Top 10 ways you can help save the Comic Industry

Since it has been nearly a year since I have felt the need to rant in this venue, I thought I should make it as productive as possible upon my return. How can one save the comic industry? Is the comic industry in jeopardy? How can one person help? I will give you ten ways you can help, as well as my justification for each.

1. Digital comics are a gateway drug. Don't be afraid to buy digital comics.

~Yes, you are hearing this from a retailer. No, I am not off my rocker. While other retailers piss and moan about losing business to the digital comic platforms, truth of the matter is those sites are exposing new readers to their products. If you like a book digitally, I would be willing to bet most of you would be inclined to buy the rest and have it in your personal library. Those that are not purchasing the actual books are still going to tell a friend about the book they read online, and they will tell a friend, and they will tell a friend...

2. Utilize your social networking skills to promote the stuff you like...

~...and truth be told, if you don't like it. With more people communicating via social networking and text than verbally or by email the world has changed its preferred form of communication practically overnight. Why wait for an email or a phone call when you can go to one site and know what everyone you know is doing all the time? That said, those reading comic books can generate a huge impact on product sales by telling the world what they like, or even what they do not like. All feedback is positive when it is being exposed to millions...

3. Support all retailers of books, comic books, and graphic novels.

~Yes, a small retailer is advocating sales at chain stores. Why? Oftentimes those larger stores will get a deal to carry the first book in a series, or a limited selection from a publisher. You find yourself in love with the art or the story in a book you purchased at Borders; where do you get more? The mom and pops, or online. This is the same argument as my promotion of digital comics; give a dime bag to your first customer and they will come scrambling back with cash for more of your sweet offerings.

4. Like it? Buy it the easy way: set up a subscription.

~Most brick and mortar retailers offer subscription service free of charge. Don't have the time to get to your store on a weekly basis? Missing books? Establishing subscription service actually helps the retailer tremendously in determining the total numbers they should order on a monthly basis. Stores with a strong subscription base of customers can trim the fat on orders and ensure their potential profits don't become an immediate loss when the excess does not sell. The key to helping your retailer friends in this process is to actually come and pick up your books on a regular basis so they do not have to guess on when you will return. Subscription service is essentially an extension of a loan with no penalties. The only penalty is to the retailer if you bail on your 'loan'.

5. Don't be afraid to switch to trade paperback.

~I find many of my customers still purchasing individual comics because they think there will be a resurgence in collectability. Sorry kids. The cold hard fact is the majority of the current era books you will find increasing in value are either low print run issues or variants offered in low quantities. 99% of the books consumers purchase will not see a noticeable increase in value in their lifetimes, barring a paper shortage or a devastating world war that destroys the hundreds of thousands of other books out there. Most writers write for a collected format. When you feel that abrupt ending in a comic book and hate having to wait an entire month for the follow-up or find yourself having to go back and read the one before just to get up to speed...easily avoidable if you are purchasing the trade paperback. Plus for big kids they look better on a bookshelf than stacked in boxes in a room your wife may someday want to reclaim!

6. Attend Free Comic Book Day at your local retailer.

~Those less inclined to step away from the core titles they read have a great opportunity to step out of the box free of charge and try something new. There are dozens of offerings from dozens of publishers available, and each publisher makes available their best offerings to entice you into reading their books. With most consumers having less and less to spend this is a great opportunity to expand your horizons and your palate. Visit http://www.freecomicbookday.com/ for more details!

7. Give a new writer a shot.

~ Two little known statistics: 1. Since Diamond Comic Distributors has published their top comic sales for each calendar year that the average age of the writer on the top 10 books is over 40 years of age, and 2. Every year the top 10 sales have been dominated by no more than four writers. Without naming those obvious names; next time you go to a convention or chat with one of those favorite writers in your favorite social network, ask them who their favorite writers or up-and-coming talents are. If you fear stepping outside of your comfort zone, why not ask your favorites who to read?

8. Try a new title.

~This is not a plea to try an independent book (I am saving that for #10). Some of the best books (in my opinion) have been produced by large publishers in recent years. Both Image and Dark Horse have produced most of Comic Evolution's top 10 selling books, both in single issue and trade format. Both companies, while producing their top sellers balance their inventory with new titles offered by industry favorites and newcomers. For a constantly rotating list of some of our top sellers, visit the 'OUR FAVES' link at http://www.comic-evolution.com/

9. Try a new vendor or retailer.

~I have been in business for three years now, and all of my business had to come from somewhere. I constantly push my regular customers to visit other local retailers. Bottom line: not every store carries everything. You may be missing what could become your favorite book because your local retailer does not buy it. While loyalty is an endearing quality in a consumer, rest assured there is something out there you may be missing. Venture down to that other local store. If you find something you like, go back to your favorite and request they purchase it for you. Also, there are a number of other viable channels for purchasing books online. Try my personal favorite http://www.amusedom.com/ . This is a site where the creator and small publisher can easily upload their books and make their products available for digital, print on demand, or pull from their printed inventory. Diversifying your purchasing options helps the industry as a whole and helps ensure more options continue to be available in the future.

10. Support independent publishers.

~I am going to tackle this argument from a numbers standpoint rather than an emotional perspective. This has been a hot topic in recent months and unfortunately most that have discussed this topic approach it from an emotional perspective. While the big two continue to increase their market shares due to effective promotion (i.e film, television, merchandising) the cost for small publishers continues to increase. The expense for small publishers continues to increase as print numbers go down. The less they produce, the more it costs to stay in business. With rising costs in the paper industry, and large printers going bankrupt, smaller publishers are seeing their business displaced and are in a constant state of flux depending on where they can affordably print their books. Many publishers resort to producing their books overseas rather than domestically. If there is not some modicum of diversity in the comic industry, you will see the gap between the poor and the rich continue to grow. The comic industry is a mirror of the current state of our economy. In simple terms, by supporting independent publishers and small businesses as a whole, you can:

1. Ensure diversity in the market and avoid corporate monopolies.

2. Avoid stagnancy in product by supporting fresh and innovative concepts.

3. Keep the market competitive and ensure all publishers maintain consistently high quality product.

4. Help keep printing and production of books in the United States and help support job growth in your local economy.

By doing any one of the top 10, you can help provoke change. By doing all of the top 10, you can help fuel a revolution that may very well save the industry you know and love.

Chuck has spoken!