Learn how this leading purveyor of pop culture collectibles teamed up with STAT to streamline Walmart shortage deductions and seize new recovery opportunities.
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$1.8M in Walmart deductions recovered
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$200K in Target deductions recovered
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75% recovery rate for Walmart deductions
“STAT’s deep knowledge of the Walmart deductions system is unparalleled. Their team never misses a nuance, and we’re recovering revenue faster as a result.” — Lisa Perala, Deduction Specialist at Funko
About
Funko is a consumer products brand that designs, sources, and distributes licensed pop culture products, including vinyl figures, action toys, apparel, and more. From its humble beginnings as a bobblehead company, Funko has hit $1 billion in annual sales and entered licensing agreements with major franchises like Marvel, DC Comics, and Disney.
Challenge
Funko Required Walmart Expertise to Manage High-Volume Shortage Deductions
Funko products line the shelves of Walmart stores across the US, offering pop culture fandoms a tangible way to connect with their favorite characters. This major retail partnership has enabled the brand to dramatically scale its footprint and introduce more fans to its premium collectibles.
But managing a relationship with a major retailer like Walmart means navigating highly detailed deduction management processes. Their complex deduction codes and compliance requirements require specialized expertise and a proactive approach to conducting post-audit reviews and disputing shortage claims.
That’s why Deduction Specialist, Lisa Perala, had historically relied on a third-party service to manage the high volume of shortage claims pouring in from Walmart, Walmart.com, and Sam’s Club.
While this third-party service had worked for a while, it started to show limitations at scale, slowing recovery timelines. Plus, it didn’t offer Lisa and her team visibility into the audit process. As a result, she had no way to track what was being recovered or see if recovery opportunities were slipping through the cracks. And with several other clients to manage, she didn’t always have time to chase down her existing service for this intel.
Lisa knew they needed a new partner with deep Walmart expertise and a more transparent, hands-on approach. STAT offered precisely that: a bespoke solution with real-time visibility, expert support, and the tools to track and manage claims efficiently.
“Post-audits are a whole different animal that my team doesn’t have the bandwidth to learn. Handing that job over to STAT is a major time saver.”
Solution
STAT’s Walmart Specialists Tackle Post-Audits and Recoveries From End to End
With STAT, Funko has a revenue recovery solution and team of Walmart experts to supercharge shortage deduction management.
After a turnkey onboarding, the STAT team performed a historical audit and immediately began identifying shortage deductions. “STAT has an eagle eye for surfacing recovery opportunities, with post-audit claims,” Lisa says. “They give me the information to dispute claims I wouldn’t have the knowledge to question.”
STAT doesn’t stop at identifying the opportunities either. Their dedicated team manages dispute filing, automatically filing disputes on Lisa’s behalf. Thanks to their deep knowledge of Walmart’s deduction protocols, every submission is worded to maximize approval and accelerate recovery. This rapid, expert-led process enables Funko to resolve deduction claims faster and maintain steadier cash flow.
Even though Lisa and her team hardly have to touch most disputes, they still enjoy full transparency and control over the process. STAT’s Deduction Management System (DMS) portal gives them a 360-degree view of all deductions, new recovery opportunities, and open disputes. With full visibility into everything STAT handles for Funko, the team can comfortably give their attention to the edge cases that require their own intervention and follow-ups with Walmart.
If Lisa ever has a question or encounters a complex case, she can count on STAT’s attentive support team for fast, expert assistance. The team is always available to troubleshoot issues, provide progress updates, and share best practices for maximizing recoveries and proactively avoiding future shortage claims.
In fact, the Walmart deductions workflow went so smoothly that Funko’s leadership team decided to expand STAT’s scope to include Target. Today, STAT handles all deductions and post-audit reviews for Target, and the recovered revenue is already rolling in.
Between STAT’s hands-on services and real-time deduction visibility, recovery timelines are now much faster—no matter the claim volume. Knowing Funko’s Walmart and Target deductions are in good hands, Lisa has more time to support the relationships with the brand’s other retail partners.
“STAT has dispute emails down to a science. They know exactly how to word every case to put money back in our pockets.”
Results
Funko Recovers Deductions 75% Faster
With STAT, Funko gained more control over shortage deductions, saved time, and quickly returned revenue to its P&L. Now, the brand can enjoy all the strategic benefits of a Walmart relationship while effortlessly managing the deduction process.
The numbers say it all:
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$1.8M in Walmart deductions recovered
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$200K in Target deductions recovered
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75% recovery rate for Walmart deductions
The Funko team knows they’ve found a deduction management partner they can trust for the long haul. STAT’s extensive Walmart and Target expertise has already been a boon to their bottom line, and the team has no doubt that the partnership will continue to deliver value for years to come.
“From their hands-on help to their quick turnaround times, the STAT team is ideal to work with. They come to the table with a unique perspective and skill set, and they know the system inside and out.”
