RETAIL RUNDOWN

FROM HALLOWEEN TREATS TO YEAR-ROUND FUN

Fun.com has what fans want.

by Nicole Savas, editorial assistant

Click onto Fun.com and suddenly, you’re lost in a world of fandom-inspired merch (almost too much to choose from ... almost). The retail site has something for everyone, from the Wampa rug you never knew you needed to stylish Avatar: The Last Airbender sneakers. And there’s only one way to curate such an incredible collection of fandom-fused products: be a fan yourself.

GROWING THE BRAND

For Tom Fallenstein, the founder and CEO of Fun.com, the website was a natural next step to his already successful HalloweenCostumes.com. The business started as a family endeavor: His sister sold and rented Halloween costumes that his mom made from his family’s garage. In 2001, Fallenstein started his first costume website, FlapperCostumes.com, which featured the same flapper costume in five different colors.

In 2005, he moved into his first warehouse and launched several websites dedicated to different types of costumes. Every three years, the company expanded so greatly that it grew out of its space until finally settling on the 200,000-square-foot facility in Minnesota it now inhabits. This giant infrastructure gave Fallenstein the capacity to expand his company into a year-round business, but Halloween costumes are usually bought solely in the spooky season. It was time for something new.

“Ultimately it was just: What’s the best website and what would we want to sell?” says Fallenstein. The team was already familiar with working with licensed brands through the Halloween business, and each member had a list of favorite fandoms a mile long, so moving into the fandom space was a natural next step for the company. “The idea of Fun.com is the coolest website I could ever own,” Fallenstein says.

HalloweenCostumes.com and Fun. com now have a total of 220 full-time employees and thousands of seasonal workers across both teams. The Fun.com side of the business expanded rapidly, and was one of the main reasons the entire staff was able to stay on last year when suddenly, Halloween was essentially canceled due to the pandemic. HalloweenCostumes.com sales were at 10% of what they normally would be, but Fun. com sales jumped about 200-300%.

The reason for this seems pretty simple: People needed some lighthearted fun during such a stressful time. And with the absence of in-person conventions, people turned to online retailers to fulfill their fandom merch needs.

“Fun.com really encourages working professional-age and young adults to still remember to have a little fun because our jobs can get a little stressful,” says Kristi Kelly, the company’s senior costume designer. It’s not uncommon for Fun.com team members to buy the apparel available on the site for themselves. During Halloween season, the office is a sea of people wearing the brand’s knit Halloween sweaters — sometimes the favorites will even show up on the same day (the witch sweater, if you are curious).

These Halloween-themed sweaters — think Ugly Christmas Sweaters, but fandom-inspired and spooky — are a perfect example of how the team uses its expertise to create something fans will love. Lead Designer Kurt Anderson designed men’s luxury knitwear at his previous job and wanted to incorporate his past experience into his new work. Beyond Christmas knitwear, Halloween was a natural choice because it’s their best-selling season.

And when it comes to nonseasonal apparel, there’s no shortage of variety. Fun.com produces fandom-fused merchandise featuring more than 50 different licenses, including Care Bears, Friends, and Hocus Pocus.

“Ultimately it was just: What’s the best website and what would we want to sell? The idea of Fun. com is the coolest website I could ever own.” — Tom Fallenstein, Founder of Fun.com

Beetlejuice-inspired footwear | Source: Fun.com

Top: Halloween sweaters; Bottom: A Harley Quinn blazer | Source: Fun.com

“We tend to have a lot of nostalgic licenses that I think people our age specifically really love,” says Kelly. “It’s almost a really nice conversation starter to have a blazer with just that small fandom on the inside, that cool print. Something you can wear to the office and embrace your fun side, but be professional as well.”

EXCLUSIVE FUN

Fun.com sells items from well-known manufacturers, including Cakeworthy, Irregular Choice, and Funko, but it’s the brands’ exclusive products that make it stand out. Fun Wear is a line of apparel that has options for those who want their clothing to scream their favorite fandom, as well as those who want just a touch of nerdiness in their daily wear.

