the Ultimate Comic Book Store

[Spider-Jay420]

Hey all,

I've decided to open a comic shop within the next few years and was trying to get a feel on what you guys like about the shops you go to.

Share what a great shop should have and what it doesn't need. I'm not gonna give away any secrets, but I will have a membership program and a cool tv with a loop of all super hero movies running constantly. I know that's not a formula for success, but that's what I got so far.

Sitting area to check out new books?

Action figure sales?

Role playing games?

Membership discounts?

What keeps you loyal to YOUR shop? What would you like to see at a comic shop? What do you hate about your shop?

Any and all ideas and concerns are appreciated.

 

[MangleBoP]

Huh, what a coincidence, my friends and I are hoping to do the same thing soon.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I'm just tired of working for someone else, and making someone else money, ya know? And I love comics more than anything so why not? I figured I will actually enjoy going to work by doing it this way. I've never enjoyed work, like, ever.

What part of FL are you at, Mangle?

I'm planning on keeping it small the first year or so, but I want it to be Awesome. I love the idea of big comfy couches in front of a big screen playing comic movies all day long.

I want to have a huge display of my Legends, maybe behind the counter or maybe in a plastic cube or aquarium in the middle of the store....something. I just want people to come in and say "Wow! This place is great! Way cooler than my other store. Where do I sign up?"

I'm not a fan of the roleplaying games, but the guys down here do tournaments and make money at it, so I'll have to see what the demand is like. On the fence with that...

I definitely want to have action figures, but I don't wanna get stuck with 'em either. But if I'm charging a reasonable amount, like 20 buck each, I should be able to move them.

Looking for ideas y'all so, post away!

What keeps you loyal to YOUR shop?

What would you like to see at a comic shop?

What do you hate about your shop?

 

[venom892]

Well if you want a model of how a great comic book shop could be it's Tate's Comics.Here's the website http://tatescomics.com/Pages/seethestore.html But that store does have a lot of Anime stuff too so you might want to only focus on comics.I've dreaming of owning a shop too and my dream shop would have

Comics-Old and new
Graphic Novels
Action Figures-All types including Minimates,ML,MU,DCU,Mighty Muggs,MS,DCD etc.
Busts and Statues
Posters
T-shirts
Trading Cards
Misc.-Keychains,Wallets,Paches,Etc

The looping of the movies and cartoons is a good idea.If I really could have my dream place then I would have the Arcade X-men game as well as a Marvel vs. Capcom cabinet too.Subs and membership deals are good ways to get recurring customers.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Cool. That place looks huge!

You gotta start small though...

 

[newavengers12]

I am trying this one also SJ... Actually I have a website and already registered the name... I M waiting to have a bit more $$$ though... I can give you the address if you want so you can take a look at it.

 

[newavengers12]

I have this idea of a nice place with tables and some tv's around the place with superhero movies on. so once the people have bought the comics they can sit down read their comic books , meet new collectors, watch some super hero movies. That would lead to new customers and sales or new comics ( from what the new friend is reading) and
movie sales, action figures , etc... I am already watching a local in a mall here in puerto Rico.

 

[[A]]

The best Comic Book Store gives Hypesters a good discount

 

[Team Andino]

The best Comic Book Store gives Hypesters a good discount

Hear Hear!!

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Deal. I'll keep ya posted.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

I've totally thought about doing this myself, but wondered if I should take some business classes ahead of time to learn how to manage a business and it's money.

 

[Roughneck]

Here's what I love about comic shop.

My membership.

in February 2001 I paid a 1 time fee of $25.00....for that I got my pull box and I never pay tax.....which as you can imagine over 8+ years has been a lot more then $25.00

But in addition to that they do something awesome, which is points. For every time I spend $10 I get one point....thought it doesn't add up.....If I spend $35 I get 3 points, then if the next week I spend $25 again, I get another 3 points...the two $5 overages don't add up to one more point, but that is fine.

Anyway, once a month the store has a points day, and every point is worth $1. On anything in the store. I`ve gone in there many times and spent $100+ on points days without using any real money.....Also a lot more then the initial payment of $25.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Hmm. That membership is different. Never pay sales tax? I might like that better than 25% off anything in the store.

I like the point idea too. Very nice, Rough. Thanks buddy.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I've totally thought about doing this myself, but wondered if I should take some business classes ahead of time to learn how to manage a business and it's money.

That's my plan. Know what I'm doing before I do it. Prep time.

Newavengers12, I love the community aspect to your idea. It would create a great atmosphere where people are talkin about the worlds we hate or love and basically selling each other on books they should try out and so on, as long as they're spending. That's the key.

 

[MatzoBallzeeni]

Don't be that comic book shop owner that enforces "No Reading". I'm amazed anyone supports those comic book stores that have those rules.

And don't have one of those role playing tables in the middle of the store. They intimidate non-geeks. Keep it in the back.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I say have a nice mix of everything... comics/magazines/movie posters/statues/action-figures those are always my favorite.. also most out here in cali sometimes have movies and not just graphic novels, but art books and manga.

also the best discount i've seen is the one i go too... using "power pal" points.

