Funko APAC Plans To Open Another Store In the Philippines
Leading pop culture lifestyle brand Funko will open its first store in the Southeast Asian Region on July 12 at the SM Mall of Asia, in Pasay City, Philippines. The launch of its flagship store is a major milestone not just for Filipino fans but also for Funko collectors in the region.
The store will feature over 1,000 exclusive Asia-only and Philippines limited edition products like the Jollibee, Jose Mari Chan Funko Pops, Funko Philippines t-shirts, and the retro-styled arcade cabinet Funko Funcade, where visitors can have fun and win some Funko collectibles.
With its flagship store set to open its doors to the public this July, the toy brand plans to have another Funko store in the country in the future.
"I'd hopefully say, yes. but we have to do, and we've learned over the time, is that we need to properly evaluate once we've launched this store. We need to take the feedback. We need to take the learnings," Andy Clempson, Vice President of Sales for Funko APAC, said during the Funko store media sneak peek last June. "We're not prepared to jump in with both football [sic] at once. I don't think it's the right thing for the consumer. We have to look again, think about what the experience is for the consumer, for the fan. But if plans go according to plan, then hopefully we should be able to roll out more."
"The plan is for sure, we want to do it, but we haven't wrote [sic] exactly the timeline. Let's see how successful we are here. I have very much confidence that this will be a success. And, you know, what happens in life, if you do something and you do it, well, it allows you to go and do something different again, they are more of it," he added.
'Passionate nature of the fans' is the deciding factor in opening the first Funko store in the Philippines
The news of Funko, the leading pop culture lifestyle brand, opening its first store in Southeast Asia, thrilled not only Filipino fans but also toy collectors in the region. The brand's flagship store, located on the second level of North Entertainment Mall in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Philippines, will be opening its doors to the public on July 12, 2025.
Andy Clempson, Vice President of Sales for Funko APAC, says the passionate nature of fans is what made the brand decide to launch its first flagship store in the Philippines.
"I think the deciding factor ultimately is about the passionate nature of the fans. We know the reception," Clempson said. "When I visited the Philippines, many times now, and it doesn't matter actually, where I go, and obviously being outside of Metro Manila. I know when I bump into someone, if I check into a hotel and the guy says, 'Have you got a business card?' and I give him my card and he says, 'Funko. So, oh Funko. I'm a collector.' I can meet someone in a bar, and the guy will say to me. 'Oh, you're right, from Funko. That's amazing.' That doesn't [sic] happen yet everywhere across Asia. Because certain markets were less developed. But when I give you examples like that, we know in our heart and from the data that we've got already that this is the best place for us to start."
