ToyShnip Blog FAQ

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Curated FAQs from our blog covering Shopify, AI, and e-commerce. New items appear at the top; older items get archived by category.

Barbie Collector Price Guide 2024: Navigating Vintage & New Dolls

How do I find out what my Barbie doll is worth?

To find out what your Barbie doll is worth, you can identify it and do some research online, check a Barbie price guide, or send your doll for an appraisal.


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Interview with David Bealieu from Today Is Art Day

What art movement does David Beaulieu favor most?

David Beaulieu favors the Post-Impressionism art period, noting that painters like Van Gogh, Seurat, and Gauguin boldly pushed their art to new limits.


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Interview with Josh Mirman from Zen Monkey Studios

How did Marc become head of sales at Zen Monkey Studios?

Marc was recruited from managing a pet store to help at NY Comic-Con 2018, then officially joined in February 2019 as head of sales, managing wholesale, conventions, and customer complaints.


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How did Zen Monkey Studios transition from selling shirts and posters to becoming a licensed pin manufacturer?

Josh Mirman pivoted from shirts and posters to pins after seeing Disney's success with collectible pins, then pitched and secured a Rick and Morty pin license from Cartoon Network after four months of negotiations.


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How does Zen Monkey Studios differentiate their licensed merchandise from competitors?

They create original designs and unique interpretations rather than using provided assets, a strategy they adopted after a store manager told them products needed to truly stand out to justify adding new vendors.


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What are the most successful pin designs from Zen Monkey Studios?

Their organic bestseller is the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure "To Be Continued" pin, while their largest commercial success was supplying tens of thousands of pins to the RickMobile.


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What business lessons did Josh Mirman learn after 9 years of running Zen Monkey Studios?

Josh learned five key lessons: trust your pivot instincts, show your human side online to combat bootleggers, expect constant new problems, build a small focused team, and don't be ashamed of starting as a side hustle since Zen Monkey wasn't sustainable until 2015.


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Masters of the Universe Collector’s Roundup

How do Mondo 1:6 scale figures from ToyShnip differ from standard action figures?

Mondo’s 1:6 scale figures are premium collectibles designed for high-end collectors. They are larger, more detailed, and often feature realistic fabric costumes, elite poseability, and multiple heads. Figures like Hordak from this line are considered centerpieces for a display due to their quality and shelf presence.


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Is it better to display or keep vintage-style figures like Super7 and ReAction in their packaging?

For collectors, preserving the original packaging is crucial for long-term value. While MOTU Origins and ReAction figures are great for display, Super7's retro cards and Japanese-boxed figures are particularly valuable if kept sealed. ToyShnip suggests keeping the packaging to preserve the figure's pristine condition and value.


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What are the key differences between the Masters of the Universe Masterverse and Origins figures?

ToyShnip’s in-stock Masterverse Revelation figures are 7-inch, highly articulated collectibles based on the Netflix show. In contrast, the MOTU Origins line keeps the classic 5.5-inch size but adds modern articulation, blending vintage looks with improved movement. Both lines are popular among collectors.


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What are "Turtles of Grayskull" and how do they fit into the Masters of the Universe collection?

The "Turtles of Grayskull" is an exciting mashup line combining characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Masters of the Universe. These 5.5-inch figures, like He-Man and Leonardo, come with unique features like ooze armor and weapons, making them a must-have for fans of both classic '80s franchises.


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The Comprehensive Star Wars Action Figure Price Guide for Collectors

Are Star Wars toys worth money?

Some are, and some aren't. Demand from collectors (combined with limited supply) typically determines if a Star Wars toy is worth money.


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How do I find out how much my action figure is worth?

Price guides are your first port of call, as they'll reveal how much sellers have earned from equivalent sales. You can also check in with the Star Wars collectibles community, as the more experienced collectors can give you an estimate based on sight alone.


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How much are the Star Wars action figures worth?

It all depends on the figure, though some can sell for five figures as long as they're complete-in-box and in mint or near-mint condition.


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When AI Helps ToyShnip with Coding

Do I need coding experience to use AI for theme changes?


You don’t need to be a developer for small tweaks, but theme code is fragile. Start with minor, reversible changes, keep frequent backups, and test the full buyer journey after each edit. For bigger refactors, pair AI suggestions with expert review.


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Is it safe to let AI modify my Shopify theme code?

Shopify theme code is delicate—one mistake can break checkout or hide buttons. AI can help, but only if you take precautions. Always duplicate your theme first, make small and reversible edits, and back up often. If you aren’t comfortable with code, consider bringing in an expert. With the right safety nets, AI can speed up even tricky changes.


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