February 12th - Usually I post press releases over in the right column of Comic Related's main page. Today, I'm making a bit of an exception as I'm pleased to see today's Cold Cut Distribution announcement and I plan to share a few thoughts (and a few links) at the bottom of this update. First though, the press release...
Cold Cut Distribution Under New Management
As you read this, thousands of comics are being packed up and shipped from their old home in Salinas, CA to their new home in Chicago, IL. Cold Cut Distribution, the leading distributor of independent and small to mid-size press comics in the United States, has sold their company assets to Rogue Wolf Entertainment.
Retailers can still access the online ordering system at www.ColdCut.com, but be advised that Cold Cut will not be able to fulfill new orders while the inventory is still being moved and set up in the new warehouse.“We expect to be back up to full speed by the end of February,” said Lance Stahlberg, Vice President of Rogue Wolf. “We’ve already begun to reach out to customers and publishers, making sure inventory gaps are kept to a minimum as we rebuild.”
"I'd been looking for someone who could take the company to the next level, and Lance and his team are exactly the right people for the job," said Cold Cut's owner,Mark Thompson. "Having Cold Cut located in Chicago will cut shipping times and costs for most of our customers and suppliers, and makes more sense for the entire
industry."
The new owners will continue to offer the same flat discount rate to retailers, and will seek to extend the same terms to all new accounts with previous Cold Cut customers.“As a team, we bring twenty-four years experience in the distribution business combined with a first-hand understanding of the needs of independent publishers to the table,” Lance added. “We have the resources to take this company to new heights.”
Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks!
ABOUT COLD CUT DISTRIBUTION – www.ColdCut.com
Cold Cut is the industry's leading reorder distributor for quality independent comics, serving retailers across the country and internationally since 1994. They have consistently lead the way in supporting and promoting independent comics in an ever-changing market place.
ABOUT ROGUE WOLF ENTERTAINMENT – www.Rogue-Wolf.net
Rogue Wolf Entertainment, Inc was founded in 2006 with the idea of creating comics for comic fans. They currently produce three web-comic titles. With this new addition to their corporate portfolio, their focus will be on helping their fellow creators and valued supporters succeed and hopefully improve the comics industry as a whole in the process.
Personal opinion time. Why does this press release get me excited? I'm exceeding pleased to see small press gain, once again, an additional outlet for the sale of their product. It has felt, increasingly, that many doors and options have been closing for some creators over the last year.
I am also pleased to see some competition in a market that certainly needs it. I'm not rallying against Diamond Comic Distributors in any way with these words. They are a business and they are in this game to make money. Making money sometime means limiting what titles you choose to sell. I get that.
With this brief commentary, I'm simply putting forth the idea that a comic distribution market that contains options for retailers and creators will increase the health of the overall industry. When there is only one outlet for a product, that outlet looses the initiative to innovate and evolve to meet the changing needs and technology available. Further, they leave themselves vulnerable to forces outside the market (in this case major book distributors) to step in and begin changing the market and the industry.
It is my hope that Cold Cut will open their doors a bit wider than has been seen in the past and welcome small press super-hero themed titles alongside the art house books. Cold Cut could be a promising vehicle for the future and I plan to watch this story very closely as it evolves.
Agree with what I'm saying? Think I'm completely missing the point? There is an ongoing discussion tied to this very issue taking place in our forum. A host of small press creators have been discussing the topic and I invite you to take a look and share your thoughts.
Click here to jump directly to the discussion thread.
Click here for some Cold Cut discussion I posted back in July of 2007.
I wish the new Cold Cut Distribution nothing but success!
The Related Recap is a semi-regular column by site creator, Chuck Moore.
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