Having a passion for collecting things is a common and enjoyable hobby for many people. It can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor that allows individuals to explore their interests, express their creativity, and develop a deep appreciation for the objects they collect. Passion for collecting things can be driven by personal interests, historical or cultural appreciation, sentimental value, the thrill of the hunt, creative expression, and social connections. It is a hobby that can bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment to collectors, and can often be a lifelong pursuit. What if someone turns his passion into a career?
There is a famous quotation, “Passion is the difference between having a job or having a career.”
Matthew Granberg, Founder & CEO of MG Collectibles and Toys (MGCT) turned his passion of collecting things into his career. “I started off in college studying business management. I’ve always been a huge fan of all things pop-culture, and collecting things from my favorite titles, such as Star Wars or Scooby-Doo. I always knew I wanted to start my own business and be my own boss, and as soon as I started college, I founded MG Collectibles and Toys. Half-way through my college career, I decided that I wanted to pursue my business full-time, and so I dropped out to do exactly that,”stated Matthew.
MG Collectibles and Toys: One Stop Shop
Matthew founded MGCT in 2019, first originating as a resale business and selling just the collectibles of other established companies. One day he decided that he always wanted to build his own brand from the ground up, with his own unique products to stand out from the competition. As previously stated, he was always an avid collector and had a true passion for design, thus making running his company a dream come true for him.
MG Collectibles and Toys currently sells 1:6 scale display collectibles for the Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes brands. This year in 2023, they will be expanding to many different types of collectibles, from affordable to more high-end products, and will even begin heavily focusing on apparel, graphic posters, art prints, and even NFTs!
They are different from competitors because of specializing in cartoon based pop culture, thus making them hold more niche products that aren’t much seen anywhere else. They will also be quickly expanding to more well-known and popular licenses, while still focusing on the more niche ones. MGCT aims to corner every area of the industry, making them the consumers’ one-stop-shop on a global scale. Along with this, another thing that sets them apart from the competitors is that they are now 100% manufactured in the USA, rather than being overseas. This allows for quicker lead times, and better improved products, which will ensure the customers thorough satisfaction in their purchase.
Throughout the development process, they take notes from consumers to ensure that what the product team is putting out reaches their high level of satisfaction. Whether it be with polls, social media, or reaching out through forums, they do the best they can to properly gauge customer response.
Strategic Vision for MG Collectibles and Toys
As all successful business owners know, strategic vision is important for any organization. It provides a clear direction, facilitates goal setting and planning, encourages innovation and adaptability, fosters motivation and engagement, and can lead to a competitive advantage. It serves as a guiding star that helps organizations or individuals navigate through uncertainties and complexities, and achieve their desired future state.
A compelling and inspiring strategic vision can create a sense of purpose and meaning, and foster a shared sense of belonging and commitment among team members.
While being asked about the strategic vision for MG Collectibles and Toys, Matthew remarks, “We aim to be the global consumers’ one-stop shop for pop-culture products by 2025. We have brought on an excellent team to ensure that happens, and help all future employees correctly connect with that goal. Our Chief Product Officer, Don Widmer, is an industry veteran, and has worked for numerous successful companies in our niche. He brings on board paramount product experience and will ensure our development process goes smoothly, ensuring optimum customer satisfaction. Additionally, our Chief Operating Officer, Peter Muzzio, handles all our warehousing, inventory, and shipping, making certain all deliveries are swift and accurate. Last but certainly not least, our Chief Strategy Officer, Brian Esposito, brings onboard a plethora of current and future partners to best help us achieve our goals and maintain a path to success.” Being a prominent business leader, he also brings on much knowledge and experience to keep everybody from our customers to our employees happy.
A Professional Team Preventing the Risks
Professional teams play a crucial role in preventing risks by leveraging their expertise, collaborative approach, risk assessment and management skills, compliance with regulations, effective communication and coordination, and commitment to continuous monitoring and improvement. Their proactive approach and comprehensive approach to risk prevention can help organizations avoid potential setbacks and achieve their goals with greater confidence.
This is something Matthew strongly believes in. While asked about the company’s biggest strength, he pointed to his executive team. “In my opinion, the biggest strength of our company is in our team. Our CPO Don, brings over 30 years of experience in art and design, he also has plenty of experience in the toy & apparel industries, and has worked with many of the same licenses that we have acquired and will acquire in the future, which will allow us to skip the “making relationships” step with them, cause he already has them!” he stated.
“Secondly, Peter Muzzio, our COO, has a lot of knowledge and experience in logistics, warehousing and storage, so he is another crucial member to round out our team. Newly, reiterating our CSO Brian Esposito; His vast network of relationships that he has built over his decades of experience in helping businesses grow is crucial to the ambition of our company. The biggest risk for an entrepreneur is always to take that leap, and actually start your dream business. Every business venture is a risk, and having the drive and determination to start one already puts you ahead of everybody else.”
Foreshadowing on the Upcoming Challenges
While asked about challenges the industry is facing right now or might face in upcoming time, Matthew remarks, “Currently, we’re not in the best economic times. Our industry, though, has proven to power through all prior combats, always coming out on top. Whether it be the economic recession of 2008, or the Covid-19 pandemic, our industry always powered through and saw positive growth and returns. In my opinion the biggest challenge that is currently facing our industry is not a recession, it’s rather the manufacturing aspect. I don’t see the most positive relations coming with other countries, especially China, and that being where most of my industry is manufactured, would prove to be quite difficult for most. But not us! With us bringing on a US manufacturing partner to produce 100% of our products, that already puts us ahead of the competition, beating them now, and prior to when the hard times get even worse.
A Great Leader
Good leadership is critical for the success of any company. It sets the direction, engages employees, makes sound decisions, manages change, communicates effectively, and upholds ethical standards. Investing in developing and nurturing strong leadership skills within an organization is vital for sustained growth and success.
Matthew strongly stated, “Having empathy and vulnerability are very important as a leader. If your employees are failing to deliver, or they are having trouble adapting, it most likely could be an issue with you. It’s your responsibility as the leader to make sure you’re doing the best you can to allow your team to succeed. Compassion and honesty are also significantly important, as they give your team the ability to trust you, and put their undying faith and loyalty in what you’re building.”
At MG Collectibles and Toys, they ensure everybody who is hired has a passion for the products they are creating and for the licenses they are utilizing.
“Without passion in the development process, your products can fall by the wayside, and not stand out. Bringing on those with passion, allows you to have full confidence in them, and their ability to not only create products that the consumers’ love, but that they themselves love as well. Every decision I make goes through my team and advisors, regardless of how big or small. Ultimately it’s of course my decision on what to do, but by listening to my team, and their invaluable industry experience, you ensure that your company is doing the best it can to succeed,” says Mr. Matthew.
Final Remarks From Mr. Granberg for Aspiring Business People Was to, “Take that jump! If you’re thinking of starting a business, do it. There will always be a reason not to, but the joy and freedom that can come with your success is well worth the risk.”