FIRST LOOK: Funko's first Southeast Asia store opens in the Philippines
The joy that comes with being a Funko Pop! collector became even more exhilarating after the US-based collectibles brand officially launched its first licensed store in Southeast Asia, here in the Philippines.
Collectors can now get their figurine fix at the SM Mall of Asia starting July 12, with the store offering irresistible merchandise such as the brand's signature Funko Pop! figures as well as other items based on your favorite pop culture icons.
Andy Clempson, Funko’s vice president of sales for the Asia Pacific, told the media that they chose the Philippines to open their first store in Southeast Asia as the country has “fantastically passionate and fantastically knowledgeable” Funko fans.
“The social media base here in the Philippines is massive… They just love the product, whether it's a 4-inch vinyl, our micro format collectible Bitty Pop, anything like that. They love to give it as a gift to their loved ones, their girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, and husband, so because of all that, the Philippines was the natural choice for us,” he said.
As soon as you walk in, you'll be greeted by a massive Funko Pop figure of Harry Potter that will make you wish you could take it home.
You’ll see rows of shelves stocked with Funkos of a wide variety of characters. If you’re an anime lover, you’ll especially feel like a kid in a candy store as you’ll be surrounded by familiar faces from shows such as One Piece, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Naruto, Spy x Family, Attack on Titan, Hunter x Hunter, and many more.
Marvel and DC fans are also in for a treat as you can get your hands on figurines of Iron Man, Thor, Superman, Batman, and the rest of the superpowered gang.
And don’t think that the store has forgotten about Disney and Sanrio enthusiasts. A charming lineup of beloved characters ready to add a touch of magic and nostalgia to your collection is available—from Disney Princesses and Stitch to Hello Kitty and Kuromi.
For something extra special, check out the store's Loungefly collection, featuring fashion accessories and stuffed toys. This brand is known for its collectible mini-bags and purses with popular characters and designs from famous franchises.
Some of the items on display are inspired by Barbie, Adventure Time, Tangled, South Park, Despicable Me, and more.
But the real cherry on top? A larger-than-life Funko Funcade game that turns your visit into a full-on quest for collectibles. Similar to a coin pusher game, the machine features two buttons that you have to push to shoot balls through until you can push the prize box over the edge to win it.
Depending on your luck, you can take home small keychains to full Funko Pop figures.
For future offerings, Clempson highlighted that they will offer more localized and tailor-made products, such as t-shirts, that are exclusive to Asia. For now, the store sells a Funko Pop! figure of the Philippines' fast food mascot, Jollibee.
“Consumers should be able to find everything here, the best of the best. So, if there are limited editions or there's a product that may only get released, for example, at certain events like Comic Cons in the US, we should have the ability to bring them to the store here in a more meaningful way,” Clempson assured.
“If it's not here right now, then at some point, it will be here for us to be able to showcase the best of the range that Funko has ever [had],” he added.
When asked about opening more stores in the Philippines, Clempson said, “For sure, we want to do it, but we haven't worked out exactly the timing. Let's see how successful we are here.”
The Funko store is located on the second floor of the North Entertainment Mall at the SM Mall of Asia.
