Start a comic book store

Each pack is grouped around a particular character or theme, and there is no duplication within any pack. A dream that seemed less possible than the others at the time, but in reality was always the most achievable to own a comic book store. Featuring one stop comics oak park, il owned by rick manzella and grahm crackers comics in downtown chicago. It currently consists of diamond comic distributors, which has monopolized such distribution having exclusive deals with major comic book publishers, and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of.

These are all the questions off the top of my head. When you visit a comic book shop, youre stepping into a world of wonders. There arent any comic shops close by and as far as i know there havent been any in the area i am looking to start. If interested, give us a message here on facebook or give us a call at 8564420402. Seller has made this store his vehicle to a hardearned retirement. Check out what tim has to say about our give aways and shipping. Distributors work directly with publishers, acting as a sort of middleman between your store and the publishers. When i lived in nevada a number of small stores opened and closed around the city where i grew up.

Assuming you lease a store location, you will likely need to put down a deposit for the lease. There are endless amounts of comics, ranging from genre to genre and where to start can be quite overwhelming. They could start by reading some of your collection or tag along with you to an event, convention, or your local comic book store. I have received several questions on how to start a comic book store. You have found the perfect business idea, and now you are ready to take the next step. There are distributors for big publishing companies, as well as distributors that work with indie artists on smaller scale projects. For the most part, starting a comic book store is relatively easy to do. I believe that the market can sustain can new comic shop in the area where i want to set up. How to start a comic book store starting your own llc is. With very few exceptions, most store owners quickly find themselves in some measure of debt, and the day comes when they realize that they cant get out. Jul 12, 2006 i have received several questions on how to start a comic book store. The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for american comic books. How do you start to open comic book store i want to open a comic book store in a town that has none.

Tales from the database mile high comics, chuck rozanski. A dedicated comics store is the best place to start a collection, since there will be a large selection available, and store employees that can give you advice. May 20, 20 this past week a coworker of mine found a posting on kijiji about a local comic book store that was selling their complete contents and store name. Parker has now moved over to gamestop, and the new comic book program will start in trial form in 20 gamestop stores and 20 thinkgeek stores. Use this worldwide comic shop locator to find one nearby. Most comic book store owners obtain their inventory through distributors. The purchasing guide for starting a comic book store.

How to store a comic book collection like a superhero february 27, 2015 kastle waserman you dont have to have superhuman strength or xray vision to appreciate comic books and to yearn to collect and preserve the graphic stories of childhood and beyond. Find out whats happening at your local comic book shop with our 2020 calendar of special occasions and in store events. Apr 30, 2018 it depends upon where you are located. Subscribe to marvel unlimited to access thousands of digital comics for one low price.

Adult book and video store for sale in the heart of key west. Comic book store owners biggest mistakes if you are thinking of opening a comic book store, here are some of the biggest mistakes that comic book store and probably every other collectible store owners make. Sell comic books online start an online comic store. But there are some simple steps every fan should take to store a comic book collectionto ensure it retains its value and can be enjoyed by the next generation. Just go to the top of the page and look in the right column. Opening a comic book store, need any available advice gen. Book shops for sale, available to buy now in the us. With a comic book store, you can turn your dream of showcasing and selling new and vintage comic books into a reality while exposing new customers to the comic book genre, provide collectors with an assortment of characters, and older customers with memories of their. Often, this simply requires you to use great online resources like ebay, but you can also visit your favorite wholesalers, gaming comic shops, and conventions to acquire physical inventory. I will not go into debt to fund this little venture. A comic store that is also a gaming store that stays current, keeps product in stock and supports its product has a much better chance of remaining in. Get all the tips, tools, and support you need to start, run, and grow your comic book business. I wanted to open a comic store back in 1991 because i had a lot of comics and i loved being a collector. You can start out with as little as 500 square feet of retail space, but you should have a plan for what you will do once your business grows.

We can ship any item in our store right to your home. 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. Find out why comic book shops are a great place to discover comics and join a community of people just like you. The owners werent very friendly or customer service oriented and all but two finally closed. Start a comic book store by following these 9 steps.

Online courses, challenges, and reader feedback will help you improve your writing. Great opportunity to own an established and profitable online book and audiobook rental service. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. Especially, if you do not know much about them and do not have anyone that can teach you the dos and donts. Often, this simply requires you to use great online resources like ebay, but you can also visit your favorite wholesalers, gamingcomic shops, and conventions to acquire physical inventory. It turns out that despite the low pay and lack of glamour at least among outsiders, clerking a comic book store is a surprisingly common step on the path to being a professional comics artist. Most comic store owners are comic book lovers and have their own personal collection that they can use as inventory to start off with. Comic books and illustrated novels have reached a wide audience, and many enthusiasts have taken the heroic leap into the retailing side. Another comic book community insider i want to tell you about are conventions. Again, i dont own a store but i have known a number of successful and not successful store owners over the decades and, no, i dont see a comic book store surviving as a viable business model. Become a better writer with storybirds creativity tools. Opening a comic books shop start a comic books trading business. The concept of the direct market was created in the 1970s by phil seuling. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero.

