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The Pop Insider Announces Debut “Collector’s Choice Awards” Winners

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The Press Release:
More than 25,000 fans made their voices heard about their favorite merch of 2025 in The Pop Insider’s first-ever Collectors’ Choice Awards. Now, the winners have finally been revealed.

The Collectors’ Choice Awards are a new, fan-voted awards program celebrating the best of licensed merchandise. Fans voted in 17 categories, picking their favorites from apparel and accessories, con exclusives, home goods, tabletop gaming, and more. Winners from many fandoms are represented, including Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings, Power Rangers, and more.
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The Pop Insider Reveals Debut “Collector’s Choice Awards” Finalists

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The Press Release:
The Pop Insider, the only publication completely dedicated to officially licensed merchandise and pop culture fandom, is proud to reveal the finalists for its inaugural Collectors’ Choice Awards. The awards celebrate the most innovative, creative, and fan-driven licensed products, experiences, and collaborations across entertainment, toys, collectibles, fashion, beauty, home goods, and more.

Now in its latest edition, the Collectors’ Choice Awards spotlight the brands, creators, and companies that continue to raise the bar for fandom-focused merchandise. A panel of more than 20 licensing industry professionals and pop culture experts voted on their favorite items, experiences, companies and more of 2025, resulting in nearly 90 finalists across 16 categories. Finalists were selected based on a multi-point criteria, including originality, quality, fan appeal, market impact, and overall significance in pop culture.
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PiercingMetal’s Scenes from “The Play Date” @ 360 Madison

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It was only a few days ago when the PiercingMetal High Command was in attendance at the collaborative effort known as “The Play Date” (announced HERE). This offering came care of the fine folks at the Toy Insider, The Toy Association and The Toybook and it was done as a bit of a preview of some awesome toys that were coming soon. As you know, the famed Toy Fair was not happening in the winter months this year but would be returning in the Fall after the COVID-19 pause. While I loved exploring this one, the Kidult offerings were limited and so I present those findings with our readership in this narrative. Let’s start with the Playmates Toys products.

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toy photographs, the play date 2023, toy photographs from the play date 2023, ken pierce media photography

As you know, Playmates Toys has held the license for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” toys and assorted collectibles for decades and I always love seeing what they have coming down the pike. I’ve been a fan of this franchise forever and still remember snagging early issues of the Mirage Studios comic books while in college but I digress. Check it out.

toy photographs, the play date 2023, toy photographs from the play date 2023, ken pierce media photography
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