Tips on opening a comic book shop

There you will get some great tips and tactics on how to be successful in this business while meeting great connections in the form of other hobby shop owners, suppliers, manufacturers and leagues who can help you with your business. Watch the buying habits of your potential clients and the price ranges they prefer. Finding a comic book shop can at times be difficult and frustrating. When opening a comic book shop, you must seriously love comics.

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. Once an underrated and underappreciated art form, comic books are currently enjoying a renaissance in contemporary culture thanks in large part to the success of blockbuster superhero films. Avoid storing comic books in the attic or basement. Read more to find out how you can write your own comic book, with tips on everything from writing a comic book script, storyboard, inking, and more. 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. 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.

The ten commandments to collecting comic books youtube. Gary arlington 19382014, owner of the first comic book. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Find out why comic book shops are a great place to discover comics and join a community of people just like you. 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. Of course, as with any business, the realities of opening a bookstore are a lot more complicated than the dream of. Comic book owners explain how to start a comics retail.

In a future column, i will give some advice and warnings on acquiring the money to start your new comic book store. Good luck and dont limit your store to just card gaming. Attend trade shows and conventions to learn new trends in the field. Free special edition batman comics for the first 75 people in today plus a really cool special. Over forty countries and countless cities later, my favorite comic book shop is still fantom comics in washington, dc, for being the nicest, most organized comic book store that appeals to my borderline obsessive need for a comic shop to look better than a 90s nerds basement. They also advise that you store the comic with the glossy side of the board facing the comic. I believe that the market can sustain can new comic shop in the area where i want to set up. D just curious if i can get some advice from people who might know. Comic book stores sell comic books and related paraphernalia, such as action figures, models, posters, and more. Retail space is your store front rent along with utilities heat, electricity, internet, taxes, maintenance, and rental property fees.

I personally have found that those who are serious about opening up a trading card shop will make sure they attend the las vegas industry trade show. Comic book stores are usually defined by their community business style. Free delivery worldwide on over 20 million books we use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Start a comic book store by following these 9 steps.

This is one of the biggest reasons why the average comic book store does not make it one year. But jumping into comic book retailing has been a great crash course in the ups and downs of the comic book industry. What is motivating me to write this series of columns on opening a comics retail store is a sincere desire to not repeat past mistakes. Book depository is the worlds most international online bookstore offering over 20 million books with free delivery worldwide. Tips and tricks partner with a local comics shop to promote and run the vendors area. Three basic and fundamental costs associated with a comic shop. Comicreading friends and comic book store employees often love to talk about their hobby, so they can be a great source of advice for a beginner. Set up a website dedicated to comics and illustrated novels. Bear in mind that opening a comics shop is very much a case of slapping the tar baby. How to open a trading card shop from a shop owners. They go in with little money in the bank and just hope the store will take off and they will have money rolling in. For a comic book store, however, you need capital as well as passion for the medium.

For many book lovers, opening a bookstore seems to be a dream job. And then you see a going out of business sale in about six months. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero. Monthly comics issues are caught somewhere between books and magazines. A book bagged with a board will store straight, keeping it sharp and preventing excess wear on the binding. Online shopping from a great selection at kindle store store. For a time, it looked like nonchain bookstores were dead. Some people suggest storing comics upright will cause unnecessary stress on staples and the spine, but if proper precautions are taken, upright storage is the way to go. A newish comic shop in my town ran commercials during the first half of the new seasons of arrow and the flash. About 60 days ago, i started selling certified graded comics on ebay to start earning some cash that would fund the construction of this website and. These comic book shops differ from larger retail bookstores in that they offer a wider and more exclusive selection of comic books and feature rare collectibles.

Does anyone have any tips or information on opening up your own comic shop. Nothing can be worse than going to a comic book store that carries nothing that is remotely attractive to customers, or a store proprietor who doesnt know a thing about the comic collection. One of the most important things to know is where you could buy comics. Newbury comics music, pop culture merch, and a wicked. A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. Find out whats happening at your local comic book shop with our 2020 calendar of special occasions and in store events. Independent booksellers enjoy being part of a community, encouraging the pleasure of reading in adults, and helping to make lifelong readers out of children. When you buy two instock funko pops, grab a third for free on us. Youll probably need to take out a business loan, find an appropriate space, invest in equipment and stock, and pay an array of legal fees. Dont think you can jump right into the world of retail sales without a solid business plan. Obviously, the actual number will be larger, but its a decent start, and perhaps by showing interest in opening a shop somewhere, local players can drum up interest for it on their own. Get all the tips, tools, and support you need to start, run, and grow your comic book business.

Whether obsessed with everything wonder woman for years or inspired more recently by movies to start collecting iron man, our tips from comic store owners will help you preserve your. A beginners guide to buying comic books the mary sue. Comic books were a small blip on my radar before i considered opening a store i did not have a collection stashed somewhere. To find local retailers, check diamonds comics shop locator service at 1888 comic book url tk. Tales from the database mile high comics, chuck rozanski. Again, feel free to post any questions you have on comic. Newbury comics is an independently owned retail company with stores throughout new england. This is more of a controversial rule because it doesnt apply to all comic books. As a new store you can not just open and expect the people to find you. So, here are a few helpful tips on how to start a comic book collection. Powell advised going a mile wide and an inch deep with the stock. Many sellers make the mistake of stocking too many comics in too many categories. The ten commandments to collecting comic books simplemans comics.

As i said in my last column, opening a comics store is very easy. 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. Even just browsing the shelves of a used book store can help you narrow in on the comics you enjoy, and methodically build a collection. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Establishing a legal business entity such as an llc prevents you. Contact distributors and publishers that have comic books. I also plan on discussing some tips on choosing a location, stocking your store and other important details for anyone considering opening a comic book store, so stay tuned.

Its incredibly easy to get into the business, but once youre in, youre stuck. Things from another world comics, toys, and collectibles. Sell comic books online start an online comic store. Comic books and illustrated novels have reached a wide audience, and many enthusiasts have taken the heroic leap into the retailing side.

Any retail store will require all three to keep the doors open and the lights on. Comic book value packs comic book value packs are a great way to pick up a lot of comics cheaply. Gary arlington, owner and proprietor of the first comic book store in the united states, died at the age of 75 on january 21st in san francisco from complications of diabetes and heart disease although gary originally founded the san francisco comic book company in san franciscos mission district as a way to make ends meet in 1967, it became a major presence in the san francisco. But, there is a website where you can enter your zip code and a few shops within your area will appear on a map. When you visit a comic book shop, youre stepping into a world of wonders. My mission for the comic shop is for it to be a valuable online resource where comic collectors of all ages can buy, sell and trade comic books that are certified and graded by cgc, cbcs and pgx. Many sellers make the mistake of stocking too many comics in too many categories when they open, and this can quickly become a problem for several reasons. I will no longer simply give prospective comics retailers advice on the paths to follow to get a store open. Electronic reading devices put e books near at hand, even the bigbox retailers went out of business or scaled back their venture, and amazon gobbled up the lions share of the reading public.