“We have a market for both, so when it comes to the sweaters and blazers, those typically can be worked around in a way that is office-appropriate with nicer, more subtle details. Whereas some of our shoes and backpacks are like in-your-face fandom,” says Anderson.

As an example of this juxtaposition, two Beetlejuice shoes come to mind. Kelly explains that they made a shoe for both types of customers — one was more obvious with the recognizable bold stripes and colors, while the other was the opposite.

“The Recently Deceased Handbook Shoe was a little more subtle. It had a pop of stripes in it and it had character elements, but it was still for someone who wants to wear those with a normal, everyday outfit,” she says.

Currently, the Fun.com team is developing a lot of new products, including everything from Care Bears home decor to horror-inspired shoes. Fallenstein says the company plans to launch new products constantly throughout the next year.

“What makes our product special is that we do take the time to research what’s [trending] in not only geek culture branding, but also actual fashion trends so that we can combine them into one really cool product,” says Anderson, illustrating what inspires his designs.

Kelly says the main thing she thinks about when designing a product is who it’s for. Recently, she worked on a Scooby-Doo blazer and asked herself whether the person wearing the blazer would wear it to the office or to Coachella.“In this case, probably and hopefully both,” she says.

As fans themselves, the team often has to remember that they’re making products for other people to take home. They also have to abide by licensor restrictions, which can vary from providing the exact color scheme they’re allowed to use to letting them run free with whatever their nerdy hearts may desire.

“[We want our products to] bring that joy and happiness and maybe start a conversation with people who might have similar interests,” Fallenstein says. “We don’t want people to shy away from who they are at our company, so we think that way with customers, too. If we can help people embrace themselves, that’s what Fun.com is all about.” ✪

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Savas is an Editorial Assistant at the Pop Insider. She gets all of her life advice from Michael Scott and there’s not a sitcom she hasn’t binged. A proud Hufflepuff, Nicole is dedicated to writing as fairly as she can about her favorite fandoms (and including puns wherever possible).

CAKEWORTHY

UNCANNY BRANDS

Feel the Force during snack time with the Star

Wars: The Mandalorian — Mandalorian Helmet

Popcorn Maker. This popcorn maker looks just like Din Djarin’s helmet, as seen in the Disney+ series. Culinary Jedis and Padawans alike can add kernels into the main chamber, turn on the unit, and enjoy air-popped popcorn in minutes. The top also doubles as a serving bowl.

MSRP: $69.99 Available: GameStop exclusive (Nov. 15)

Whether you are a Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Joey, or Ross, Cakeworthy has a Friends flannel for you. Could this new collection of 100% cotton flannels BE any cuter? No. Each flannel features embroidered details and a quote on the back representative of one of the six iconic characters from the series, such as “PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT” for Ross and “Welcome to the real world, it sucks!” for Monica. They are a unisex fit, perfect for any Friends fanatic.

MSRP: $49.95 | Available: cakeworthystore.com

BANDAI AMERICA

Charaction CUBEs are the collectible, Rubik’s-style puzzles for both casual and hardcore fans. New to the Charaction CUBE lineup comes Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, and Zenitsu Agatsuma from the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba! Each CUBE captures each character’s iconic representation with chibi-style details and functions as a Rubik’s puzzle that you can mix up and solve.

MSRP: $14.99 Available: Amazon, Hot Topic (August)

GOTHAM CITY ONLINE

Fans can look forward to a new year in 2022 with licensed calendars featuring characters and brands from multiple genres of pop culture, including music, TV, movies, and more. Each fandom-focused calendar features unique artwork every month. Choose from dozens of popular themes, including KISS, Schitt’s Creek, Miraculous, Terminator, Assassin’s Creed, Haikyu, Danganronpa, Street Fighter, Bob Ross, Melanie Martinez, Logic, and more.

MSRP: $14.99 Available: Amazon (July)

WWE

Part pro wrestler, part YouTube gamer, 100% icon. Stepping out of the ring and into the Funko Pop! universe is Xavier Woods. The new, exclusive, metallic Xavier Woods (Up Up Down Down) Pop! Vinyl figure stands approximately 4.25 inches tall and is the spitting image of the WWE Superstar.

