Comic Book Shop - I want your input.

I'm a Business Administration major in college right now and I hope to open my own Comic Book shop sometime soon after graduating. Here's my question to you all: What would you want to see in a comic book shop? Any advice you can give is welcome. But this is a serious question, so I just ask for serious answers.

One suggestion I've been given is to have a restaurant attatched to the shop, theming everything after comics, perhaps a hamburger/pizza place type thing. Who knows? Advice on that idea would be great as well.

Let me know what you think and what advice you can give.

Oh, another idea that was pitched to me was to have guest appearances, perhaps comic writers or actors who have played characters in various movies come to visit for signings or something. What do you think?

I like the idea, but the question I have is: is it plausible? Do you, or could you get the connections for actors? writers? do you have the extra money to open a resturant, or do you know someone that you could share responsibility with (you with the comic shop and them with the resturant)

and if you do then I say go for it....besides that, a comic book shop with a resturant would work, EXEPT that you might make less of a profit if they just read the comic, without buyin it, while eating....so what I suggest is get one comic (that you dont sell) as a display and sell the comics in the sheets to hold them in....that way they would be forced to buy them....

hm, ok, thanks.

as far as the actors go, i don't yet, but I know how to get them I think. I was going to be an actress before I changed my mind, it'd take a while, but I think I could get the connections.

The comic shop near my place is more than just comics...it's more like geek heaven. Magic: the Gathering card sets. Role-playing stuff (think D&D or Warhammer) along with figurines and such. And obviously, the latest comics titles as well as plenty of older comic stuff.

It's certainly viable, provided you have the start-up cost covered. And the restaurant is interesting, but probably not needed. Would it really attract the same demographic?? Or would you chase away potential restaurant customers because it's attached to a comic store? I think that, unfortunately, is probably more likely. Comic customers can't sustain a restaurant by themselves.

good point. i'll definitely take that into consideration...

Bag and board every comic at least a week after you get them.

Don't have any in the back issue section that aren't bagged with boards.

Seriously, I hate going to comic shops seeing people thumb through them looking for the issue they want and bending all the spines of the comics.

Even the TPB bag and board. People got greasy fingers.

Its a real good idea to bag and board the comics for the people who got pull lists with you and offer discounts for them.

The comic shop I go to offers 10% off on comics that add up to around 10.00 and 20% off on $20.00 or more.

Discounts are key.

I go to 2 shops that do that.

I also stop in others and they ask me why I never start a pull list with them.

I just tell them flat out, its because they don't offer the deals.

Thats pretty much all I look for in a comic shop.

Oh and remeber glossy side of the board faces the back of the comic.🙂

lol. alright, sweet.

✅ God... I NEED A COMIC SHOP IN MY TOWN! The nearest is 2 hours away!

lol. Well, I'm not sure yet where this one will be. If I open it right after college it'll be here in Lincoln, however, this is a very small town. But it is a college town (there are two or three either in town or close to it) so I'm wondering if it would do well. I know several comic fans on my own campus, but I'm not sure if there'd be enough interest.

It's been suggested to me to move to the Chicago area first and then open this.

Dammit... I thought you meant the PROPPER Lincoln for a minute... which is near me...

no, I meant Lincoln as in Illinois.

Anyone else have any input?

low prices will get you far

great search engine and the ability to order online

i also like to order things other then with a credit card so i wont be so paranoid about them stealing

good security system makes the costomer feel good

big catolog

knowing whats in your inventory is good also, ive been to places where they say that they have this and that in stock then suddenly BAM nope we dont have it and they've done it more then once then you just stop bothering.

You might also like to be able to special order comics that you dont have, i dont think ive found many places that do that but ive found a few.

have a consistent catolog its just as annoying as when they say we have it and dont, its just as annoying when they say we SHOULD HAVE IT and take a day of looking it annoys them but it also annoys you.

Good costomer service, people like to know how there order is doing.

Alright, having a computer system or something with notes on what we do and don't have would be good, okay. As far as online order, not sure I'd be able to do that for a long time, I don't have the skills in webpage design to do it, not to mention the money. That may be something to look forward to way down the road, but not immediately, idk.

thanks

1.) You can't underestimate the ability to win friends in your work area. Read the book "How To Win Friends And Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and don't let the title throw you off. It is the second most life-changing book I've ever read and should not be underestimated.

2.) Buy back issues in large stock and then sell them for $1 a piece. If this can be arranged it is a great deal and a nice way of acquiring new customers.

3.) Repeat #1

4.) Heroclix...nuff said

5.) Look my head is on fire

6.) Get a cat or a dog. Study has proven that pet owner's live 30% longer than other people. It'll be worth it.

7.) Mice hate Spearamint. Leave little bottle caps full of Spearamint in places where you know mice are and you'll find that mice will come by a lot less regularly.

8.) Never eat a Polar Bear's liver...they're poisonous.

9.) Repeat #3

10.) Location, location, location (whatever that means)

that's all I've got.

Originally posted by Psyquis52
1.) You can't underestimate the ability to win friends in your work area. Read the book "How To Win Friends And Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and don't let the title throw you off. It is the second most life-changing book I've ever read and should not be underestimated.

2.) Buy back issues in large stock and then sell them for $1 a piece. If this can be arranged it is a great deal and a nice way of acquiring new customers.

3.) Repeat #1

4.) Heroclix...nuff said

5.) Look my head is on fire

6.) Get a cat or a dog. Study has proven that pet owner's live 30% longer than other people. It'll be worth it.

7.) Mice hate Spearamint. Leave little bottle caps full of Spearamint in places where you know mice are and you'll find that mice will come by a lot less regularly.

8.) Never eat a Polar Bear's liver...they're poisonous.

9.) Repeat #3

10.) Location, location, location (whatever that means)

that's all I've got.

😑

Originally posted by BloodyAngel
😑

Seriously though.

1,2,3 and 4 are good tips.

Well, 1 and 2 are.

These are all actual facts sooooooo...it's still kinda pointless.

lol. but it still helps.

I can't stress enough how important it is to read or listen to on audio book "How To Win Friends and Influence People"

I put it off because the title made me feel like a goof-ball but it's actually really smart and easy to read.

It really is an incredible book and that whole Spearamint thing is true and it does work. I'm certain you don't have problems with mice but if you did that would definately due the job.