The business was founded in 2000 and has grown its selection to around 300,000 titles over the years. How to start a comic book store takes research and a diverse inventory and knowledge about the history of the many comic book characters that have been created through the years. Learn about the daytoday activities of a comic book store owner, the typical target market, growth potential, startup costs, legal considerations, and more. How do you start to open comic book store yahoo answers. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail store at. 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. The top selling comic books that begin with a are alpha flight comic books 1983 series, amazing adventures comic books 1970 series, amazing spiderman comic books 1963 series, archie comic books and avengers comic books 1963 series you can also search 7 more ways. Jun 24, 2016 owner of blastoff comics jud meyers explains not only why comic book stores fail, but any small business for that matter. Opening a comic bookstore may be your dream, but dont make it a reality if you cant part with the merchandise. This past week a coworker of mine found a posting on kijiji about a local comic book store that was selling their complete contents and store name. May 10, 20 again, i dont own a store but i have known a number of successful and not successful store owners over the decades and, no, i dont see a comic book store surviving as a viable business model. Its incredibly easy to get into the business, but once youre in, youre stuck. What do you need to start a comic book store through the. Jun 06, 2018 parker has now moved over to gamestop, and the new comic book program will start in trial form in 20 gamestop stores and 20 thinkgeek stores.

How to sell comic books online start your online store. For years, the independent bricksandmortar bookselling business has been under pressure from. We have the latest comics, and a wide range of merchandise from toys to tshirts. May 05, 2015 until the 1970s, comic book retail worked more or less the same way as regular book or newsstand retail. Birkemoe got his start in the business as an employee of the story that he eventually bought in 1998 when the owner had decided to sell the store. Serious artists, including matt fraction, amanda connor, and cullen bunn, all worked in comic book stores at some point in their careers. Next week, ill offer some suggestions on how to reduce the costs of opening a store.

Mar 30, 2017 a dream that seemed less possible than the others at the time, but in reality was always the most achievable to own a comic book store. 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. Doha comics is the premiere comic book and hobby shop in doha qatar. If you can manage to provide a pulllist discount for a pull of like 8 titles or more, really consider doing it. 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. Start up costs include a sign and lifesize figure of a comic book character to draw attention. All the time thats left over can be allocated to starting my online comic book store. Heres some helpful information that is ideal for entrepreneurial folks who want to open a comic books shop. So as i begin to build my comic book empire, i decided to give myself strict rules and guidelines to follow in order to be successful. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from shopify. How to start a comic book publishing company pen and the pad. Starting a comic book collection concept comic vine. Did you ever want to get into comics, but did not quite know how.

Choosing the right equipment is a critical step in starting your comic book store. Anyone have experience owningrunning a comic book store. Bear in mind that opening a comics shop is very much a case of slapping the tar baby. Powell advised going a mile wide and an inch deep with the stock. The 8step guide to creating and publishing your own comic. Startup costs include a sign and lifesize figure of a comic book character to draw attention. 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 comic book store is still here for your tcg, game supply, and comic related items. The store is always buying golden age and silver age comics as well as magic the gathering cards. Find comic book outlets that make it easy to restock popular series and carry a few marquee early edition classics. Owner of blastoff comics jud meyers explains not only why comic book stores fail, but any small business for that matter. What do you need to start a comic book store heres some help and more. We are still planning to start a shop in the next five years. Youre going to have real trouble with the first two backing or great credit. Ive written about strategies to get your friends and family into comics further detail. Worked at a comic book store in college and these are all valuable points.

The comic book store comics and games offers a safe place for gamers and comic enthusiasts to engage with one another and have great experiences. Pull subscriptions are the bread and butter of the comics side. If you want to put your comic into comic book stores, youll need diamond distribution. Sell comic books online start an online comic store free. The two most significant costs involved in opening a comic book include costs of setting up your physical storefront and costs to purchase an initial comic book inventory. Whether obsessed with everything wonder woman for years or inspired more recently by movies to start collecting iron man, our tips from comicstore owners will help you preserve your. We learn what typically happens within the first 6 months to 1 year of. Fortune in treasure literally this comic book store. For a comic book store, however, you need capital as well as passion for the medium. Find out whats happening at your local comic book shop with our 2020 calendar of special occasions and instore events. With very few exceptions, most store owners quickly find themselves in some measure of debt, and the day comes when they realize that they cant get. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail.