Funko releases thousands of exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures. But what is the difference between Retailer Exclusives and Special Edition figures?
USA and international stickers for Funko Pop! Exclusives.
The first Funko Pop! vinyl figures were unveiled at the 2011 New York Toy Fair and with great success.
Collectors became familiar with the newly launched Funko Pop! vinyl line and “Pop! Mania” exploded in the United States.
Funko soon came up with the idea of releasing exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures, which are only available at select retailers. Funko entered into partnerships with a number of major US retailers, such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, BoxLunch, Hot Topic and Entertainment Earth, who were assigned their own exclusive Pop! figures and the so-called Retailer Exclusive was born.
Retailers Exclusives are released regularly and are generally unique Pop! figure variations, including glow in the dark, flocked or supersize. Each retailer has their own sticker applied to the box to indicate that the Pop! figure is exclusive to their shop.
For a number of years, Funko Pop! collectors around the world could only turn to Funko Pop! retailers in the United States to purchase their favorite Pop! vinyl figures.
But as with any successful concept, companies are quickly looking across the border for international opportunities. Funko did the same and found new distributors in Europe, Asia and Australia, after which the Funko Pop! vinyl line could be offered worldwide.
Gone are the days when Funko Pop! vinyl figures were only available in the United States, and today Funko Pop! vinyl figures are offered on every continent of the world.
And as with major US retailers, Funko also partners with major international retailers, who are assigned their own exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures. But to distinguish between the US market and the international market, Funko uses different stickers that are applied to the boxes.
Basically all boxes of exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures offered on the international market have a Special Edition sticker and the Pop! figures are called Special Edition figures instead of Retailer Exclusives.
Special Edition figures from some major international retailers, such as Popcultcha in Australia and EMP in Europe, have a second retailer sticker in addition to the Special Edition sticker. This has recently also been the case for Amazon, which has its own webshop in almost every European country.
