Making People Happy: Paul Astwood’s Collectible Toys Booth at Comic-Con

Some of the big entertainment companies pulled out of this year’s Comic-Con but Paul Astwood was there at 6:20 a.m. Thursday for the first day of the event.

Astwood wouldn’t have it any other way.

He runs a local company that, among other things, sells collectibles, toys and and other pop culture items that fans gobble up on the massive floor of the San Diego Convention Center.

So, there was Astwood bright and early setting up his small booth loaded with all matter of anime and cartoon toys.

“This makes people happy,” said Astwood.

It also makes him happy because it’s somewhat of a departure from his business life. PRA International is a wholesale distributor offering products and services to businesses, including IT services and health supplements. He used to have a storage site in National City but is now looking for a new site in San Diego.

The toys and collectibles are what Astwood likes to do so that’s why he’s attended Comic-Con for the last 10 years.  It’s his Christmas morning and Super Bowl all combined into one.

“I try to do what I love,” he said. “People say these things don’t mix but at some point, you got to do what you enjoy,” he said.

Astwood also sells his toys and items to stores and swap meets. But he’s a fan and enjoys going to the Con.

“I spent 20 minutes talking to a guy about Anime,” he said. “That’s what makes it fun.”

Although there was a lot of speculation about the impact on Comic-Con of a writers and actors strike and a pull out of major entertainment companies, Astwood said that so far the convention was going well. It seemed like the people who normally would be attending the star-studded promotional events were instead on the floor of the Convention Center, visiting vendors like PRA International.

“I think it’s going well,” Astwood said. “The crowds have gotten a little bigger.”