Kid Robot
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| Private | |
| Industry | Collectables, designer toys |
| Fate | Acquired by National Entertainment Collectibles Association |
| Founded | 2002 in California, United States |
| Founder | Paul Budnitz |
| Headquarters | Boulder, Colorado, United States |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Frank Kozik (Creative director) |
| Products | |
| Website | kidrobot |
Kidrobot is a producer and retailer of designer toys, vinyl art toys and collectibles founded in 2002 by Paul Budnitz, specializing in artist-created toys and imports from Japan, Hong Kong, and Europe. Kidrobot also makes Kidrobot Mascots, which are figures of their main logo. These figures are usually nicknamed KR (Kidrobot's common nickname) and the number of the Mascot. For example, the first Mascot was KR1. Some figures also have names; for example, KR1 was called Brooklyn. In August 2008, Kidrobot collaborated with jewelry designer, Tarina Tarantino, to launch a limited edition jewelry line, kidrobot by Tarina Tarantino.
In November 2014, National Entertainment Collectibles Association Inc. (NECA) acquired Boulder-based art toy company Kidrobot. Terms were not disclosed. Artist-driven Kidrobot remains headquartered in Boulder, CO. Frank Kozik, the famed concert-poster artist and creator of Kid robot's Labbit vinyl toy products, joined the company as creative director in 2014.
Kidrobot relocated to Boulder from New York in 2010. The company has since closed its retail stores in Boulder, New York, London, and Los Angeles. Paul Budnitz, who created the toys in his garage in 2002, no longer works at Kidrobot.
Kidrobot is headquartered on Pearl Street in Downtown Boulder, Colorado. Kidrobot has a commercial direct to consumer website, as well operating retail stores in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Their SoHo, Los Angeles and Boulder retail locations closed in 2014. A selection of Kidrobot figures are carried by Urban Outfitters and Barnes & Noble, both online and in its retail stores across the U.S.
Most items are produced in limited numbers and are, or become, collector's items. The retail stores feature a gallery of designer toys and related art, and often host artist signings to commemorate the release of limited-edition figures, such as the Bondage Labbit by Frank Kozik. Collectible Dunnys have been sold in limited edition box sets. "Kidrobot toys retail anywhere from $5 to $25,000, and many appreciate in value over time." Many older Dunnys are very rare and can only be found online through websites such as eBay or Amazon at higher prices than the original Kidrobot retail pricing.
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Wikipedia