Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Quick update
Thanks for all the interest in this new blog. I'll be taking bets to guess how long I keep it up until I get bored of it.
After visiting each store, I've been recording a lot of notes verbally just so I remember what I thought about each store. I thought very briefly about possibly doing a podcast, but realized that there's nothing quite as boring as non sequitor verbal diarrhea, and it turns out I have an awful voice.
(By the way, my father told me yesterday that I'm not as ugly on TV as I am in real life. I love my family.)
Am glad to report that Sonia has also taken a big interest in this as well. A great added dynamic to her coming with me is that she notices stuff as one who is not a huge comic fan and doesn't frequent comic book stores regularly, and also, as unfortunate as it is to have to say, as a woman. Plus, she has really nice boobies and is pretty. You know, for a comic book chick. (In all seriousness, her being a female prospective customer was actually relevant yesterday during a visit to one of the stores yesterday. More on that later.)
Speaking of later, I will probably only be able to provide one review a week if I want to do them properly, given that I have a day job I have to pretend to do for the benefit of the editors who read my twitter and facebook pages (Yay Marvel, DC sucks balls) plus I have all my Christmas DVDs to watch.
So every Wednesday, then? I've visted four comic book stores so far for this thing, and none are by where I actually live, so there should be enough to consistently provide all the yes sequitor written solid-poop that you might be looking for.
By the way, the store I visited today is probably the benchmark standard for comic book stores in my opinion. When I said that I might be giving ratings for stores, say out of 10, it was while keeping in mind that I had actually seen and visited a store that I would have given a 10, and would base the ratings on that standard.
This store is as good as that store or better. I will discuss why I think so and reveal the name of it later.
Oh, okay, it's Austin Books & Comics in Austin, Texas on North Lamar. I'll go into more detail later, I promise. My notes on this store almost broke Sonia's iPhone.
After visiting each store, I've been recording a lot of notes verbally just so I remember what I thought about each store. I thought very briefly about possibly doing a podcast, but realized that there's nothing quite as boring as non sequitor verbal diarrhea, and it turns out I have an awful voice.
(By the way, my father told me yesterday that I'm not as ugly on TV as I am in real life. I love my family.)
Am glad to report that Sonia has also taken a big interest in this as well. A great added dynamic to her coming with me is that she notices stuff as one who is not a huge comic fan and doesn't frequent comic book stores regularly, and also, as unfortunate as it is to have to say, as a woman. Plus, she has really nice boobies and is pretty. You know, for a comic book chick. (In all seriousness, her being a female prospective customer was actually relevant yesterday during a visit to one of the stores yesterday. More on that later.)
Speaking of later, I will probably only be able to provide one review a week if I want to do them properly, given that I have a day job I have to pretend to do for the benefit of the editors who read my twitter and facebook pages (Yay Marvel, DC sucks balls) plus I have all my Christmas DVDs to watch.
So every Wednesday, then? I've visted four comic book stores so far for this thing, and none are by where I actually live, so there should be enough to consistently provide all the yes sequitor written solid-poop that you might be looking for.
By the way, the store I visited today is probably the benchmark standard for comic book stores in my opinion. When I said that I might be giving ratings for stores, say out of 10, it was while keeping in mind that I had actually seen and visited a store that I would have given a 10, and would base the ratings on that standard.
This store is as good as that store or better. I will discuss why I think so and reveal the name of it later.
Oh, okay, it's Austin Books & Comics in Austin, Texas on North Lamar. I'll go into more detail later, I promise. My notes on this store almost broke Sonia's iPhone.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Okay, so I visited 3 stores today.
I don't know if I'm going to do grades or ratings, but if I did, I'd know what to give each of them. I'll go into more detail on them later.
I will say this though. It seems that the two major things that comic book stores have to balance MUCH more correctly and skillfully than most retailers in other industries seem to be inventory management, and the dichotomy between attracting new customers and keeping existing ones. These are obviously not exclusive to comic book stores, but how well these are done and how much attention is being placed on them is evident damn near immediately.
In the meantime, if you have any initial thoughts or suggestions, recommedations or things to consider, shoot me a tweet or facebook message (I'm easy to find.)
I don't know if I'm going to do grades or ratings, but if I did, I'd know what to give each of them. I'll go into more detail on them later.
