A secondary effect of all the comic book shop closures is backissues. Dc gallery linda carter wonder woman pvc statue may 27, 2020. An entrepreneurial nerds guide to opening a comic book store. It might seem like a dream to own your own comic book store, but the challenges tougher than any super villain, according to. His preference is to sell the business but if there are no buyers he will sell the comics and shut things down. As a girl working in a comic shop, it was sometimes hard for me to be taken seriously. Certainly, if you are going to buy a business, you can look at the books and see the numbers to. According to business analysts like hoovers and the new york times, the average profit margin for an independent bookseller is 2 percent. The comic book stores that i have seen that have stayed in business sell a whole lot more than comics and they get walls full of new releases on a regular and have thousands and thousands of old comics, some of which are valuable and some of which sell for a quarter apiece. If youre looking for a hard to find back issue, we probably have it. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail store. The canadian comic bin is the best online back issue comic book store based in canada, that ships worldwide. Phoenix comic book store to close after nearly four. I mean im 43 years old for crying out loud, yet im as fascinated today with comics as i was when i was first discovered them back in 1979, when i was 6.
Our comic value packs are a fun, affordable way to get a lot of comics without spending much. The result is a comic book that leads to incredibly strange scenes. For the most part, starting a comic book store is relatively easy to do. Comic shop lives in the beautiful struggle to survive and exist. Many shops make their margins on backissue sales on the.
Opening a comic books shop start a comic books trading. A lot of comic book shops are already out of business, so they will need to find new places to sell their books. Of course, as with any business, the realities of opening a bookstore are a lot more complicated than the dream of. Tales from the database mile high comics, chuck rozanski. At last weve come to the nitty gritty of retailing. For a comic book store, however, you need capital as well as passion for the medium. You must know the fair market prices for rare comic books and you must buy them for less than the going prices in order to resell them for a profit. See the comic value packs page for a list of available packs and prices.
But despite the interest, comic shop marketing needs to be more deliberate than ever, in order to be successful. For those who work at comic stores, what are the pros and. Columbus dispatch the fickle, frustrating and sometimes joyful travails of owning a comic book store are detailed in. One trend that quickly became evident during the comic book store boom of the early 1990s was the propensity of many new comics shops owners to cut and run when the going got tough. Dec 26, 2017 iowa native details the ecstasy and agony of owning a comic book store. We learn what typically happens within the first 6 months to 1 year of. Blastoff comics owner explains why most comic book stores. In addition to owning two comic book stores, chimera is a fulltime. I suspect that a certain kind of listener has only one association with someone who works in the comic book shop. I went from just cleaning to actually opening and closing by myself and i was only in. The people that are into comic books are diehard fans, and they are willing to spend a substantial amount of their discretionary income on these purchases. The marvel swimsuit specials have a special place in comic book history. With a comic book store, you can turn your dream of showcasing and selling new and vintage. Stevens has been a comic book owner for approximately oneandahalf years and he states that he is an absentee manager so he has five employees.
Nov 24, 2019 for many book lovers, opening a bookstore seems to be a dream job. Education required i need experience in marketing and business ethics. By knowing the condition and age as mentioned above, you can build a pretty good estimate of what your comic book is worth. For avid comic book readers, owning classic editions can contribute to their passion and knowledge about the history of the material. Distributors work directly with publishers, acting as a sort of middleman between your store and the publishers. The key to this business is to be a successful trader. Im not a big fan of comics except for xmen but i understand that comics afficionados are passionate about their comics and can be one of the most loyal customers you can have. The store moved locations 2 times for a total of 3 locatio. Shop has a good longbox selection with current, older, and. Marvel and dc are taking steps to save comic book shops. Marvel gallery mcfarlane spiderman pvc figure october 30, 2019. Walt stone, 2018 books, owning a comic book store, and the best fan letter ever.
The publication is available to both comic shop retailers and consumers. The owners werent very friendly or customer service oriented and all but two finally closed. Comic book stores, unlike most retailers, have the ability to operate with a great deal of economic staying power. For many book lovers, opening a bookstore seems to be a dream job. Any retail store will require all three to keep the doors open and the lights on. Three basic and fundamental costs associated with a comic shop. Originally purchased in 1981 with the name a little bookstore, the comic book shop has over one million back issue comics, along with toys, statues, tshirts, gifts and more. You have to rethink your whole business model, manhattan bookstore owner beth puffer told. How to sell your comics to a comic book store sparkle. This left tens of thousands of fans without any local source for their comics. Independent booksellers enjoy being part of a community, encouraging the pleasure of reading in adults, and helping to make lifelong readers out of children. Donations to any and all retailer relief funds are an action that many comic shop regulars can take, but if readers want to stick to something more local. If we dont, add it to your want list and well notify you when its in stock.
On our exciting and strange adventure of owning and running a local comic shop we know we must continually strive for improvement while we encourage each other along the way. Columbus dispatch the fickle, frustrating and sometimes joyful travails of owning a comic book store are detailed in a new book by native iowan dan gearino. May 10, 20 the comic book stores that i have seen that have stayed in business sell a whole lot more than comics and they get walls full of new releases on a regular and have thousands and thousands of old comics, some of which are valuable and some of which sell for a quarter apiece. Comic book store owners of reddit, how is business.
