Written by Chris Fluit | |
Friday, 17 August 2007 | |
![]() I haven’t been into comic books my whole life, but I’ve been a collector long enough that I now have some opinions on what I want a store to be like. These are some of the things I’m looking for when I look at a store:
Plus, nowadays, I’m looking out for more than my own comfort. Is
this a store where I’ll feel comfortable bringing my wife? Is this a
store where I’ll feel comfortable bringing my daughters? I want to know
that I’ll be able to bring my family into the store without having to
worry that my girls might knock something over. I don’t want to bring
my wife into a place where she’ll feel uncomfortable because of
enclosed spaces (another real example) or potentially offensive
materials. My daughters can be pretty sensitive. They know when they’ve
entered a place where they’re not welcome. And frankly, I don’t want
them to have that kind of an experience at a comic book store. I want
them to be as comfortable as I am. ORGANIZATION: Next up, I want a store to have a semblance of organization. I want to be able to find what I’m looking for. You’d be amazed at how many stores fail on this basic consideration. I understand that a lot of stores want to put their new comics in the back so that you have to walk past everything else in order to get to them. It’s the same reason why most grocery stores put staples like bread and milk in the back. But the grocery store clearly labels the bakery or the dairy section. I don’t mind walking to the back of the store. I just want you to give me a big ol’ sign telling me that I’m going to have to do it. I don’t want to spend 10 minutes wandering around the store aimlessly until I happen to stumble onto the new comics. Organization goes hand in hand with comfort. If I can’t find what I’m looking for, whether it’s new comics or back issues or trades, then I’m not going to enjoy my shopping experience. And if I’m not enjoying my shopping experience, there’s always the chance that I’ll come less often (which means less money for the store) or go some place else (which means no money for the store). Honestly, it’s in your best interest as a store to make sure that I and every other customer can easily move about the store and find what we’re looking for.
This also means that I want a store to show that they want my repeat business. Most stores offer a pull list. Good. I can’t make it to the store every week so that’s something I’m interested in. I don’t mind playing by whatever rules they set for it such as purchases must be made at least once a month. But if you’re going to have rules that help you out as a business, also have some rules that help me out as a customer. Most stores pass along a discount to their regular customers, offering 10 or 15% off. If you’re not willing to do that, at least give me some financial incentive to come back to your store instead of going to someone else’s. I used to work in a restaurant. We had lunch punch cards for regular customers. Pay for 10 meals and the next lunch is on us. Go ahead and do something like that. Give me a $5 coupon every time I spend $50. But do something. Show me in some way that you want me to come back as a regular customer. If you’re not willing to give me an incentive, there are plenty of places that will even if that means turning to mail-order or going on-line. I’d rather not do that. I enjoy the physical act of going to the comic book store. But I’m not going to waste my money or my time at a place that doesn’t value me as a customer.
Also, there’s another way to look at this concern of selection: do you have comics I can buy for my kids? I like to see a kids section. I like to know that my girls will be able to find some comics they want on the shelf. I’m not the kind of person that insists that every comic has to be for kids. But I do think that some comics should be for kids. And that is something I’m looking for when I’m looking at a new store. Give me some variety: a variety of comics for a variety of ages. It’s not a full acrostic. I’m missing the “MI” in the middle. But that’s what I’m looking for in a store: Comfort, Organization, Customer service and Selection. If you give me those things, then I’ll gladly give you my business.
Photos are from 3 great stores: The Secret Headquarters owned by Legionnaire Dagwan in Tallahassee,FL, Comic Readers , Medicine Hat, AB owned by the always nice Brett Beattie and Joe Field's Flying Colors Comics in Concord, CA. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 August 2007 ) |
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