’re dumping at least $30 million worth of it.

On a call with investors last week, CEO Brian Mariotti said Funko had already filled its Arizona distributing center to the brim with dolls and was forced to rent excess storage containers for them. The cost of that extra storage, he said, was causing the company to lose money at a rapid clip.

Company executives also announced that they would cut 10% cut of their workforce as a cost-saving measure.

Funko benefited during the pandemic boom, posting $1 billion in net sales for 2021 — a 58% increase from 2020 — but those gains didn’t hold up as the global economy reopened.

The company reported a total loss of $47 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. That’s down from a profit of $17 million during the same period the year before.

“It was clear on our last earnings call that the business and our operations hit an inflection point,” Mariotti said. “A combination of macro factors and Funko-specific issues have disrupted our financial and operating performance to an unacceptable degree.”

Funko stock has fallen by 9.4% so far this year.


The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Consumer

General views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, celebrating '100 Years of Wonder' celebratio...
Tamara Vaifanua

Tips for saving money on dining at Disney parks

It’s spring break, and a favorite destination for many Utah families is Disney World or Disneyland. The magical, unforgettable experience doesn’t come cheap, so here are some tips to save on dining.
2 days ago
FILE: Hyundai logo. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)...
Associated Press

Park outside: Hyundai, Kia recall vehicles due to fire risk

Hyundai and Kia are telling owners of over 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven.
2 days ago
(KSL TV)...
Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps restore West Valley man’s Social Security disability payments

Jeff Davis gets disability payments from the Social Security Administration. At least, he did up until his mom passed away in December.
4 days ago
Foot Locker is planning to shut 400 stores by 2026 as it strives to become more relevant to younger...
Parija Kavilanz

Foot Locker closing 400 stores by 2026

Foot Locker is planning to shut 400 stores by 2026 as it strives to become more relevant to younger shoppers by relaunching its retail brands, introducing "experiential" new store concepts and simplifying its operations by closing underperforming mall-based stores.
5 days ago
Strawberries recalled from Costco and Trader Joe's...
Brenda Goodman, CNN

Frozen strawberries sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s recalled

Frozen organic strawberries sold at several stores, including Costco and Aldi, and in a frozen fruit blend at Trader Joe's are being recalled after they were tied to an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in Washington state.
6 days ago
(KSL TV)...
Katija Stjepovic

Local Black-owned businesses participate in weekend retail experience

Many Black-owned businesses saw a welcomed economic boost from NBA All-Star weekend. Now, the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce wants to keep that alive with a new weekend retail experience.
8 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
$30 million of Funko Pop! toys will be thrown in the trash