tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post112819136711978159..comments2024-03-28T04:12:10.323-04:00Comments on Draw!: "Carefull where you point that sonny." Or the Bad RetailerMike Manleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345070847409367151noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128732206692115592005-10-07T20:43:00.000-04:002005-10-07T20:43:00.000-04:00Cory, I have a few more DVD's planned, some more b...Cory, I have a few more DVD's planned, some more basic training videos and Bret Blevins wants to do one of figure drawing.<BR/><BR/>Ed and James, I agree we have more compitition today, but clearly people still love to read, Harry Potter and manga show this. Comics are huegly popular wth people all over the world and here in the states. But the retailer is the portal for us, the link to our audience. True, publishers need to try and reach teh audience as well, work with the retailers, book publishing does this, but comics is always so fucking rinky-dink with this stuff. Better retailers, better sales. I think it really is a simple idea, but most comic retailers are bad businessmen. The are timid babymen fans who don't like change and like I say time and time again would fail at normal business, they have stagnate sales growth year-to-year, or even a decline. <BR/><BR/>Now Joe Murray at Captain Blue Hen in Delaware is the type of retailer we need. He advertised on cable, on the various cartoon channels, Fox family etc., for Free Comicbook Day and had almost 900 people in his shop. His ad cost $1200 if I remember, pretty affordable and he more than made his $$ back and gained some new customers. Joe isn't the typical retailer in any way and that is our loss as a business. Now imagine if he got 10 new regular readers who spent $20 a month each reading comics, that's $200 a month or $2400 a year, effectively making double the cost of his ad expense. this doesn't seem undoable.<BR/><BR/>You have to reach the customer, then serve the customer. Comics are no longer impluse buys as in years past. If i ran a shop I'd have a lot of variety, stock the things that are kid friendly and normal people. fans of X-men will walk to hell for a copy. casual reader, girl/woman friendly stuff in the front and also have an area to browes and read, hell, maybe even sell sodas and coffee. make employess dress well, shower... kid you not, you don't know how many times the babyman smell will kill a sale...take the Borders and B&N angle, incurage people to stay, browse and read. This way they can really fall in love, and I'd also do plenty of smart targeted advertising on local cable and in mags and newspapers. Yes, it takes $$ but any business takes $$. tell me a business that doesn't require $$.<BR/><BR/>The funny thing is many won't spend the $$ to advertise, but when they fail and go out of business, they will spend the $$ to advertaise the store going out of business.Mike Manleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345070847409367151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128573928109821542005-10-06T00:45:00.000-04:002005-10-06T00:45:00.000-04:00Mike:I agree that retailers should do more to supp...Mike:<BR/><BR/>I agree that retailers should do more to support non-mainstream (I refuse to call the "small press") titles, but it's sort of a ctach-22 for us.<BR/><BR/>We need to put the money out to support them, but we need more money coming in to throw out to begin with. It's really a case of "who blinks first" and I can tell you it won't be retailers. It's not because they don't care, or are all like the Simpsons stereotype, but they just don't have the money. <BR/><BR/>All-Star Batman was labeled a huge success, but with it's number only at about 250,000 copies, compared to the "glory days" of the 80's-early 90's, that's almost cancellation level. And while sales numbers have gone done, cover prices and other things retailers need to pay to advertise non-mainstream books has gone UP. <BR/><BR/>I'm not saying you are wrong to want more for retailers, Mike. Heck, I bet most would LOVE to give it to you. It's just the funds aren't there. Not for them, not for you, not for anyone. Unless you know of a place to get some "pennies from heaven", I don't see any easy solutions to this.<BR/><BR/>You say you need more "good shops." Well, I'd argue that they are already out there. Unfortunately, they don't get the kind of money they used to. As much as we'd like to think otherwise, money is what makes this little world of ours go 'round. <BR/><BR/>I currently work for a retailer. I do what I can, in making suggestions for non-mainstream books and what not. I'd like to start my own shop, too. But, again, it all comes down to the money. Maybe if the publishing end could do something... give retailers a little more incentive to open a shop or order more non-mainstream works... I'm sure many would likely take advantage of it. But I don't see that happening any time soon, either.<BR/><BR/>So, with everyone strapped for cash, I don't see much changing anytime soon. The only other option, as I see it, is for fans to go to thier shop and get the stuff they want special ordered and maybe buy and extra for someone they know to grow the base. I, presonally, think that fans are much too lax in doing things to support the industry beyond getting what they want. <BR/><BR/>This problem didn't happen overnight and no one person or segment of the industry is to blame. The answer will only come when everyone... from the lowliest fan to the biggest publishing head... work together and do what they can to help the industry. Everyone needs to pitch in... not go looking to point fingers of blame.James Meeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15125466138669301618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128537606678211052005-10-05T14:40:00.000-04:002005-10-05T14:40:00.000-04:00I gotta say, Ed, that I disagree with you. I find ...I gotta say, Ed, that I disagree with you. I find your viewpoint to be short-sighted and narrow minded.