With A Little Help From Our Friends: The Economy Sucks - so what?
by Peter Simeti
I know the last thing anyone wants to hear these days is how bad the economy is. It's not a new subject - but it's not old enough where it shouldn't be discussed. I'm not going to write about statistics or fear tactics - or even about the latest decisions made by Diamond. No, what I'm going to write about is how the best solution is sometimes the simplest one.
In hard times like these, it's easy to play the part of selfish survivalist. It's easy to think "if I won't take care of myself, who will?" This is exactly the kind of thinking that will perpetuate a nation in turmoil and an industry in dire need of help.
"Help" is not just a Beatles song or a codeword for the desperate. "Help" is not just a cry for wealth or a desire to be heard. "Help" is about the outreaching and compassion of one being to another. These acts need not be selfless or without reward - they just need to exist.
So why am I getting all philosophical and preachy? Because no one else seems to bother thinking about the next guy. We're all in such a rush to blame someone else when something goes wrong - but when does the buck stop? When does someone finally take responsibility and then take action to correct those errors?
Publishers want to blame distributors, distributors want to blame retailers, retailers want to blame the economy; it's a never-ending cycle. I venture that we all accept the blame and we all realize that we've had a hand in our undoing. But it isn't a hopeless scenario. Not by far. It's a tough one, indeed, but definitely not hopeless.
Here's some ideas we all can do to help save the most important part of the comic industry - the retailers.
- Are you a web designer or even someone that understands the fundamentals of how to build a website? Why not offer your services to your local shop? Most comic shops don't have the time to maintain a website, even more don't understand how to build a functioning one. A website would generate revenue that wasn't there before and it would help build awareness of the store and the products they carry. If you're a comic creator AND also a web designer then you may be able to exchange your services for prominent shelf space in the store. All it takes is an hour a day to slowly build and update a site. Who knows - this might lead to future work for yourself or even a paid position as the store's web designer.
- Are you a graphic artist? Extend your services to your shop and see if they could use some snazzy displays or signage. You'll never know if you don't try.
- Suggest starting up a comic club at the store where people can meet one another and discuss the books they're reading. This has worked great in many shops.
- Just because you get rejected, don't get dejected. Don't give up just because of a few "no thank you"s. Persistence is the key to success in anything - remember that!
- Make helpful suggestions to your comic shop - let them know about a great comic/toy/anything that they aren't carrying and ask them if they'd consider carrying it. Retailers are always more likely to listen to customers than a publisher or distributor.
These are just a few suggestions, I encourage you to come up with some of your own suggestions as well and share them with us (and your local shop). If you care enough about what's going on, then do something about it. Let's learn from what we've been through and use that knowledge to make the future a brighter place.
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Peter Simeti / Comic Related Review Coordinator and President Alterna Comics
Peter is the founder and president of the small press indie comic company Alterna Comics. Alterna started in mid 2006 and officially got up and running in late December 2006. Peter joined the Comic Related family in November 2007 and, in addition to letting us host his company's forum, is a contributing reviewer here at Comic Related.
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