Self assessment is always important for self improvement. Failure to do so has caused iconic companies such as Sears, Blockbuster, and others to close their doors. Participating in comic books and collectibles is the same. Evolve or go extinct. Many love the hobby but voice concerns of how it can be improved to keep it viable. GoCollect attends events and documents those problematic areas that exist for participants. Here are some of the most common complaints and how the author would recommend fixing those issues.
Problem #1: Comics pricing out entry level novices.
Comic books were once disposable media products. Soon they increased in their cover price because of their popularity. Now a good book costs roughly $4. That is a little below the weekly price of a standard Netflix subscription. That prices many younger readers from entering into the hobby. The view that comics have to be profitable to Marvel and DC is a mistake that they make. It is very short sighted but based upon the bottom line.
Solution: Introduce a line of comics at a cheaper price to attract younger fans.
The reason Marvel and DC Comics properties are bringing in money is because fans know them. They were part of their lives during childhood. If they are not kept relevant then they become merely film and television projects not part of the zeitgeist of the fan's lifetime. It costs a lot of money to produce a television show or movie. A comic book is a lot cheaper to make. It should also show what characters are popular and what ones are not. Using comics as a loss leader to gather information on how a character/franchise might translate to movies is a good expenditure to avoid costly box office bombs. They are also a cheap way in introducing them to the community. Sadly, comics are not viewed as important anymore in the success of the MCU and DC Comics media projects. Big mistake says the community.
Problem #2: Conventions are now pop culture events.
Fans love conventions but view them as not the place to purchase comics because most vendors do not attend them. They can purchase them easier online.They say this because fewer and fewer comic sellers are making the time and cost expenditure to go to these events. These vendors still bring customers to events because they have great crossover appeal among attendees.
Solution: Bring in a greater spectrum of comic book writers and artists.
Talk to comic book vendors who regularly attend conventions and they say that they have to make a good profit to attend. One of the ways they do so is the list of celebs who will be showing up at the convention. Their attendance makes some books sell better. Conventions could attract more vendors though by bringing in artists and writers who are currently hot or legends. That makes books that they worked on sell at conventions. Legends such as Starlin, Miller, and others who worked on key books will move them. Vendors believe more attention is paid to movie celebs than the writers and artists that will move their product. Focusing on this area will bring in more comic book vendors. I mean if Kevin Eastman is coming to a con, then vendors could sell a lot of TMNT product that is usually just languishing on their shelves. This goes to the next issue of....
Problem #3: Conventions need better guests.
Unless at the San Diego Comic Con, most fans stated that they wanted better guests. Most fans fail to realize this is difficult to achieve because convention funds are limited. There is a lot that goes into putting on an event and that means sticking to a budget. Sometimes there is a way to make the most of what one can do in a creative way.
Solution: Better Chairs.
GoCollect talks to attendees, promoters, agents, and even celebs about the convention from a logistics vantage. Sometimes the craziest solutions are the simplest. Celebs attending these events must sit in chairs to meet their fans for hours at a time. That is very uncomfortable. Imagine them doing so in an office chair. If they are comfortable and feeling better that makes their guest interactions easier. The celebs can sign those chairs at the end of the convention so they can be given to a local charity to be auctioned off for their benefit. The charity could promote the celeb's donation of the chair and how they are appearing at the convention reaching many segments of the community that otherwise would have been ignored. This increases convention attendance. Then there are the charity's supporters of groups like Jay's Juniors and Bubbles the Blind Beagle that would would probably appreciate that type of fundraising and exposure and would repost those announcements as well further saturating the convention's presence online. So in review...
Con Promoters- Charities and their supporters promoting the event on social media for a minimal expenditure to increase attendance.
Celebs- Comfortable at event and good press for their charity donation.
Charities- Exposure from celeb support plus an item to be used as a fundraiser.
Fans- Getting better interaction from a comfortable celeb and eventually more guests plus the chance to win an autographed piece of furniture used by their favorite celeb.
Win-Win-Win-Win...all for the price of a chair at Office Depot. Why is this not being done?
Problem #4 I can't find/sell books for a good price.
Collectors and investors want to score deals. Vendors want to make a good profit on books because they have so much overhead. If they cannot solve this problem both could drop out of the hobby because of lack of satisfaction. The problem is they are leaving too much meat on the table.
Solution: Business cards and sign-in sheets.
If you are reading this you probably think the author is in a state that allows recreational marijuana or it is $1 night margaritas at the bar. That is not the case...the margaritas are $2. Seriously, vendors AND buyers miss out on so many opportunities by not gathering research. GoCollect gathers sales data, talks to buyers and sellers, and so much more to produce these articles. Information is important. The same applies to buyers and sellers. If a buyer goes to a store or booth at a convention they leave a card or sign a data sheet to get on that vendor's radar. They probably have more items to sell that were unseen that may interest you. Vendors should get to know EVERYONE who walks through your door. They are not passively reviewing items on the internet but making a great effort to find out about your goods...do not squander that opportunity. Get their name and ask what they are looking for and then write it down. Their target may appear one day later and that could mean quick money to the diligent vendor.
Problem #5 All key books are overpriced.
Solution: Keep reading this journalist's articles...because here we go with a list of 10 books that are keys but are still undervalued.
