I know there’s a lot going on with the hustle and bustle surrounding the holidays because I got to write the words “hustle” and “bustle”. Honestly, I can’t think of another time of year where that phrase would be appropriate to use. My point being…it’s busy.
You’ve likely been assaulted from all sides by gift guides, and shopping, and Mariah Carey. It’s hard to take some time for yourself. What is it that YOU want? Good taste dictates that there’s an embargo on buying stuff for yourself from November to the end of December but they never said anything about tossing some dollars at a Kickstarter campaign!
Check out this press release!
Los Angeles, CA – – Rockabilia.com, the largest online indie US retailer of licensed band merch, has joined forces with boutique timepiece company Vannen Watches on a new venture called Encore Toy Co.
Frankie Blydenburgh (co-owner of Rockabilia) and David Stowe (owner of Vannen) have both spent years working with bands and artists through their respective companies. From tiny indie artists to stadium juggernauts, they’ve worked with nearly every band you’ve ever heard of and used their unique talents to help artists create and distribute high-quality merch for their fans. And with Encore Toy Company they’ll be working together to create collectible figures designed and inspired by your favorite musical icons.
Encore’s first project launched on Friday, December 6, 2024 as a Kickstarter campaign for a vinyl collectible inspired by punk legends, Descendents. The iconic drawings of lead singer Milo Aukerman have graced countless album covers, t-shirts, posters and more since the bands formation and now Encore Toy Co. will bring him to life as a 7” vinyl figure.
Since 1977, Descendents have been an iconic and formidable force in the punk scene. Their sound swings between sonic power pop and classic punk rock, and songs like “Good Good Things”, “Hope”, and “Suburban Home” have been fist-in-the-air punk rock anthems for decades. Their humor and DIY ethos have made them timeless, and both founders of Encore are thrilled to work with them again on this unique project.
“Product development is my favorite aspect of working at Rockabilia, and I’m constantly conceptualizing new products and daydreaming about future ones. Getting to tackle a project like this with a new partner on a platform as robust as Kickstarter is a dream come true for me.” said Encore co-founder Frankie Blydenburgh.
“Launching on Kickstarter gives Descendents fans and collectors alike the opportunity to really be part of this project. Kickstarter’s real power as a platform is that it makes it easy for us to communicate with supporters in real time, and build an excited and engaged community around this project” said Encore co-founder, David Stowe.
Our very first project is something we’re incredibly proud of… a vinyl figure inspired by punk legends, DESCENDENTS. The iconic artwork of lead singer, Milo Aukerman has adorned countless album covers, t-shirts, posters, and more since the band’s formation. Now, with official licensing from the band, Encore Toy Co. will bring Milo to life as a 7″ vinyl figure based on a concept and 3D sculpt by Pasa.
I love seeing crowdfunding campaigns for stuff like this. Indie toy companies are out there cranking out some awesome niche products that larger toy companies may take a pass on and it’s also a way to ensure that the toys are getting directly into the hands fans that really want them.
The campaign runs until January 5th and features some pretty cool stretch goals too! Check it out!