Learning how to open a funko pop store makes selling funko pops easier, starting with proper planning.
Our guide explains every step you need to know to set up a funko pop store online or offline. How do you decide on having a brick-and-mortar store or an eCommerce store? We explain the pros and cons of each.
We also share details on how to profit from selling funko pops since starting a store becomes expensive. Most funko pop sellers aren’t only selling funko pops and other collectibles like comic books or trading cards.
While funko pops can be profitable when flipping with the proper knowledge, the margins tend to vary, and we share what to look for when starting.
Let’s start with the basics:
Are Funko Pops Profitable?
Selling funko pops can be profitable; however, it depends mainly on the type of funko pop you are selling and where you are selling it. Ultimately, it comes down to picking the right funko pop and selling it to the right person at the right time.
1. Exclusive Stickers:
Appreciating your collectibles feels so good #Funko – drop yours below 👇 pic.twitter.com/HgVCkmewsU
— popandfigures (@popandfigures) September 2, 2022
Does the funko have a sticker on it? It’s more valuable than others that do not. There are chase stickers that only come in 1/6 chances.
2. Vaulted funkos:
Has the production of the funko been stopped? It’s more valuable because it’s harder to obtain.
For example, vaulted funko pops sell for higher prices than standard funko pops. Other factors like who the character is and how popular they are, along with if the funko pop has an exclusive sticker or is considered a chase, become another reason they can sell for high amounts.
3. Seasonality:
Are these themed funkos in season? Seasons can impact how much a funko pop sells for and how much margins you can gain.
For example, when football season starts, your football pops will be worth more because there’s high demand and attention around that sport. So it’s wise to buy funko pops during their off-season. Another example would be horror funko pops because they are only in high demand during the times of October to December.
Lastly, when a new movie is coming out, there are already existing funko pops available. For example, Stranger had funko pops selling for around $10 to $20; however, when the new season came out on Netflix and the show got another wave of popularity, those same pops were worth $40 to $60.
How to Profit From Funko Pops
The profit comes from the buying process more than the selling process. There’s an old saying, “you make your profit when you buy.”
The technique is to look for deals by deciding if an item is overrated or underrated. Another way to look at it is to determine if the item has too much hype around it that will be short-lived or if the hype is attention that will remain for years since it’s a fact.
Funko Pops Sold Frequently (list)
- Disney
- DC
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- Television
- Sports
1. Decide on Becoming a Licensed Reseller of Funko vs. Flipper
As a reseller of funko, you need to apply to their program to get access. First, they’ll ask for your basic information about your business.
Consider registering your business as an LLC or sole proprietorship before applying to become a reseller.
Here are a few questions they ask you:
- What is the name of your business?
- What do you currently sell?
- Where are you located?
If you have a brick and mortar, they require you to take a photo of the outside of your building to show proof of where this business will occur and its existence.
View the official documentation from Funko.Inc on becoming a reseller of funko products.
2. Pick Brick and mortar store vs. eCommerce (Online only)
Deciding which way you plan to sell your funko pops depends mainly on your financial risk tolerance, budget, and business savviness.
Setting up a brick-and-mortar store requires finding a building (location) to rent and committing to opening. While setting up an eCommerce requires little experience and limits you to only selling online and not in person.
Here are some pros vs. cons of each opportunity:
1. Brick and Mortar Store
Pros:
-
- In-Person selling and reputation builder
- Location to store collectibles outside of your home
Cons:
-
- Long hours maintaining the store (keep open)
- Rent costs and high overall expenses
2. eCommerce (Online Only)
Pros:
-
- Sales happen anywhere at anytime
- Online 24/7 with little to no maintenance
- Costs are low other than needing to pay for shipping supplies
Cons:
-
- Requires digital savviness
- Many competitors since it has low entry barriers
- No traffic = No sales
How to Open a Funko Pop eBay Store
1. Sign Up for an eBay Account at No Cost
It requires having an email and setting up a username. The username can be your store name, and you create a specific password. Consider registering for a business account instead of a personal account since this will be for your eCommerce store.
2. Take Photographs & Upload Creating at Least 25 Listings
After determining which funko pops are ready to be sold, you want to take high-quality photographs for their listings. Again, consider using a plain or blank background to avoid distractions.
When photographing funko pops for sale, you want to take a photo of every side (top, bottom, front, back, and both sides). It gives the buyer a clear idea of the funko pop’s condition, which becomes essential since PSA grades funko pops, increasing their value.
You’ll want to list as many as possible when starting, as it increases the chances of products sold quickly. Having a goal of 25 listings is a starter, giving you the best odds for getting your first sale quickly.
3. Set a Price for Each Product
Identifying the right price for a funko pop comes down to knowing how many have sold and how recently. You can go to eBay and click on the ‘completed items’ filter to see which funkos have sold recently.
For example, if you have a DBZ Trunks funko pop, you may look up the exact variant and see how much it costs. Another word is ‘comps’ or ‘comparing’ how much it sold for in the past, which can impact the current price.
Decide on the final price and include shipping. You can either pay for shipping or offer free shipping to your buyers; this tends to increase the number of sales. Otherwise, most have the buyer page for shipping. The average shipping price for funko pops is around $5.99 to $6.99.
Do Comic Stores Buy Funko Pops?
Most Comicbook stores also sell funko pops due to their ability to pair together and the margins associated with selling items simultaneously.
Typically, funko pop collectors enjoy reading comics and vice versa, making for a good combination for product market fit.
Funko.Inc understood how there’s an overlap in these interests and began offering funko pop comic covers for all the well-known superheroes like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doctor Strange.
How Much Do Stores Pay For Funko Pops?
As a reseller, you can order funko pops in bulk at a discount getting the average cost of goods down to around $6 to $8 depending on which funko pop figure you pick.
By signing up with a wholesale retailer like Entertainment Earth, you can get exclusive and hard-to-find funkos before others and volume discounts to give your store a competitive edge.
In addition, there’s only a $250 minimum order amount, making starting easy since Funko.Inc requires a $2,500 minimum.
Additional entertainment earth offers pre-orders of new funko pops and gives good insight into how many funko pops of the set they plan to produce.
If you’ve enjoyed reading about how to open a funko pop store, you may also like:
- What’s A Funko Pop Auction? Buyer & Sellers Guide
- 5 Uncommon Ways to Sell Funko Pops
- Does Every Funko Pop Have A Chase?
Lastly, sign up for our bi-weekly funko pop newsletter to gain inspiration on how to sell funko pops, display and collect.
