|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 13, 2019 9:03:22 GMT -5
I think that post needs to be a published article.
|
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 13, 2019 9:06:10 GMT -5
It's not rocket science. Comics are already a niche market that has had a steadily declining base for years. Price increases and flooding the market with titles to make up lost ground is short term only and further drives the base away. On top of that, the entire retail structure is taking a pounding all over with big name stores closing left right and center, not just comics. There are many reasons for this, including but not limited to rising rents, oversaturation leading to cannibalizing each other, and competition from online stores. Others have already explained how Diamond's monopoly makes it hard, and how the direct market screws shop owners. But no, big-city store owners just don't know how to market properly.  Sadly, comics are just a crap market right now. |
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 13, 2019 9:18:33 GMT -5
Also, the best business plan for a comic shop in 2019? If you want to make money, sell something else instead.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 9:24:14 GMT -5
Also, the best business plan for a comic shop in 2019? If you want to make money, sell something else instead. My LCS (two floors) doesn't have any new comics on the first floor!  The majority of the first floor is merchandise, mainly bobbleheads and figurines. Right at the back, past all the merchandise, are classic trades/graphic novels. All of the new comics, magazines and trades are on the second floor, which has less space. I'm making no judgement, but it says a lot about the mindset (for better or worse). I'm no business expert, and I am sure they'll do well, but it's clear that they want the figurines and bobbleheads to be their "bread and butter" - or the thing that hooks any casual fans. And I do believe casual folk do enter comic stores. Yes, us Wednesday Warriors go there. Some people make a conscious decision to seek out such places. But there may well be people passing my LCS - and who decide to go in based on merchandise. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 12:04:53 GMT -5
Also, the best business plan for a comic shop in 2019? If you want to make money, sell something else instead. My LCS (two floors) doesn't have any new comics on the first floor! The majority of the first floor is merchandise, mainly bobbleheads and figurines. Right at the back, past all the merchandise, are classic trades/graphic novels. All of the new comics, magazines and trades are on the second floor, which has less space. I'm making no judgement, but it says a lot about the mindset (for better or worse). I'm no business expert, and I am sure they'll do well, but it's clear that they want the figurines and bobbleheads to be their "bread and butter" - or the thing that hooks any casual fans. And I do believe casual folk do enter comic stores. Yes, us Wednesday Warriors go there. Some people make a conscious decision to seek out such places. But there may well be people passing my LCS - and who decide to go in based on merchandise. Or they want anyone coming in for comics to have to walk past and see (and potentially impulse buy) all the other merchandise in the shop. If the comics were up front on the first floor, most Wednesday Warriors would never venture past them and see the other merch for sale. And let's be honest, there is a higher probability someone who is a comic fan will buy other merch when they walk past it than there is of a customer looking for the other merch buying a comic if they walk past it. They should probably have some kind of display/marketing of the comics near the entrance to let customers know they have them, but it's actually a more likely productive layout to have them somewhere where customers have to see other merch before getting to them. -M |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 12:27:54 GMT -5
I try to never argue with logic, so can definitely get on board with that.  Hopefully it'll have an effect. The owner of my LCS sings the same tune as others. Rent is problematic. Councils don't care, though. As long as landlords and councils get their money, so be it. They talk a good game about investing in shops (of all kinds), but I find them lacking when it comes to backing it up with actions. Not asking that anyone has a free ride, of course. But it's frustrating. A baker was on the local news recently, talking about how she's trying to keep her prices fixed so as to benefit long-term, loyal customers, but council rates and rents are continually rising. She talked about how she will have no choice but to raise all prices soon. Again, not asking that anyone, LCS owner or otherwise, gets a free ride, but this is a story one hears from so many business owners. |
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Jun 16, 2019 15:25:57 GMT -5
Rents are the reason why everything is being sold online.
|
|
|
|
Post by profh0011 on Jun 23, 2019 10:25:04 GMT -5
Or they want anyone coming in for comics to have to walk past and see (and potentially impulse buy) all the other merchandise in the shop. I pointed this out awhile back, regarding a pair of department stores. Several years ago, I spent 6 weeks working the Christmas season at J.C. Penney. They had a miserably-small toy department, and in addition, small displays all over the store with more toys. To me, they treated toys as "impulse buy" items. You'd walk by and see them, and, maybe, buy some.
The funniest day I had was when I got into a conversation with a couple of customers... and we ALL were reminiscing about E.J. Korvettes... which was ALWAYS a much-better place to shop. They had departments there that were each bigger than many complete mall stores-- garden center, books, records, and especially... TOYS.
Korvettes in my area had 2 floors. The toy department was at the far end of the 2nd floor. To get there, you had to get to the escalator, then walk through several other departments. Anyone with kids will know, if you're out with your kids, they wanna see the TOYS! The toy department was a "DESTINATION". And the way the store was set up, this means... EVERYTHING ELSE in the store became "impulse buys"!!!
Man, I miss that place.
|
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 24, 2019 9:17:26 GMT -5
Yeah, I am sure a lot of it has to do with being young myself, but there was definitely a large sense of grandiosity and stature in the heyday of department store shopping. It seems there is a wicked self-reinforcing cycle of declining sales leading them to cut costs which further erodes the experience, leading to lower sales... etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrbrklyn on Jun 24, 2019 17:28:13 GMT -5
Yeah, I am sure a lot of it has to do with being young myself, but there was definitely a large sense of grandiosity and stature in the heyday of department store shopping. It seems there is a wicked self-reinforcing cycle of declining sales leading them to cut costs which further erodes the experience, leading to lower sales... etc. A day shopping at Macy's was a whole day event, not even that long ago. Even still, if one goes to 34th street and Herald Square in Manhattan, Macy's is a compelling experience for hours on end. Its not just the shopping. In London, the department stores are much larger on Oxford Street. I was taken aback how huge they are. |
|
