EVERETT — Funko, the pop culture toymaker headquartered here, is closing its Everett distribution center and consolidating at a new facility it has leased in Arizona.
“In an effort to better serve our customers and fans, Funko has made the decision to consolidate our warehouse operations to a single facility in Buckeye, Arizona, in 2022,” a company spokesperson said in a statement Thursday to The Daily Herald.
“We will be working with our distribution center employees to support them through the transition, including potential relocation and/or other opportunities within the organization.
“Funko will continue its investment in the city of Everett and is currently hiring for dozens of positions across the company,” the statement said. The company declined to provide further details about plans.
Funko operates two warehouses in Everett near Paine Field, at 1202 Shuksan Way and 6305 36th Ave. W., which reportedly employ hundreds of workers.
In October, the company leased an 863,000-square-foot warehouse in Buckeye, about 30 miles west of Phoenix.
According to a report by the Phoenix Business Journal, the company plans to employ about 360 people. Funko plans to occupy the space by April 1, according to the report.
This winter Funko began advertising for various positions at the Arizona location, including a human resources coordinator, a purchasing and inventory manager and warehouse positions, according to the company’s LinkedIn account.
Funko’s corporate headquarters are in downtown Everett. The company opened those offices in the old Bon Marche building in 2017. That same year, Funko went public on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the stock symbol FNKO. Shares of Funko closed at $16.94 Thursday.
Funko was founded in 1998 in Snohomish by Mike Becker. Bobbleheads and coin banks based on cereal advertising mascots and retro characters were among the early products.
In 2005, Becker sold the company to Brian Mariotti, who expanded the portfolio through licensing deals for popular characters from comics, movies and TV shows.
Five years later, Funko debuted its signature Pop! line of vinyl figures with oversized heads and giant eyes.
Andrew Perlmutter took over as CEO this month after Mariotti announced he was stepping aside to become the firm’s chief creative officer. Mariotti continues as a member of the board of directors.
Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: @JanicePods.
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