Anyone have experience owningrunning a comic book store. I worked in a small family owned comic store for 2 years in minneapolis. Iowans book rates best comic shops in the united states. Sep 06, 2015 i worked in a small family owned comic store for 2 years in minneapolis. As a small independent shop we have the luxury of many freedoms but are also excluded from perks of a larger business, so we must find the balance therein. Apr 30, 2018 it depends upon where you are located. I got my first legitimate comic book commission through my connections there, and i met a lot of really fantastic artist friends and network buddies that will pass jobs on to me, and vice versa. Attend comics conventions to chat with collectors or set up your own booth announcing your presence and offering your wares. They were very interested in owning a comics shop when the prospect of quick profits were on the horizon, but.
Chimeras comics in oak lawn is one of several comic book stores in the city, and what chimera considers his lifes work. Owning a comic shop is one of those dreams that i kept to myself and didnt share with too many people other than my wife. It might seem like a dream to own your own comic book store, but the. It remains to be seen if consumers will transition to buying comics at walmart target supermarkets. Similar to any retail business, comic shop marketing frequently centres on the items for sale in the shop using a new book release or action figure to draw in customers, for example. The comic book shop 1855 marsh rd, wilmington, delaware 19810 rated 4. Mar 30, 2017 owning a comic shop is one of those dreams that i kept to myself and didnt share with too many people other than my wife.
I have received several questions on how to start a comic book store. Jul 11, 2014 but despite the interest, comic shop marketing needs to be more deliberate than ever, in order to be successful. Hes run the shop out of the same location for more than 40 years and he wants to pass the mantle. Each value pack is grouped around a theme and provides 2 lbs. Comic book series nobody wants to admit owning cbr. The purchasing guide for starting a comic book store. If all the elements of a retail business excite you, and the idea of working with books brings you joy, then owning a bookstore might be the right career for you. Picking the right comic books to stock up is arguably the most important buying decision youll make when starting a comic book store. Plus this guide can help you open a bookstore much more quickly and profitably.
Justice league hawkgirl action figure august 26, 2020. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail store at. I havent done much research into this yet because i have no interest in opening my own store now, but i know it is going to take a lot more capital than just 50 grand. With the success of sports illustrateds annual swimsuit issue, marvel decided to jump on the bandwagon and release its own version, with 100% less real people and 100% more fictional people. I decided that it was time to spend a few columns discussing how to open your own comics retail store. Most comic book store owners obtain their inventory through distributors. A comic book store makes money by purchasing comic books and and reselling them for a profit. Learn about the daytoday activities of a comic book store owner, the typical target market, growth potential, startup costs, legal considerations, and more. I have 3 other partners, a business plan, a location. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail.
Iowa native details the ecstasy and agony of owning a comic book store. If you have not been here before, the comic book shop has two storefronts. It is the one and only comic book store in our city of 300k people not. Our guide on starting a comic book store covers all the essential information to help you decide if this business is a good match for you. The people that are into comic books are diehard fans, and they are willing to spend a substantial amount. The left storefront is event and meeting space, the right one being the comic shop. I mean im 43 years old for crying out loud, yet im as fascinated today with comics as i was when i was first discovered them back in 1979, when i was 6 years old.
You can earn back the price of the guide your very first day in business. Jun 24, 2016 owner of blastoff comics jud meyers explains not only why comic book stores fail, but any small business for that matter. But to get the best estimate possible, you should compare your comic book to recent public sales of. Zatanna and the house of secrets gn 2020 dc kids 11st. Comic books and illustrated novels have reached a wide audience, and many enthusiasts have taken the heroic leap into the retailing side. Now chimera is holding a contest to give away his chimeras comics shop at 4915 w. I found a great resource on how to start your own comic bookstore, including where to get distribution agreements to be able to sell dc, marvel and. For years, the independent bricksandmortar bookselling business has been under pressure from. The owner of our local comic book shop is ready to retire.
Most rivers in the west have a lottery system for rafting permits, and she never knew when she would get lucky. The comic book shop has the entire side of a plaza to itself and has lots of parking. Owner of blastoff comics jud meyers explains not only why comic book stores fail, but any small business for that matter. Opening a comic books shop start a comic books trading business. Develop an email list from signups in the store and from the website and send out a regular newsletter with store announcements and other information. While i dont own a store, i will share my observations. Even now, writing these words, it seems like a silly idea.
We offer modern, bronze age, silver age, and golden age comics. Walt stone, 2018 books, owning a comic book store, and the best fan letter ever janet publishing news 2018 books albert einstein alison kent book lists bookstores comic books fan letters marie curie mica stone walt stone 3 comments. The comic book retail industry is an attractive venue for entrepreneurs who are passionate about the world of comics. Jul 22, 2015 stevens has been a comic book owner for approximately oneand a half years and he states that he is an absentee manager so he has five employees. While she loved her shop very much, she and her companion were avid river rafters.
Nov 26, 2015 at last weve come to the nitty gritty of retailing. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in. They were very interested in owning a comics shop when the prospect of quick profits were on the horizon, but when sales started dropping off steeply in mid1993, we saw the largest number of store closures in the history of comics fandom. D just curious if i can get some advice from people who might know. Comic book ages range from golden, silver, bronze and modern, from oldest to newest. In this video i talk about about meeting with the sba, getting a small business loan, and what goes into a business plan. Since her shop wasnt generating enough revenue to support even a parttime staff member, she was forced to close her store whenever she won a permit. Heres some helpful information that is ideal for entrepreneurial folks who want to open a comic books shop. Things from another world comics, toys, and collectibles. Dream careers guides from become a bookstore owner. To open your own comic book store, you need to consider two important initial costs.
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