Opening a Comic Book Store Questions

[Weeto]

Balancing the comics to toys/merchandise ratio is important. My favourite comic store is mainly about comics but they have a wall of merchandise and a couple offer parts with merchandise while the other store I use is 85% merchandise and toys (mainly toys actually) and the comics are all down at the counter at the bottom. Comics are very much secondary there.

Paper comics are being tested by the digital market and that is going to keep growing as more people get iPads, iPhones and other smartphones, tablets and mobile devices. It might be that the store could be heavy on paper books at the moment but the market may tilt heavily to digital and stores may become reliant on trades and special prestige editions of books to maintain their trade.

My favourite LCS, which is Forbidden Planet in Glasgow, Scotland (a pretty big store, although pretty old fashioned in terms of layout) doesn't sell any second hand comics, only new stuff as does my other regular store (A1 Comics at Braehead Mall, although they do have a better store in the city centre that does carry second hand comics) and most of their merchandise is brand new items as they don't tend to hold stock or carry older stuff, apart from some older trades.

[Doug O]

Hey when you open that store I could make a great surly counter guy. "Radioactive Tales #254. Yeah we haven't got that. Have you thought of buying any good comics?" That sort of thing.

Hired!

[Phantom Eagle]

What is this post in reference to?

OP's location. Was Fort Collins, CO.

[Phantom Eagle]

Hired!

Score!

[WesleyCraigGreen]

I think that's great advice. Gordon Ramsey deals with failing restaurants, and its always because the owners are in a rut, they're in denial about the problems, they have allowed discouragement to prevent them from trying new things and reaching out to customers, they have allowed bad habits to get out of hand, etc. He basically tells them to stop tolerating half-assed work, clean up your place, do a few things very well and have some passion.

I don't know which version they have on YouTubes, but I would encourage you to watch the UK version over the US version. The US version is more TV drama whereas the UK version is more authentic and deals more with the actually business side of things.


Wesley

[Caley Tibbittz]

Oh, and make sure you carry these books.
Death comes to Dillinger, Angel Masks, Star Trek: Vulcans, Batman Confidential 49, Joker's Asylum: Harley Quinn, Green Arrow 13-15. Others . . . Buy multiple copies. Put them in the front of the store with a big fucking sign.

Death Comes to Dillinger is FANTASTIC. Every store should order 1,000 copies.

[Caley Tibbittz]

I think that's great advice. Gordon Ramsey deals with failing restaurants, and its always because the owners are in a rut, they're in denial about the problems, they have allowed discouragement to prevent them from trying new things and reaching out to customers, they have allowed bad habits to get out of hand, etc. He basically tells them to stop tolerating half-assed work, clean up your place, do a few things very well and have some passion.

And he also tells you when IT'S ROTTEN and when something is DISGUSTING CRAP. The drinking game is whenever he or the announcer says "old ways". God I love that show.

[FlashG69]

Its a family-run store. I know there are at least 5 people that work there, maybe more. I have been going there off and on for over 10 years. Their service is pretty good, and I enjoy going there. I'm looking at an area in Ohio that I think may do well and would not be competing much with them.

[FlashG69]

Here is my update:

I'm still considering opening up a store, but want to think about it some more first.

I forget who referred me to the Mile High blog, but thank you! Such great information and really made me think. It always is good to talk to someone first about the field you want to be in.

I have decided to move back to Ft. Collins. (I had moved to Cincinnati area for business, but it did not work out) When I left there this winter, there was a store near campus. I'm sure it is still there, and I am not sure if the city is large enough to support 2 stores. But, you never know! I figure it is worth looking at once I get back there.

Once again, I really value everyone's feedback on here. It has been so helpful!

[Magnum V.I.]

Good luck dude!