hudsonwrites.com

I just read your article “Saving the Comic Book Industry”. Its great. Unfortunetly, most guys that own comic book stores do not want to begin franchises, they only wish to work like dogs at their beloved primero locale.
When I was working at a comic book store, I asked one of the owners why he did not want to change his strategies to make more money. Going to venture capitalist instead of bumming cash off of his friends, not in exchange for ownership, money that had to be returned.
He said that he would look into other means of “raising capital” which was total BS.
Now, my sister’s fiancee wants to open up his own comic book shop. Since I have not been brought into his team, I just asked him some questions. What’s the stores mission/mantra?
(How will it differ from other stores)
What is the plan? To open multiple locations? franchises? or just one store? What do you think he said? That’s right, one store.
The problem with the industry is that the guys that open up these stores do not care to improve the industry, to grow their companies to popularize the culture, they want to have their own little coccoon and stay there for a while.
I thought that they wanted to serve fans what they want, why not a larger audience?
It sucks.
But don’t worry, I may take a crack at starting a comic book franchise myself. I mean, why not?

I do think that a comic book franchise could really help change the face of comics and change the industry forever. the problem is, it would take a lot of money to make that happen, and let’s be honest… there’s not much money to be made in comics.

I had the idea of trying to do this with minimal upfront money recently, where you partner with current stores, not to “buy them out,” but to help them re-brand their stores, so that there is a “united front” among all comics book stores.

But the problem is just like you said, comic book owners want their own little dungeon to do whatever they want to with it. Because there’s not much money to be made there’s a lot more of that pride of ownership, good or bad.

The industry is growing though, so maybe a fanchise idea is right around the corner. If it doesn’t happen soon, I’m afraid the LCS’s are not going to survive another generation.