When acquiring equipment for your Comic Book Store, make wise choices. Learn about the equipment you will need, the normal expenses, and the best sources to get it.
Table of Contents
Materials and equipment required
To get started, most comic book owners will require the following items:
Bookcases ($200-$1500 each piece)
Cash registers (from $800 to $1500)
Comfortable seats ($150-$300 apiece)
($300-$3000) sound system
Customer WiFi ($60/month)
Routers and modems ($200)
($150 – $300) Display case
Important Decisions
Choosing the correct comic books to stock up on is likely the most crucial purchase you’ll make when opening a comic book business. We discuss the essential factors to consider while making this purchase and present some common solutions.
Inventory Factors to Consider
Distinguish Your Inventory from the Competition
Is there a bookshop or another comic shop in your area? How can you increase your inventory to remain competitive? If another nearby book shop stocks a lot of graphic novels, it could be a good idea to avoid overstocking on that sort of product. It may also be prudent to contact with another comic book shop rival in order to avoid stockpiling the same inventory.
Utilize Your Personal Collection
Most comic book shop owners are comic book fans who have their own personal collection that they may utilise as inventory to begin with; this is an especially effective method for attracting comic book enthusiasts.
Understand Your Customers’ Preferences
Everyone has their own taste in comics and storylines, but rather than purchasing inventory based on personal choice, it’s crucial to get to know your customers’ interests and obtain what they’re seeking for; avoiding inventory hoarding is critical. Talk to your consumers to find out what they enjoy.
Keep up with the most recent releases.
A membership to Previews is a necessary for all comic shop owners; this is a monthly magazine that shows new comic books, graphic novels, toys, and other pop-culture products accessible at comic book specialty shops. Both comic shop merchants and customers may purchase the magazine.
Best Shopping Locations
The majority of comic book shop operators get their merchandise from wholesalers. Distributors deal directly with publishers, serving as a go-between for your business and the publishers. There are distributors for major publishing houses, as well as distributors that collaborate with independent artists on smaller scale projects.
Distributor of Diamond Comics
Diamond is the go-to distributor for American comic books; it has exclusive arrangements with the majority of major U.S. comic book publishers, including Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, and others. Diamond Comic Distributors is the industry leader in comic book distribution. They also sell pop culture products such as toys, games, and clothing. They are the number one supplier of merchandise to every comic book owner. Retailers get a 40% discount off the regular sales price.
Comixpress
Comixpress is a collection of short-run print-on-demand comics and trade paperbacks. It is the place to go to discover tiny independent authors who may be self-publishing. There is no minimum order requirement or extended wait period. It is also an excellent technique to choose some independent works to present to clients and provide diversity to your business.
Simon & Schuster Inc.
If you’re thinking about stocking Japanese comic books, Simon & Schuster is the official American distributor for Viz Media. Viz Media is the main publisher of Japanese comic books and products.