Today we’d like to introduce you to Arnold Cuervo.
Hi Arnold, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2016, I met my current wife and watched the office for the very first time. I began contacting Funko asking them to make funko pops based on the office. They told me at that time that the licensing was too expensive, and the show was too old.
On, January 1, 2019, my wife asked me to start a new year’s resolution. In order to avoid going to the gym, I sarcastically started my Instagram account (@theofficefunkopops) in order to make funko aware that we needed “The office” themed funko pops. I began posting renderings of what the office funko pops could potentially look like and it just took off. When cast members began to repost my pictures, my account reached 10k seemingly overnight (March 2019).
In late 2019, the first office funko pops were finally made. (Literally the first new year’s resolution I have ever completed). May 2020, I lost my job as a top salesman in the cruise industry due to the raging pandemic. I am a father of 4 children (my 4th was born the day before I lost my job). So I had to get creative.
In June 2020, I noticed that due to the pandemic, pop culture conventions had stopped and I, therefore, used my connections on Instagram to convert my then 15k “followers” into autographed funko pops “buyers”. I started flying out to L.A. to meet with cast members from the office that I met via Instagram and do private autograph signings in bulk.
As the Pandemic slowly becomes an endemic I did not want it to ruin what I had built over the past two years. So I teamed up with an established convention promoter and co-founded Dunder Con™ the largest Office only Cast reunion convention since the tv series ended.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the toughest parts of being an autograph reseller was dealing with other autograph resellers. They can be very cutthroat.
I started by sharing the celebrities that I was able to attain with other resellers so that they could all come up together. One, in particular, benefited greatly from me but when they got another office talent that cut me out and didn’t want to let me get pieces signed.
So I just decided to shun that particular one and build a network of autograph resellers who help each other. It has been great now working with others.
We’ve been impressed with theofficefunkopops.com & dundercon.com, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At “theofficefunkopops.com” we are a trusted source for certified authentic “the office” only cast member autographs. We have done autograph signings with most of the cast. We sell photos, 3×9 the office signs and our most popular seller funko pops.
Dunder Con is a convention that I Co-Founded with my business partner Jesse. He is a toy store owner and he has hosted several conventions in the past. We came together to create Dunder Con which is the Largest The Office Cast Reunion since the series wrap!
I wanted a place where I could share all of the amazing experiences that I personally had while meeting cast members and this was the perfect way to do that and meet my followers.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Before searching for a mentor I think the most important thing to do is to understand your shortcomings. Be true to yourself and set your goals. Once you have set those then you can begin the process of searching for a mentor or even a few mentors.
The biggest part of finding a mentor isn’t understanding what he/she is. It’s actually knowing what he/she isn’t. Always find the best person for the task at hand. Even if it’s not you.
Pricing:
- Autographed Funko Pops Staring at $60
- Autographed Photos Starting at $50
- Autographed 3×9 The Office Signs Start at $45
- Dunder Con General Admission Starts at $45
- Dunder Con VIP Starts at $249
Contact Info:
- Email: arnold@dundercon.com
- Website: theofficefunkopops.com. dundercon.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theofficefunkopops instagram.com/dunder_con
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dundercon
- Twitter: twitter.com/dunder_con
Image Credits
Angela Kinsey, Creed Bratton, Rainn Wilson, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgarnter, Hide Imura, Jackie Debatin, Noel Petok , and Paul Lieberstein
