Tilting v3 #19 is up: Toothless v Ruthless

[Brian Hibbs]

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23435

I'm happy to discuss it with you here!

-B

[stealthwise]

I quite enjoyed this column, but I was a bit perturbed by the statement about a store HAVING to buy 25 copies of Blackest Night to take part in a ring give-away promotion. Part of the problem with many LCSs, it seems, is the focus on the knickknacks and extra treats and merchandizing surrounding the comics medium.

I realize that though there is probably a much higher profit margin on these items-toys especially seem to get a huge markup in any shop I've ever visited-that there is still something to be said for focusing on and selling the comics themselves. My LCS seems to be "thriving" on selling tons of marked-up Playmobil and other high-end brand children toys, many of which can be had at other local toy stores or chains like Zellers/Wal-Mart, etc, and that focus seems to be at the expense of the marketing and selling of comics. My shop doesn't seem to be suffering all that much, as they are the only viable comic option within approximately 500 km in any direction, but I don't quite understand the intense focus on selling non-comic products that many comic stores seem to have.

It seems fine to diversify and avoid losing major business if interest in the comics wanes, but too often it seems that the focus is placed on the extraneous products over the comics themselves, and that doesn't seem to me like a great way to build a customer base (with the except of perhaps Warhammer and other gaming toys, where a group of regulars can be found and built).

Just my two cents.

[Brian Hibbs]

I quite enjoyed this column, but I was a bit perturbed by the statement about a store HAVING to buy 25 copies of Blackest Night to take part in a ring give-away promotion. Part of the problem with many LCSs, it seems, is the focus on the knickknacks and extra treats and merchandizing surrounding the comics medium.

Well, the BN promotion IS designed, specifically, to try and sell COMICS. Certainly some stores may not be tying the rings to purchase of the books, but that is how it is intended to work at DC's level.

My concern is more for the level of buy-in, as I can easily think of a dozen stores or more that don't feel like they can sell those comics. They may be wrong, and they may be not trying hard enough to work with the promotion, however.

Customers DO seem to like the idea of the rings...

Personally, I think the bigger problem with many non-comics items is less the lack-of-focus they might suggest, and more the crappy margins they typically have...

-B