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With Further Ado #048: Innovation & the Comic Shop Retail Model

With Further Ado #048: Innovation & the Comic Shop Retail Model

Posted on by Ed Catto

This weekend we had an amazing family wedding in Buffalo. Whenever I’m in town, I like to drop in on the local comics shops, especially the funky Gutter Pop and the traditional Queen City Bookstore. (I’ve written about these two shops recently here.)

Just as we were wrapping up all the festivities from our weekend wedding, I tried to squeeze in a stop, and a little retail therapy, at Queen City Bookstore. To my surprise, they were closed in order to devote 100% of their focus Sunday to the Buffalo Comic Con.

Rats!

The Buffalo Comic-Con is a fun show. Captain Action exhibited there a few years ago and we had a grand time. I had a wonderful time getting to know comic artist Kevin Nowlan as we were on a panel together.

But, still… I was bummed out that Queen City Bookstore was closed. So, I used Waze to guide me out of the city and on the way out, was surprised to see a storefront sign that read: Iron Buffalo Comics. Games. Coffee.

Screeeeech! I mimicked an Adam West “Bat Turn” (minus the parachutes emerging from my car) and my wife Kathe and I stopped in for a visit.

Iron Buffalo is a funky, new comic shop. It’s still in its infancy but you can see that this store, like so many new comic shops, is trying something new.

Here’s how they describe themselves: Continue reading “With Further Ado #048: Innovation & the Comic Shop Retail Model” →

So Long and Thanks for the Fish, Man #025: Unshaven Comics Comics

So Long and Thanks for the Fish, Man #025: Unshaven Comics Comics

Posted on by Marc Alan Fishman

Happy Polar Vortex to all of you, my loyal readers. All six or eight of you. Four if we’re counting the ones likely still warm and alive.

In between my social feeds being choked with people throwing pots of water into the freezing air, or freeze-drying t-shirts all to garner useless likes from their friends and families… I noticed a prompt from local comic shop magnate Carmelo Chimera (whose name either makes him a wizard, mage, or super hero by my estimation). In a fifteen minute video posted to his feed, Carmelo — wanting to do something so Carmelo — has decided to give away one of his comic book stores. Full stop.

Not sell it. No. Give it away. But I suppose I should clarify: this isn’t an up-for-grabs fight for the keys. Instead, Mr. Chimera (I assume, transmitted from his underground volcanic laboratory) is inviting anyone willing to take seriously the responsibility of shop ownership to compete for the opportunity. And while some of you may be thinking it’ll be some form of Bachelor-esque YouTube reality show? Carmelo’s gauntlet comes thrown with a very straight-forward prompt.

Convince him the store should be yours in 500 words or less. “What makes a great comic book store?”  Continue reading “So Long and Thanks for the Fish, Man #025: Unshaven Comics Comics” →