** We’ll hop into this press release in just a second, but not before we add a couple quick facts for you.

  1. The Observer put out a report on 9/30 about the fact that NFT sales have dropped 97% since this January.
  2. The family of Bob Ross doesn’t get any money when Bob Ross products sell. It all goes to the company that (allegedly) manipulated the rights away from his children after the death of his widow.

PRESS RELEASE:

BENTONVILLE, Ark., & HILLSIDE, N.Y. Oct. 3, 2022 — Walmart and NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) are proud to announce AutoT, the first of its kind revolutionary digital collectible platform featuring limited-edition figures and collectibles. Launching exclusively this month both on Walmart.com and in stores, AutoT collectibles will break new ground in the digital collector space by offering exclusive figures and collectibles featuring rare chase variants signed by stars and creators.

Each series in the AutoT line is based on a specific pop culture property. Once a customer purchases an AutoT box, they enter the digital code found on their Walmart receipt into their personal account at AutoTVault.com to reveal which collectible item they’ve received.

“At Walmart, we are always finding new ways to bring innovation and one-of-a-kind offerings to our customers,” said Laura Rush, SVP, Electronics, Toys & Seasonal – Walmart U.S. “NECA’s unique collectibles and inventive AutoT platform offer a new type of shopping experience to shoppers, ensuring that Walmart is bringing the best in tech and entertainment to customers nationwide.”

The AutoT website uses patent pending blockchain technology to track the authenticity and ownership history of AutoT collectibles so fans can easily buy, sell and trade on the platform with confidence. Collectors can store their digital collectible for up to two years free of charge in the NECA Vault or have the physical item shipped to them.

“NECA is the world leader in pop culture figures and collectibles,” said Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of NECA. “Partnering with Walmart, we are excited to bring exclusive NECA merchandise featuring today’s hottest IPs into the digital world.”