Every $5 you spend you get 1 point... 20 points equals $10 store credit, and 35 points equals $20. first time i realized i had points, i had $40 to spend for free!

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I say have a nice mix of everything... comics/magazines/movie posters/statues/action-figures those are always my favorite.. also most out here in cali sometimes have movies and not just graphic novels, but art books and manga.

also the best discount i've seen is the one i go too... using "power pal" points.

Every $5 you spend you get 1 point... 20 points equals $10 store credit, and 35 points equals $20. first time i realized i had points, i had $40 to spend for free!

 

[Spider-Jay420]

And don't have one of those role playing tables in the middle of the store. They intimidate non-geeks. Keep it in the back.

I don't know if intimidate is the right word, but I'm not even sure if I want to have one at all. It pisses me off when I go to a local shop here, and the dude's busy killing trolls or whatever and I'm standing at the counter waiting to check out and he's like "Oh, yeah, uh, I'll be right there. Nobody move until I come back." I don't even like to go in there on Saturday. There's like, 20 of 'em in there!

But on the other hand, they do charge them some kinda fee for the Saturday tournament things. Make some money on it, throw that **** in the back and let somebody else run it. I don't want to even be involved. Pay in front, go disappear in back, and I'll take care of the comic customers. That's the only way I would do it.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I really like this point idea. Way better than what I got down here.

For every $10 I spend, I get a punch on a ticket. Like a Subway card or something. After I get 10 punches, I get 15% off my next purchase. It takes forever for me because I always spend just under $10 when I go there, and in the long run, spending so much to save very little is no incentive to spend.

I like the point idea way better.

 

[WompuM]

Make sure you have a rack specifically for new books being released this week. Graham Cracker Comics in Chicago puts everything in alphabetical order, regardless of whether or not it is brand new, and it is impossible to find anything in there.

 

[venom892]

Wow I thought every comic store had a new comics section.Guess I was wrong.

 

[MatzoBallzeeni]

I don't think the 15% off something after 10 hole punches is going to promote a store. It will be nice to have, but it's not a deal that's exciting anymore. The point system is better. Gradual store credit (points) is more appealing than gradual store discount (hole punching).

Other things the store should have:

1. a used graphic novel section. If I see something half the original price, I am more tempted to buy it just because it's so cheap now, even if i'm not crazy about the actual title.

2. a used dvd section (any genre, foreign, anime, obscure, horror). Comic book collectors like buying cheap dvds also!

3. Don't have a lot of flat screen tvs on the wall. Use old Zenith-type televisions. Have them wired to dvd players/vhs players and play cool stuff on those tvs (old superhero cartoons, obscure movies, new or other animated stuff). Have the tvs arranged in a messy manner (wires showing a la Matrix or Brazil), but not so that it's in the way of customers. I guess have one flat screen HDTV to show customers how a dvd you sell looks (comic book fans want to know the video/audio quality of those ComicCon DVDs of old cartoon/superhero shows) - or just to show off some new anamorphic dvd or Blu Ray movie...

4. Used action figure/toys section

5. original comic book art work and/or animation art on the walls. Check Ebay for animation art. It's freaking cheap (especially He-Man). Frames cost more than animation art!

6. Don't just hang up old comic books covering the wall wall-to-wall as each comic book collector does in their room. That's called man-boy decorating. You have a chance to make your store special, not look like everyone else's room full of comics.

7. And also try to market towards young kids! Kids buy toys and comics! It's okay to have G-rated stuff in there! Your store won't be less cool if little kids are coming in with their parents.

SPIDERJAY, where do you live? small town or city?

Remember, cool comic shops aren't all clean, new-looking and pristine. If a comic shop captures that old school, vintage, flea-market-in-a-shop look, you should get a lot of non-comic book geeks in there as well.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Yeah new comics shelf is a must. There's a guy who has 3 shelves. This week, last and the week before. That's really cool. Seems like a lot of work though, as he's doing everything 3 times, but whatever. As long as it's clearly marked and labeled.

I don't remember who, but someone said have the Marvel and DC stuff on opposite sides of the store with Indies and Manga in the middle, so you HAVE to see that stuff as you're shopping and maybe try something new. I like that.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I really like your TV idea, Matzo. I'd be cool to set it up like the Batcomputer, with a buch of screens all showing stuff and you could sit and feel like Bruce Wayne.

I totally agree about the old school feel. People are saying "just do it online" but they don't get the comic shop feel, ya know? There's something cool about going to your favorite shop and BSing with the guys and, community, ya know? You don't get that online.

I'm in the city. There are 2 successful shops about 10 minutes from each other, but the nearest one after that is like an hour and a half away.

 

[venom892]

The key would be to not only offer what the other stores don't but have Cool items the other stores wouldn't have either.Such as Con exclusives or rare comics and toys.