Owning a Comic Book Store in 2024: Store Owner Chat!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 бер 2024
- What is it like owning a comic book store in 2024? I sit down with comic book store owners including Eisner Winning Shop Cape & Cowl owner Eitan Manhoff & Jeff & Django who are the owners of the northern most comic shop in the US, The Comics Place! We talk about everything from owning a comic shop, selling comic books, comic store layout and beyond. We ask our guest comic retailers questions like are comics dead and are comics for kids. Plus, we discuss comic variations and comic facsimiles from Marvel Comics and DC comics, how small, new and local comic artists are selling and much more. Enjoy the comic store interview!
Check out my new podcast @DirectEditionPodcast
linktr.ee/WestcoastDAVEngers
COMICS PLACE
shop.thecomicsplace.com/
COMICS PLACE PRESENTS A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE PODCAST
www.thecomicsplace.com/the-co...
DATA B.R.O.S. podcast
databrosinc.com/
COMIC SHOP ASSISTANT POINT OF SALE
comicshopassistant.com/
CAPE & COWL COMICS
www.capeandcowlcomics.com/
Instagram
/ capecowlcomics - Розваги
I walked into a couple of local comic shops that were complaining about the state of the market. One of those shops recently closed. The other one was all in on the big 2. Neither shop had any manga, YA books or (I live in Columbus) Bone books by Jeff Smith. It’s totally fine to sell DC and Marvel but you need to diversify what you stock. The shops that are thriving in town are carrying a little bit of everything.
Variety is the only way to go, if someone walks in looking for manga and you have it, they'll stay and look at everything else too. Relying on the big 2 is a dangerous game, and those that seemingly complain the loudest are the ones who only care about Marvel & DC.
Great comment!
Im a big Facsimile collector and it's a big reason why I got back into collecting comics just over a year ago. Another reason WHY I collect facsimiles is in response to the ridiculous prices major keys go for that I will never own, but I agree many choices of facsimiles that they make are just as ridiculous when the original versions go for less than $20 then there is no reason to reprint it.
Facsimile of Hulk 181, Giant Size X-men, ASM 129 = good
Facsimile of ASM 253, 254, 255, Secret Wars 2-5 = bad
Great perspective here! And I agree, some of the choices of these facsimiles are truly baffling !
Agree… I will never own a Hulk 1 or even a 180-181. I’m too cheap 😂😂 Those were filled by the 80s reprints once upon a time but now it’s nice to have the facsimile to fill the void… But why do a facsimile of Jim Lee’s X-Men 1? That’s abusing the customer.
@@read.your.comicsI had all the Todd ASMs except 300..... enter facsimile, run filled.
Yes, the matter to me.
1 - 100 percent DSTLRY needs to be selling branded magazine size boxes.
2 - It's been fun to see the Publishers embrace the facsimile reprints as separate from film advertisements. How many collectors grew up on buying the reprint anthologies, Golden Record reprints, 100 Page Giants, etc. that endlessly reprinted the popular comics for a new generation of readers? Heck, even X-Men was a reprint series for a time. I have a nice Saga of the Swamp Thing comic that I think reprints the first 2 issues with a fun cover. There should always be a comic format that reprints classic runs and special stories. Some single issue readers are just not going to want bookshelves of Epic Collections and omnibus to have that material. Plus, those formats are for older readers, and facsimile or reprint runs have the chance to entice new casual readers to sample and hopefully enjoy the old material.
Agree on the boxes, I'll buy at least one, and probably more if they keep putting out quality books!
For the facsimiles I wish they would release them with the same paper they do the Grand Design books in, not quite newsprint but close enough.
Wait until you see what DC is unleashing this week, Neal Adams treasury facsimile! It'll be interesting to see how the comic community responds to it
@@WestCoastDAVEngers I'm here for it! I love the coarse paper DC had been using until very recently.
Great perspectives. It's enlightening to hear from the dealer side 👏
Those are definitely important perspectives, probably more than any of the publishers🙃
So glad that you’re planning for more of these. Interesting to hear the current state of things from a clear business perspective. Would also love to hear more about the owners and individuals, hear what they collect themselves and what they’d like to see more of coming in to the store creatively. A good reminder too that there is an important cog in the wheel between the big office publishing books and the people who buy them!
I'd love to do it quarterly going forward, seeing what's been selling and what customers are saying. Diving into procurement based off store owners collecting habits would be cool too!
Facsimiles are about the only reason I go to the LCS… that and Sonic for the kids.
That's not promoting reading your comics!
Maybe we should read something new on your channel!
@@WestCoastDAVEngers LOL… Hey I’m 100% open to new things just not in the monthly format. 😆
@@read.your.comics TPB & Hardcovers are often my goto format, so I feel you!