MSRP: $9.99 Availability: Target exclusive (July 25)

FUNKO GAMES

Hey you guuuuuuys, wanna play a board game? In Goonies: Never Say Die, players embark on a perilous adventure full of dangerous booby traps and treacherous treasure-filled caverns. One player is the Goondocks Master, controlling fearsome foes from the outlaw family, the Fratellis, to the legendary pirate, One-Eyed Willie. The other players take on the role of the Goonies — Mikey, Mouth, Chunk, Data, and Sloth — overcoming cryptic puzzles and deadly challenges with teamwork, strategy, and Data’s clever contraptions. Will the Goonies discover the legendary riches that will save their homes, or will they follow the fate of Chester Copperpot and never see the light of day? The game is designed for 2-5 players ages 12 and up.

MSRP: $39.99 | Available: Target

STEEL CITY

Would you be mine? Could you be mine? This “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Cropped Crewneck is made of super-soft fleece. The Mister Rogers-inspired piece combines fashion and function, perfect for when the temperature drops. It features a whimsical, retro design that nostalgic fans are sure to love. Available in sizes XS-3XL.

MSRP: $50 Available: shopsteelcity.com (September)

ROCKLOVE IGLOO

Gear up for your galactic adventures with the special-edition Star

Wars Vintage Graphic Playmate

Pal 7 Qt Cooler, featuring a retro graphic depicting the saga’s loyal allies Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2D2, along with fearsome villains Darth Vader and Boba Fett. This versatile nine-can cooler keeps your food and drinks cold with style.

MSRP: $39.99 Available: igloocoolers.com

This new jewelry collab is legendary. Marvel X RockLove adds Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to its roster of jewelry in anticipation of the upcoming film release.

Created from never-before-seen prop designs in collaboration with Marvel Studios, the new collection features pieces inspired by the iconography seen throughout the newest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The collection includes a unisex Ten Rings Insignia Ring and Necklace, both depicting the insignia of the Ten Rings organization engraved in solid sterling silver. The Green Pendant Necklace, worn by multiple main characters on screen, features a custom-cut, genuine aventurine gemstone.

MSRP: $130-150 | Available: rocklove.com (August)

YOUTOOZ

Spend real dollars to add some infamous crypto to your collectibles shelf. Dogecoin Youtooz immortalizes the Shiba Inu-inspired, satire-based cryptocurrency that made waves earlier this year. The Dogecoin collectible figure stands 2 inches tall and 5 inches wide and features a pixelated Shiba Inu merged with a gold coin. It was designed in collaboration with Christopher Torres, the creator of NyanCat.

MSRP: $29.99 | Available: Entertainment Earth, youtooz.com (preorder, shipping in October)

WREBBIT 3D

New from Wrebbit 3D comes the Friends — Central Perk Wrebbit 3D Jigsaw Puzzle. Friends fans ages 14 and up can relive the fun of the iconic sitcom while they build up a 3D version of Central Perk using 440 foam-backed pieces. The puzzle features high-quality illustrations of the famous coffee shop, Monica’s apartment, and the show’s six main characters. Fans can also discover numerous hidden references to some of the most iconic episodes of the ’90s TV series.

MSRP: $31.50 | Available: Amazon DISGUISE

SUPER7

Xena: Warrior Princess went from a syndicated TV drama in the ’90 to a sci-fi classic today. Now, fans can relive the epic girl power as seen on the show with Xena and Gabrielle ReAction Figures from Super7. The nostalgic, 3.75-inch Xena action figures feature simple sculpting and stylization and come packaged on a blister card.

MSRP: $18 | Available: super7.com (late July)

Turn yourself into a Funko Pop! with new Funko Masks from Disguise. These one-size-fitsmost jumbo masks feature an adjustable elastic strap and foam at the forehead and chin for comfort. Fans can wear the masks for a Funko-inspired cosplay, or use the attached hangtag to display them on a wall. Characters include Batman, Harley Quinn, Jack Skellington, Stay Puft, Pennywise, and more.

