How Funko Turns Fans into Its Biggest Partner

Funko’s Lauren Winarski is set to share how the company has leveraged fandom to take the Funko brand to new heights.

August 11, 2020

Funko is synonymous with fandom. Its cavalcade of Pop! figures have become the pinnacle of pop culture collectibles and helped establish a fan club in their own right. Pops! have covered fandom of all types with collectibles that run the gamut from

Naruto

Debbie Harry

Adore Delano

. Now, in 2020, Funko has its eyes set on expansion.

Over the past few years, the company has been in acquisition mode, acquiring three different companies and developing its digital footprint by using Pop! as an

entertainment platform

. To better explain the role Funko's recent moves play in the firm's future plans, join Lauren Winarski, senior manager, brand and licensing, Funko, at this year's Festival of Lice

Winarski joins the Licensing Leadership Summit roster with years of experience in the consumer products space. She has worked at Funko since 2015. Before working at Funko, Winarski spent eight years at Twentieth Century Fox where she focused on product development. Her role saw her work on company properties,

including James Cameron's "Avatar," "Sons of Anarchy," "Titanic" and "The Simpsons." Before her time at Fox, Winarski also worked at Sony Pictures Consumer Products and the studio's “Spider-Man” franchise.

I Want it Now!: Using the Fan to Expand Distribution

Join Winarski’s session, "I Want it Now!: Using the Fan Expand Distribution," at this year's

Licensing Leadership Summit

taking place March 16–17 at the

New York Hilton Midtown

in New York, NY.

In the session, Winarski will offer insight into Funko's recent acquisitions and discuss how Funko has leveraged the passion of the fans to expand the company around the world.