What Forbidden Planet does

Forbidden Planet, operating under the legal entity Forbidden Planet (Scotland) Ltd (company number SC109033), is a UK-based specialty retailer of pop culture merchandise founded in 1975. The company operates 18 stores across the United Kingdom plus one location in Dublin, Ireland, trading under the Forbidden Planet and Worlds Apart banners, and maintains sister-company relationships with Nostalgia & Comics under the broader Forbidden Planet International umbrella. Its product assortment spans comic books (via standing order subscriptions and single-issue sales), manga, graphic novels, Funko Pop! vinyl figures, Loungefly accessories, trading card games (Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Lorcana, Riftbound), blind boxes (Smiski, Sonny Angel, Kenelephant), Gunpla model kits, plush toys, and posters, with exclusive product allocations from Funko and Loungefly serving as a key differentiator.

The business is conducted through three primary channels: physical retail stores, dedicated e-commerce websites (shop.forbiddenplanet.co.uk, comics.forbiddenplanet.co.uk, loungefly.forbiddenplanet.co.uk), and direct ordering via email or social media messaging with PayPal-based invoicing and home delivery or in-store collection fulfillment. Supporting infrastructure includes a Loungefly Members Club (lifetime £/€10 fee providing 10% discounts and early access to exclusives), in-store events such as comic artist signings and Blind Box Weekenders, and a social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (Twitter) with location-specific accounts for each store.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly transactional retail with one-off product sales; the Loungefly Club introduces a minor recurring element, and charity partnerships (funneling proceeds from plastic bag sales to regional UK and Ireland charities) are a peripheral CSR activity rather than a revenue stream. The company is privately held with no external funding rounds documented, and pricing is not publicly disclosed, with customers directed to contact individual stores. No AI/ML capabilities, public APIs, or proprietary technology platforms are disclosed.

Name

Forbidden Planet

Legal name

Forbidden Planet (Scotland) Ltd

Website

https://forbiddenplanet.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forbidden Planet is a UK and Ireland specialty retailer founded in 1975 operating 19 stores plus e-commerce sites, selling pop culture collectibles including Funko Pops, Loungefly accessories, comics, manga, trading cards, and blind boxes to enthusiast consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pop Culture Collectibles Retail

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Pop Culture Collectibles Retail (Figures, Statues, Funko, etc.) (CRALAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Sports Trading Cards Retail (TCG/Entertainment) (CRALAGAB), Collectibles, Trading Cards & Blind Box Toys Retail (CRALAFAI), Comic Books & Graphic Novel Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAH)

Keywords

• Pop culture retail
• Comic book store
• Collectibles merchandise
• Trading card games
• Anime merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Merchandise Sales: Physical retail store sales across 18 UK and Ireland locations, offering pop culture merchandise including comics, Funko Pops, Loungefly bags, trading cards, manga, anime, blind boxes, and collectibles.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online sales through dedicated websites for merchandise, comics, and Loungefly products. Customers can order via email or social media messaging, with home delivery or collect-in-store options.
3. Loungefly Membership Club: One-off lifetime membership fee of £/€10 for Loungefly Club, offering 10% discount on Loungefly products, early access to exclusives, and member-only availability.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forbidden Planet operates specialty pop culture retail stores across the UK and Ireland and complementary e-commerce sites selling comic books, manga, graphic novels, Funko Pop! vinyl figures, Loungefly fashion accessories, trading cards (Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Lorcana, Riftbound), blind box collectibles (Smiski, Sonny Angel, Kenelephant), Gunpla model kits, plush toys, and posters. The company supplements physical and online retail with a weekly/monthly comic standing order subscription service, home delivery and collect-in-store fulfillment, the lifetime Loungefly Members Club (with 10% discount and early exclusive access), and in-store comic signing events.

