ALPHARETTA, GA-- Warren Royal's warehouse has one type of item. He designs and sells bobblehead dolls – generally sticking with figures from history and politics. He sells bobbleheads depicting all manner of presidents -- from Obama to Lincoln to Hoover.
Hoover?
"Well, there is a Herbert Hoover library and presidential center," Royal says, adding that he regularly ships to such places devoted to wonky and scholarly visitation. "And we do have collectors who want to get all the presidents."
This month, Royal Bobbles hit the jackpot – but not with a president. Royal became the official provider of the Pope bobblehead product to the Philadelphia event Francis will visit next week.
Apparently his followers have a healthy appetite for papal products.
"The sales have been crazy. We have not been able to keep up with the demand. We brought in about 10,000 pieces two weeks ago on a Monday. And by Wednesday almost all of them were gone," Royal said.
This has made Pope Francis the top-selling bobblehead of all time for Royal Bobbles, which opened for business in 2008. Warren Royal chalks part of it up to design – low on distorted features, long on papal dignity.
"He has very distinct features which always helps. Just the shape of his jaw the shape of his face," said Rachael Royal, who helped design the Francis bobblehead.
The bobblehead world stays in constant motion. And Warren Royal's creations are ever evolving in search of the next best seller. He just produced his Donald Trump prototype.
PHOTOS: More Pope Francis merchandise
