i am opening a comic book store.
- Thread starter Bill Pengelly
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On the flip side of the diversified product recommendations, I'd say that (depending on your market) you don't want to try to be everything to everyone because that can drive off some of your core customer base. If you're aiming for multiple markets, don't let one of them scare off the others - and I'm not talking about the obvious unpleasant people that others have mentioned.
If you're going to be a split comics/cards store, don't have a giant gaming table in the middle of your comics section - or if you don't have space to have it anywhere else, consider having specific after-hours gaming nights. I've seen multiple comics shops (and video game places as well) that branched out into card games and ended up loosing huge chunks of their original customer base by letting the card people drive them away. If you have room for two separate sections, then have those things separated - that's one thing that almost every long-term successful card/comic shop I've seen has done.
And keep running the numbers as you go - game nights can be huge money makers, but they can also be a drain on your shop if people show up to play and rarely buy anything. And that's doubly important if there's any chance that those card games are driving off your other customers.
If you're going to be a split comics/cards store, don't have a giant gaming table in the middle of your comics section - or if you don't have space to have it anywhere else, consider having specific after-hours gaming nights. I've seen multiple comics shops (and video game places as well) that branched out into card games and ended up loosing huge chunks of their original customer base by letting the card people drive them away. If you have room for two separate sections, then have those things separated - that's one thing that almost every long-term successful card/comic shop I've seen has done.
And keep running the numbers as you go - game nights can be huge money makers, but they can also be a drain on your shop if people show up to play and rarely buy anything. And that's doubly important if there's any chance that those card games are driving off your other customers.
Can't offer much beside keeping it neat, clean and well ventilated. The cave effect happens easily in small comic shops, particularly those that skimps on cleaning and interior decor. If it looks and feels like an ordinary, well-maintained shop, it'll pay off in the long run.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
A lot of these might seem a little obvious but here's some ideas:
-Trading cards are always a hot seller, especially if you sell pack varieties that aren't found in major stores
-D&D stuff, use your D&D nights to promote your merchandise (you've probably thought of that I guess)
-Merchandise from popular geeky online stores (You can arrange consignment sales with some of these shops I think)
-Beverages, buy a coke fridge and put it by the front counter
-Videogames both old and new
Good luck with your new business! : D
-Trading cards are always a hot seller, especially if you sell pack varieties that aren't found in major stores
-D&D stuff, use your D&D nights to promote your merchandise (you've probably thought of that I guess)
-Merchandise from popular geeky online stores (You can arrange consignment sales with some of these shops I think)
-Beverages, buy a coke fridge and put it by the front counter
-Videogames both old and new
Good luck with your new business! : D
There's a comic shop right down by the road from me, they are great, they have a huge selection of comics, and the biggest thing that keeps me comin back is they get a whole bunch of comic book memorabilia, like statues and things of that ilk, that come through that is usually hard to find, so that is a suggestion. Also they hold regular tournaments for magic, board games, and they recently started to branch into tabletop gaming, they sell Warhammer 40k, they don't have the best selection, but they are always happy to special order anything for you, so that's another suggestion, is be open to stuff like that. Honestly I's just ask customers what they'd like to see and go with that.
At anyrate, good luck with everything! The world always needs good comic book shops
At anyrate, good luck with everything! The world always needs good comic book shops
5 words: Snacks and table top gaming.
The comic book store near my house has a side area specifically dedicated to people who just want to come in and play some games. They also sell games so I seem to pick them up pretty often. When you're gaming for long periods of time you get hungry, bam, a fridge full of sodas, tea, and water, and some chips or snack cakes, you're in the zone. You won't get RICH off it, but it's a good way to bring people in.
Like others have said, keeping booster packs and doing stuff like friday night magic can also really help. Maybe hold monthly tournaments, offer a prize, have a five buck entry fee or something.
Above all else, just provide good service. Even though I'm away at school for about 8 months out of the year, I prefer to buy all my comics from the shop back home. Because the guy who runs the shop at home is awesome and cool and cares about his customers, and the guy who runs the comic shop down where I go to school is like an older, grumpier, sexist, not as funny version of Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons.
The comic book store near my house has a side area specifically dedicated to people who just want to come in and play some games. They also sell games so I seem to pick them up pretty often. When you're gaming for long periods of time you get hungry, bam, a fridge full of sodas, tea, and water, and some chips or snack cakes, you're in the zone. You won't get RICH off it, but it's a good way to bring people in.
Like others have said, keeping booster packs and doing stuff like friday night magic can also really help. Maybe hold monthly tournaments, offer a prize, have a five buck entry fee or something.
Above all else, just provide good service. Even though I'm away at school for about 8 months out of the year, I prefer to buy all my comics from the shop back home. Because the guy who runs the shop at home is awesome and cool and cares about his customers, and the guy who runs the comic shop down where I go to school is like an older, grumpier, sexist, not as funny version of Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons.
I'm sure you've already worked it out. But be prepared to be hemorrhaging cash for a good year unless there is just massive demand.
Outside of that just go where the money is Magic, or TCG's or whatnot, follow the trends.
Outside of that just go where the money is Magic, or TCG's or whatnot, follow the trends.