Genesis Comics

Loving the feedback so far folks...thank you! Keep it coming!

Thanks, just didn't want you to think I was coming across that way and was ungrateful for your feedback

I was one of those kids Learned to play Magic there...I did spend cash...there...bought a Beta Lotus, Legends packs, and probably about a case or more worth of revisedI, also bought and played Spellfire and Illuminati......loved Jeff and Serge...great guys...there was a 3rd guy involved I think, but never met him...heard there was difference of opinions that caused the closings but I was young then....moved over to Comic Book Depot for my MTG needs after that...

I've been here for years and still suck at the search function...thank you for the links

As I stated in my disclaimer, most of what I know just comes from being in and around these shops... well, just about since they were a thing. I've never run one or even done more than helped out at one rarely. Mostly it's just common sense. Almost everyone believes comics as a medium have already seen their best days. No one believes there is going to be a print revival. Modern cover prices continue to rise and rise, surpassing impulse buy territory for most children, and shrinking pull list numbers for many adults. In addition to that, you'll be hard pressed to find a group of people satisfied with what either of the Big Two publishers are currently doing on more than one or two titles... and for those of you that want to show up and say 'same as it ever was', well, I can't greatly argue with that Suffice to say the content isn't at a high water mark right now. Couple that with the fact that, as I previously mentioned, fewer and fewer collectors are run collectors. I'm just guessing here, but that has to make life more difficult for shop owners buying collections - how do you keep yourself from choking on inventory if you're buying new stock all of the time? My guess is, you have to be ready to go on the road, and go on the road often. If the run collectors aren't coming to you in sufficient numbers, you have to go to the shows and make yourself available... and while that happens, you still have to run your store. That sounds tough for a one man show. The card, and general table top, gaming crowd... I've spoken to comic shop owners that only do the MTG thing to stay afloat, and generally, their shops become about card games, not about comics. This isn't so much a terrible thing... unless you're in it for the comic shop. Basically, you can find yourself running an entirely different business than whatever it is you envisioned. Is this a "bad thing"? Only OP could answer that. Finally... what's wrong with just doing the online thing? The risk is far, far smaller, and the upside... to me these two options have about the same upside :shrug: How many people strike it rich with a brick & mortar of any kind? Why deal with all of that overhead? In summary, I don't see the upside, I see a lot of the potential problems, and no matter what area you open up in, I don't understand what you have to gain (outside of realizing your dream, which can't be discounted). I apologize if my last post came across as challenging ...I appreciate all your feedback, truly. I was just trying to get a sense if this was personal experience or life experience from visiting stores as well all do. I wasn't clear in my first post...the shop will be comics and gaming with MTG being a big part...50% gaming 35-40% comics and 10-15% other...almost a gaming shop that sells comics as well!! As far as why not online? I've thought about it...I've done some selling online...I agree with the overhead being an issue...I can sit in my office...scanning and selling...and probably eke out a modest living...my wife works, we have insurance...I'd never be rich + I loathe packing and shipping...I realize that will be part of what I still do, but I won't have to do as much... but ...but for me it's more than that...I enjoy the interactions and the experience of talking "shop" with the customers...(that doesn't pay the bills I know)...you also have "collections" walking through the door...people coming to you to sell as opposed to you chasing leads...how many times have we all answered an ad on Craigslist to see really old books and got to a house to see the "Death of Superman"??? (you learn to ask the right questions eventually )... Here the work is done for you kind of...I'm probably not expressing myself very well...there is the "dream" factor,that's a part of it...I realize it's a long shot...I truly do...but there are shops out there that succeed against the odds...I'd like to be one of those shops...but if I'm not, then that's OK too...I tried...I can always go back to being a restaurant manager... That's why I'm here asking for advice so I'm not the 95% that can't make it, but one of the 5% that do!

I'm with you ...love the dollar boxes and plan to have a lot...I will definitely rotate out and use the stuff that doesn't sell for 25 cent books on free comic book day, or just give-a-ways that day... I currently have my inventory divided by: Silver Age Marvel higher grade F+ or better Silver Age Marvel low grade Silver Age DC high Silver Age DC low Bronze Age Marvel high Bronze Age Marvel low Copper-Modern divided by pubisher for Marvel/DC/Image/Valiant/and the rest of the independents alphabetized No gold...everything bagged and boarded, everything alphabetized and numbered...

These are some great questions...I have been doing some of this research and I do have 3 shop owners (1 sports cards/gaming, 1 just comics, and 1 comics/gaming) that I have been speaking to and picking their brains for the better part of 2 years... Thank you for the response!!

I dont know why more people dont do this. I'm going on 6 years this May. Avoid new comics is my advice as well. Metropolis doesn't do new comics. I think they are doing pretty well for themselves. True story...although their inventory is a bit better than mine currently...

Some great advice here, thank you! I have 2 LCS owners that are guiding me with new comics and ordering...I may not do it right away as some people have suggested, but I was told by a few LCS that "new comics" is what brings people in weekly and they inevitably buy some back issues as well...of course the risk is there and I'll have to start slow...

I dont know why more people dont do this. I'm going on 6 years this May. Avoid new comics is my advice as well. I was advised via PM to contact you about your business model...can you give me an idea of what you've done to be successful?