Product overview

Forbidden Planet is a UK-based pop culture retailer operating physical stores across the UK and Ireland under the Forbidden Planet and Worlds Apart brands. The company sells a diverse portfolio of collectible merchandise including Funko Pop! vinyl figures, Loungefly accessories, comic books (new releases and subscriptions), manga and graphic novels, trading cards (Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, One Piece), blind boxes (Smiski, Sonny Angel, Kenelephant), Gunpla model kits, posters, and plush toys. The product ecosystem is unified through physical retail stores, e-commerce websites (shop.forbiddenplanet.co.uk, comics.forbiddenplanet.co.uk, loungefly.forbiddenplanet.co.uk), and services including home delivery, in-store collection, comic standing order subscriptions, and the Loungefly Members Club loyalty program. The company also hosts events including comic signings and blind box weekenders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forbidden Planet & Worlds Apart Retail Stores Physical retail showrooms across the UK (Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hanley, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield, Wolverhampton) and Dublin, Ireland, selling comics, manga, Funko Pop! figures, Loungefly accessories, trading cards, blind boxes, and collectibles.
• Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures Collectible vinyl figures featuring characters from pop culture franchises including Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, anime, and video games, including Forbidden Planet-exclusive Funko Pop! variants.
• Loungefly Accessories Licensed fashion accessories including mini backpacks, wallets, purses, and pin badges featuring Disney, anime, film, and TV properties, including exclusive Loungefly designs.
• Comic Books New comic book releases across Marvel, DC, Image, and independent publishers, available via standing order subscriptions and single issue purchases in-store or through the comics web store.
• Manga and Graphic Novels Manga series and graphic novels across various publishers including One Piece, Blue Lock, and Witch Hat Atelier, available in standard and special collector's editions.
• Trading Cards Trading card games including Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Lorcana, and Riftbound, with sealed products, single cards, and buylist services.
• Blind Boxes Blind box collectibles including Smiski, Sonny Angel, and Kenelephant figures, with seasonal releases and special edition variants.
• Gunpla Model Kits Gundam plastic model kits (Gunpla) from Bandai, featuring various scales and difficulty levels for hobbyists and collectors.
• Kenelephant Collectibles Japanese capsule toy collectibles including Pokkoshi, Hello in the World!!, Boiboi, Udonkenstein, and Maneki-Neko figures, featuring artist collaborations and sofubi-style mini figures, available exclusively at Forbidden Planet International and Worlds Apart.
• Comic Standing Order Subscription Weekly or monthly comic book subscription service offering extra discounts, available in all physical stores with free sign-up.
• Home Delivery Service Mail order service allowing customers to order merchandise and comic books via email or social media, with items shipped via PayPal invoicing including shipping costs.
• Collect from Store Order placement via email or social media with in-store collection, invoiced through PayPal with notification when items are ready for pickup.
• Loungefly Members Club Lifetime membership program offering 10% discount on Loungefly products (with exclusions), early access to exclusive items, and member-only availability, with one-off £10 joining fee.
• Comic Signing Events In-store comic artist signing events featuring notable creators such as Liam Sharp, held at various Forbidden Planet locations.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Hive – ShrewsburyminorOthersCharity partner receiving donations from plastic bag sales. A wellbeing organization running projects across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin offering creative activities, gigs, films, and art exhibitions.
• Nottinghamshire Wildlife TrustminorOthersCharity partner - the county's leading conservation charity with nature reserves across Nottinghamshire, part of a UK network of 46 local Wildlife Trusts.
• The Red Foundation – Emergency Dachshund Rescue UKminorOthersCharity partner focused on protecting the health and well-being of dogs in their care and advocating for the breed.
• Flynne's BarnminorOthersCharity partner providing ongoing specialist support for young cancer community through online counselling and residential stays in the Lake District.
• Tŷ Hafan Children's HospiceminorOthersCharity partner providing hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions in Wales.
• Off The FenceminorOthersCharity partner resisting poverty and empowering people in Brighton & Hove.