I will say this though. It seems that the two major things that comic book stores have to balance MUCH more correctly and skillfully than most retailers in other industries seem to be inventory management, and the dichotomy between attracting new customers and keeping existing ones. These are obviously not exclusive to comic book stores, but how well these are done and how much attention is being placed on them is evident damn near immediately.
In the meantime, if you have any initial thoughts or suggestions, recommedations or things to consider, shoot me a tweet or facebook message (I'm easy to find.)
Why am I doing this?
1. One more reason to get attention.
2. I LOVE comic book stores. All I need is another excuse to walk into yet another one.
3. Nothing brings out my inner fanboy like a great comic book store. Every time I see a great or even good one, I feel like I did when I was a kid walking into a Toys 'R' Us, or like I do now when I walk into a Sweet Factory, but, like, times a thousand.
I don't know what it is. It's not like a store has to have something different from other stores which set it apart (although when I see it, it's great.) I guess it's like McDonald's fries. Every time you get them and they're FRESH, it's like you're eating them for the first time.
Perhaps it's the PRODUCT that ideally does most of the work for the store. When what you're looking for are comic books, they're the same no matter which retailer you go to. And I LOVE comic books. A comic book store with an extensive collection is like an ice cream store with an extensive selection of flavors. You're not going to buy a scoop of all of them, but just the idea that the options are there to pick from totally whets your appetite for whatever you ARE going to get.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I visited a comic book store for the first time and didn't leave with something.
I think I might have a problem.
4. Nothing bothers me like a crappy comic book store. It's such a downer. Like going to a seafood restaurant and finding out the crawfish is frozen. Fuck that shit. I know I REALLY wanted crawfish, but I'd rather go without than eat shitty crawfish. But damn if you don't leave the place wanting crawfish more than ever.
Nothing underscores what issues beset the comic book industry like a crappy comic book store. A store that doesn't seem like it gives a shit whether or not you buy something, or feel welcome or even comfortable in their establishment. And it's no comfort that such a business is probably going to gone soon. The industry is ultimately a small one, with smaller margins. The nature of almost all of the facets of the comic book industry as they are now are not condusive to reliably consistent significant growth, in fact the industry almost prompts the imagery of the ouroboros (I love you wikipedia, you make me feel smart) where the only thing that changes is how much is being eaten. It's almost like we can use all the growth we can get, and when you see a lolly-gagger, you kind of just want to shoot him.
Also, how am I going to buy shit if you don't sell my books?
5. I like judging.
2. I LOVE comic book stores. All I need is another excuse to walk into yet another one.
3. Nothing brings out my inner fanboy like a great comic book store. Every time I see a great or even good one, I feel like I did when I was a kid walking into a Toys 'R' Us, or like I do now when I walk into a Sweet Factory, but, like, times a thousand.
I don't know what it is. It's not like a store has to have something different from other stores which set it apart (although when I see it, it's great.) I guess it's like McDonald's fries. Every time you get them and they're FRESH, it's like you're eating them for the first time.
Perhaps it's the PRODUCT that ideally does most of the work for the store. When what you're looking for are comic books, they're the same no matter which retailer you go to. And I LOVE comic books. A comic book store with an extensive collection is like an ice cream store with an extensive selection of flavors. You're not going to buy a scoop of all of them, but just the idea that the options are there to pick from totally whets your appetite for whatever you ARE going to get.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I visited a comic book store for the first time and didn't leave with something.
I think I might have a problem.
4. Nothing bothers me like a crappy comic book store. It's such a downer. Like going to a seafood restaurant and finding out the crawfish is frozen. Fuck that shit. I know I REALLY wanted crawfish, but I'd rather go without than eat shitty crawfish. But damn if you don't leave the place wanting crawfish more than ever.
Nothing underscores what issues beset the comic book industry like a crappy comic book store. A store that doesn't seem like it gives a shit whether or not you buy something, or feel welcome or even comfortable in their establishment. And it's no comfort that such a business is probably going to gone soon. The industry is ultimately a small one, with smaller margins. The nature of almost all of the facets of the comic book industry as they are now are not condusive to reliably consistent significant growth, in fact the industry almost prompts the imagery of the ouroboros (I love you wikipedia, you make me feel smart) where the only thing that changes is how much is being eaten. It's almost like we can use all the growth we can get, and when you see a lolly-gagger, you kind of just want to shoot him.
Also, how am I going to buy shit if you don't sell my books?
5. I like judging.
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