The college kids go to Walmart for discounted MTG card's. The school's book store will sell most modern trades ! College Kids spend there cash on Coffee, wine and beer. It will take years to truly make money. You should run a pro forma with your expected salary. At the very least you can get an estimate on your sales goals. I owned a shop for over ten years in a college town, I own multiple other bushiness . A comic store is definitely a passion, even with good business experience and work ethic its a tough business. With the state of Marvel and DC and all of the reboots and Variants I would advise Caution. Older well established big retailers do much better than new operators. If its your dream, make it happen and best of luck ! What were your struggles with the comic shop? From what I've seen, Walmart/Kmart/Target are all over the price points that most comic shops have, so I haven't experienced that...not saying it wasn't your experience

I agree 100% on the rent...it's really out of control in some areas...most of the comic shops that are successful on the island have a really good deal on rent from my experiences speaking to them.. As far as shops on the island...I kind of agree with you to an extent...I enjoy going to Comic Book Depot in Bellmore...have known the owner for years and he has a friendly staff... I want to be that store that you say is missing...I want to be the place that people want to go to every week...I want to compete with the online sales...but I know I need volume to do that... What would make you want to go to a store every week? If I can get the people to come and I have the stuff they want...then I can be successful...like I said in the earlier post, I'm not looking to retire in 5 years...I'm looking to make a livable wage doing what I enjoy doing, instead of living someone elses dream...

Thanks Jason...I am getting an accountant and I have a friend who is a lawyer who will help me with the lease paperword...I have set up a website and am in the process of having a "logo" made to start some online branding..(facebook/instagram/youtube/twitter to start. I've sold stuff on ebay and will continue to do so as well as eventually sell stuff out of the website as well...

I expected a lot of "don't do it's" so I'm not surprised by this...this is something I've been thinking of doing for the better part of 20 years...I didn't mention that I sell magic cards out of a showcase in a sports card store and do pretty well (singles and boxes)...the issue with the store is he's not with Wizards of the Coast so he doesn't do pre-releases AND he stocks all the new stuff...so I don't "get to sell it" until he doesn't want to anymore...there is a small group of kids that come in 4-10 on average that would be looking for a different local shop... For the people that said "don't do it", I ask if you have tried this before (Opened a brick and mortar)? Or if you just think it won't work? Or if you've had a friend that tried and failed...respectfully asking, not challenging ...really trying to understand why you (as in most of the group) feel strongly against it.

Consistent organization...hadn't thought of that...makes sense...thanks! I planned on stocking supplies as well

That was a good read...thank you for posting it...he never really gave much information about why it wasn't doing well...he seemed to pick up some great collections along the way though...place seemed nice but we never saw the "finished" product...would really like to have more information to see what bumps in the road he hit...maybe I'll send him a PM...

After years of talking about it, dreaming it, and wishing it, I'm finally doing it Shop will be located on Long Island, NY in Suffolk County...still scouting out some locations... I'm hoping with the collective knowledge on the board and lot's of hard work I can make it successful! I'm prepared to work 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week and I don't expect a vacation any time soon...I'll be starting off solo, but I have a kid I trust who's going to help out with running the magic tournament scene...I'm not looking to make a killing...I'm looking to eventually make 50-75 a year after I get established...If I can make more, great...if not that's OK too...I just want to do what I love... I have a few questions that hopefully I can get some feedback on! First a little bit about what I want to do/sell: 1) Comics, both vintage and new...discount boxes (50 cent or dollar boxes) 2) Magic the Gathering, new product, old product, tournaments (both casual and competetive) 3) Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh/Vanguard and maybe some other games...whatever catches on... 3) I'm thinking about toys (vintage-Star Wars/LJN/Mego type stuff) and newer stuff...I don't have a lot, but that's mostly because I never had the space...I have an acquaintance that "rents" out wall space at different shops to sell wrestling/sports figures etc. So not entirely sure on that...really depends on how much space I have) 4) Autographs/Art...my father is/was a big collector and has accumulated a lot of nice pieces(Olivia painting/frazetta sketch and a few original pieces as far as art) and some presidential autos/marilyn/elvis/cast photos etc)...he has lost the passion and is just looking to move on so I figured I'd help him out and give him some "space" in the shop...doesn't hurt to have some nice looking pieces on the wall either... I'm open to adding items that fit in with the stores theme Currently 90-95% of what I have is comic or MTG related. I have about 5-10K to buy more inventory/supplies which will leave me about 40K in the bank at opening...people have told me it's not enough and people have told me it's more than I will need...truth is it's what I got and what I'm going with... I want to be a place where people want to come and hang out and "talk shop" play games etc...It will be well lit and CLEAN! I hate those dark danky shops with dirty bathrooms...ugh... I want it to smell good . All that being said, I have a few questions for you good folks! First and foremost, if you've ever opened an LCS or gaming shop any advice or adversity you faced that you did not expect would be helpful! Either by PM or in the thread! 1) What do you like about your LCS? What qualities does it have that makes it a place you want to go and hang out at each week? 2) What do you expect to see when you walk in a "good" comic shop...this answer will be different depending on what you collect of course... What I mean is if you are a silver/bronze/copper/modern collector what keys do I need to have on my walls (I don't have a ton of silver...best books are TTA 59/60 both in cgc 9.4) 3) Comic clubs...what discounts are expected for "club members" and how does yourLCS deal with the short printed variant covers? 4) For you games...tables and chairs...are the fold up tables/chairs OK, or would it be better to invest in "nicer" stuff...is this something gamers care about? I have a bunch more questions, but I guess I'll start with these. Thanks for reading this and thanks for taking the time out to answer...I appreciate any and all feedback...I'll keep you guys posted (if you want ) on how everythings coming along...in a perfect world I'd like to open before free comic book day this year...but that all depends on whether or not I find the right place at the right price...wish me luck Bill

Walking Dead 127 x 3 Walking Dead 132 x 2 Walking Dead 144

x 2

x 2