• Birmingham Children's Hospital CharityminorOthersCharity partner supporting Birmingham Children's Hospital which treats 100,000 sick kids every year.
• Hull 4 HeroesminorOthersCharity partner helping veterans transition to civilian life with housing, education, and job support.
• LauraLynn Ireland's Children's HospiceminorOthersCharity partner - Ireland's Children's Hospice providing care for children with life-limiting conditions.
• YMCA England & WalesminorOthersCharity partner intensively supporting 572,000 young people every year across England and Wales.
• Kidney Cancer UK / Kidney Care UKminorOthersCharity partner raising awareness and funding research for kidney cancer treatments.
• The Conservation VolunteersminorOthersCharity partner creating healthier and happier communities through connecting people with green spaces.
• Great Ormond Street HospitalminorOthersCharity partner with a research fund to help find cures for children with life-threatening diseases.
• MINDminorOthersCharity partner providing advice and support for mental health issues.
• Alzheimer's Research UKminorOthersCharity partner - UK's leading dementia research charity dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure.
• Children with Cancer UKminorOthersCharity partner dedicated to raising money for research and providing care for children with cancer and their families.
• Glasgow Children's Hospital CharityminorOthersCharity partner ensuring babies, children and young people in Glasgow receive the best possible care.
• LATCH Welsh Children's Cancer CharityminorOthersCharity partner supporting children and families being treated by the Oncology Unit at the Children's Hospital of Wales.
• Worlds ApartminorOthersSister company operating under the same parent (Forbidden Planet Scotland Ltd), with separate branded stores in Birmingham and Liverpool.
• Nostalgia & ComicsminorOthersSister company operating under the same parent (Forbidden Planet Scotland Ltd) using various trading names.
• FunkocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorForbidden Planet serves as a key retail partner for Funko exclusives, offering exclusive Pop! vinyl figures such as One Piece Sanji Raid, Sonic Darkspine Sonic, Harry Potter Severus Snape, Star Wars Darth Bane, Death Note Ryuk, and One Piece character sets. These are retailer-exclusive items available at Forbidden Planet & Worlds Apart stores.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Magic Madhouse: UK trading card game specialist selling Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and other TCGs. Direct overlap with Forbidden Planet's TCG category across single cards, sealed product, and buylist services.
• BoxLunch: US pop culture and lifestyle retailer carrying Funko, Loungefly, and licensed collectibles. Closely comparable to Forbidden Planet's Loungefly-led proposition and exclusive collectibles assortment.
• Hot Topic: US-based pop culture retailer focused on Funko, apparel, and licensed collectibles. Highly comparable model to Forbidden Planet in product mix, customer demographic, and exclusive-driven merchandising.
• Zavvi: UK-based pop culture and entertainment retailer offering Funko, merchandise, collectibles, and games. Directly comparable as a UK specialist competing for the same pop culture collector wallet with online and physical channels.
• FYE (For Your Entertainment): US pop culture and entertainment retailer carrying Funko, collectibles, and licensed merchandise. Comparable category mix and exclusive-driven merchandising approach to Forbidden Planet.
• Menkind: UK retailer of gifts, gadgets, and pop culture collectibles including Funko and licensed merchandise. Comparable on Funko-led assortment and exclusive collectibles merchandising in the UK.
• Pop In A Box: UK-based Funko Pop! subscription box service delivering monthly mystery Pop! figures. Directly comparable to Forbidden Planet's subscription and blind box ecosystem and Funko focus.

Broad incumbents

• Smyths Toys: Major UK and Ireland toy and hobby retailer with substantial collectibles, trading card, and merchandise ranges. Comparable on product categories but a broader toy-led proposition rather than pop-culture specialist.
• HMV: Long-standing UK entertainment retailer with a growing pop culture and collectibles section. Overlaps with Forbidden Planet on Funko, vinyl, and merchandise but operates a broader music/video proposition.
• The Works: UK high street discount retailer stocking books, toys, hobby and collectibles at value price points. Overlaps with Forbidden Planet on books, toys, and hobby categories but at a lower price positioning.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FPIBelfast
• Instagraminstagram.com/forbiddenplanetbelfast
• Xx.com/FPBelfast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbidden-planet-international-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forbidden Planet