MSRP: $19.99 | Available: Amazon (preorder, shipping in September)

UNIQUE VINTAGE

The Peanuts x Unique Vintage Halloween Gang Rachel Swing Dress is a thrilling homage to the whole

Peanuts gang. The dress features a print of the iconic friends playing games in their cute halloween costumes over a dark purple backdrop. The sweet straps hold to a sweetheart neckline, and the seamed waistline and adjustable belt make for the perfect flattering fit. Available in sizes XS-5X.

MSRP: $98 Available: Unique Vintage (Aug. 9)

YETI YOGA

Channel your inner zen — and Cookie Monster — with a new, whimsical yoga mat. Sesame Street partnered with Yeti Yoga to create abstract and bohemian yoga mats in a light-hearted, expressive, and fun approach to an internationally practiced tradition. The lightweight mats are printed digitally with eco-friendly, UV cure inks, and are free of phthalates and latex.

MSRP: $59.50 | Available: yetiyogaco.com

INSIGHT EDITIONS

Whether you think The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie, celebrate both special occasions with delectable delights from this new cookbook. The Nightmare Before

Christmas: The Official Cookbook

& Entertaining Guide features more than 50 recipes inspired by the classic Disney film, such as Sally Patchwork Layer Cake and Man-Eating Wreath Burritos. It also has detailed planning instructions for Nightmare-themed parties, including DIY decorations, activities, and favors.

MSRP: $29.99 Available: Amazon (Aug. 31)

LOVE YOUR MELON

Heads up: Love Your Melon partnered with Disney Princess on a new collection of washed denim caps and scrunch headbands that are fit for ... well, a princess! The unisex fit caps feature an adjustable slider back. Both the caps and the headbands come in six different colors and feature unique icons that represent Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Rapunzel, or Aurora.

MSRP: $40 (caps); $25 (headbands) Available: loveyourmelon.com (July 8)

STUNNED MIND

Anime fans will stay hydrated in style with the Sailor Moon Crystal Water Bottle with Glitter Wall. The pretty in pink, double-wall insulated water bottle is 100% BPA free and can hold 18 ounces of any cold summer beverage, including water, juice, and smoothies. It features a flip-up sip top and a bold image of Sailor Moon herself.

MSRP: $29.99 Available: stunnedmind.com (Aug. 1)

FANATTIK

Limited to 1976 (the release year of the film) pieces, the Rocky 45th 24 Karat Gold Plated Bicentennial Superfight Ticket is embossed, individually numbered, and comes with a display stand within its presentation box. Fans can celebrate the 45th anniversary of this iconic film with the ultimate Rocky collectible.

MSRP: $49.99 | Available: fanattik.co.uk

DIAMOND SELECT TOYS

Vamps, beware: The Slayer is back. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gallery Buffy Summers PVC Diorama shows the Buffster dusting a vamp with a handy wooden stake. This approximately 9-inch diorama is made of high-quality PVC and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Designed by Caesar and sculpted by Jorge Santos Souza, it comes packaged in a fullcolor window box.

MSRP: $49.99 Available: Entertainment Earth (July 28)

JAZWARES

Calling all rubber duck enthusiasts (yes, that’s a real thing): Jazwares is expanding its collection of Duckz with a second wave. These officially licensed, collectible ducks are dressed up as fan-favorite characters from pop culture franchises like Disney, Pixar, DC Comics, and Looney Tunes. Each duck is packed with personality and authentically detailed. New characters include Donald Duck, Elsa (Frozen), Sully (Monsters Inc.), Batman, and Wonder Woman.

MSRP: $1.00 each Available: Target, Dollar General, Dollar Tree

JAKKS PACIFIC

Extend the fun of Apex Legends IRL with the new Revenant — Assimilation Edition 6-inch-scale action figure. This highly detailed, poseable action figure features 25 points of articulation and thoughtful construction. It comes complete with detailed accessories and a figure stand. The deluxe fifth panel packaging provides collectors with multiple display options, including a closed box, open panel front view, or closed panel back view.

MSRP: $29.99 | Available: GameStop (July 19)