<BR/>Comics can reach a wider audience and evolve if given the proper venues. Those venues just aren't there yet.Bobby Timonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09183875383534653356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128491294996397542005-10-05T01:48:00.000-04:002005-10-05T01:48:00.000-04:00Wasn't Erik Larsen in Draw #4Erika Larsen just for...Wasn't Erik Larsen in Draw #4<BR/><BR/>Erika Larsen just forgets the hand that led him to sucess in the first place which was his start at Marvel comics. I could never see The Savage Dragon make in the independet market.<BR/><BR/>I also wanted to say I really liked your comics to print video which I bought last month will you ever release a similar video? Maybe on style life drawing or something.Time Wasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12033204571074608347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128490732825243802005-10-05T01:38:00.000-04:002005-10-05T01:38:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Time Wasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12033204571074608347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128294108703956752005-10-02T19:01:00.000-04:002005-10-02T19:01:00.000-04:00Bobby I know exactly how we got here distribution ...Bobby I know exactly how we got here distribution wise, but I don't see a clear way out without the people with the most $$ leading the way I guess, or without retailers being willing to get books from more than one source and there also being a lot more retailers than there are now. If it was a simple problem we could solve it fast, but it's a mess.<BR/><BR/>I can print books without planning to go thru diamond and try selling them myself, off the web at cons etc., but that is not a sure road to sales and a new customer base. It's more of a vanity project.<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Manleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345070847409367151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128272455811528732005-10-02T13:00:00.000-04:002005-10-02T13:00:00.000-04:00I don't know how comics wound up with this godawfu...I don't know how comics wound up with this godawful distribution problem in the first place, but I hate it! <BR/>You're right when you say comics are an impulse buy. They should be in grocery stores and bookstores and gas stations and newstands, not locked up in the comic store dungeons behind all the overpriced statues and toys. <BR/>I think a change in the system is long overdue.Bobby Timonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09183875383534653356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128224684255210732005-10-01T23:44:00.000-04:002005-10-01T23:44:00.000-04:00Thanks John. yeah I knew the torpedo was launched ...Thanks John. yeah I knew the torpedo was launched the day I heard about Crossgen, it was only a matter of time till it caught them and BOOM!<BR/><BR/>I just don't think that you can launch a whole line of books now, interconnected books, or even just 20 more new titles, even 10. It's too much for the babymen to absorb. Do 2-3 good books, then add a little here a little there. Everybody runs down the same goddam dumb path and they all fail wiithin 2 years or so. The Bunker publisher lasted longer cause he had some real $$ to throw out the window, but his burn rate must have been like cutting your throat every day.<BR/><BR/>In the end I don't think CG's books were any better or worse than 99% of the big 3-4 publishers stuff, none my cuppa', but he had decent talent, but there just isn't a way to launch in the direct market. Seems Alias is struggling now as well, and I can't say I'm surprised. Torpeoes in the water....Mike Manleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345070847409367151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225940.post-1128214505914755012005-10-01T20:55:00.000-04:002005-10-01T20:55:00.000-04:00I agree with your thot's on Erik's rant...and it's...I agree with your thot's on Erik's rant...and it's easier to do with big $$$ saved from royalties made during the boom years like the whole original "Image" group did...you can take a few hits and recover...it's the small guy that really sticks his neck out on the chopping block that gets hurt by a costly venture that doesn't even return the $ invested.<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking of doing some stuff next year that will be money out with no promise of return on it...<BR/><BR/>...but I am doing it for ME and I won't be using a distributor to take a chuck of anything...I'll be selling thru the web and at conventions. This way I'm not giving up *anything* but am lowering my radar to those potential small sales that would give me 'break even' possiblities...<BR/><BR/>It's a crap shoot.<BR/><BR/>Look at CrossGen..I knew that guy wouldn't make it from the first time I sat with him and heard his speech...it was just a matter of time before his "dream" collasped but NOBODY...especially ME could tell him that.<BR/><BR/>...and so it goes Mr. Mike...<BR/><BR/>We can only learn by doing and trying.<BR/><BR/>Your comments/rants are as usual refreshing and potent!John Beattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00499178745743256614noreply@blogger.com