This week Chris and Walt start their talk about what makes a good local comic book shop.
Please let us know what you thought of this week’s show, please leave your comments in the space provided below, and as always please keep it civil.
How’s your local comic book shop? Are they stocking up on second-hand goods and collectibles?
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
This episode is about what a comics’ retailer thinks makes a good comic retail business. It is difficult to determine what makes a good comic shop without visiting a lot of comic shops, seeing what they’re doing, and discussing with the owners what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.
The off-topic discussion of what a “collection” is seems to be heavily skewed to the opinion of someone who sells old comics. Only the original format and presentation of an item can be considered part of a collection? If you collect movies, then only the original reel of film sent to the theatres would be considered a real movie collection?
Some definitions
Collection: the act or process of collecting something
Collect: bring or gather together
The first part of your cast was about why collectors sell. I have sold to buy more, sold because I was moving, sold to make space (last one wasn’t that successful). Now my desire is to sell of 90%+ due to impending retirement! In the second part you talked about an expanded inventory at shops. Nearly 95% of the stores I have hone to since the 1970’s have had at least toys… later games, cards, digital… and books were at 100% of the stores! Also nice to hear Walt’s ( and Chris as well) backstory into comic shop owner! I always had a dormant idea that I would have been good at it… but my
Spidey since told me it was too risky!
I blame Chris for taking the show off on tangents, I also agree with Scott that my view on collections is limited to old comics in this discussion which is obviously wrong. I know one guy who collects beer coasters from bars he’s visited around the world, another guy I know collects matchbooks from hotels (when they were a thing).
Gerald, you would have been a great shop keep, you might have even started a podcast!!
ah, the back story to how Chris and Walt firstmet, if that was a comic, it would be a key!!! (the real life equivalent to Power Man #48: Luke Cage & Iron Fist)
Twice I posted here and twice my posts failed to appear. What gives?
Hard to say since you posted this.
Clearing the cookies in your browser is the first step when having any issues with web forms.
I thought there may have been a problem with the connection between the east coast and Toronto, where I presume this site is hosted. I use a tablet that allows me to not permit cookies or history unless I specify it. Only CBD is allowed to send me cookies (and milk too, please.)
By the way… next week … if the wifi works well…I will be listening to you radio…errr… podcast, from Porto, Portugal on our first trip to check it out! I will keep an eye out to see if there are any comics there!
My first two (failed) postings mainly said that a lot of our local comics shops carry only newer material, due to the wants of their customers, and the higher prices they would have to pay for quality older books.
Even before the pandemic, they struggled with new purchase costs, utilities, rent, paying staff, paying themselves a small wage and just balancing other expenses each month. Some have tried consignment but they say the clientele is too impatient for their money.
One popular shop almost closed when the pandemic hit, catching the proprieters by surprise. It’s a tough go for a store owner.
Gerald, have fun in Portugal, stay away from those Nazare waves!
Klaus, it is a tough grind, knowing how the markets work in the old stuff just gives shops that extra income stream they so desperately need.
Scott
Patience grasshopper. By “definition” this was Part 1, so maybe Part 2 will cover what you want to hear. Keep trying Walt. I’m listening.
cheers, mel