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| Dr. No's and Cliff Biggers, courtesy Biggers |
Cliff Biggers was working three jobs, 90 hours a week, and, predictably, had a heart attack. He ditched one of the jobs, but kept is retail store, Dr. No's Comics and Games Superstore. Still alive (yay!), he'll tell you what he's learned in 40 years of retail over at ICV2.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Jun Goeku and The Comic Bug, courtesy Comic Bug |
Jim McLauchlin
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| JD Sutphin, Big Lick Comics, and Big Lick Comic Con, courtesy Sutphin |
JD Sutphin ditched his job in radio when his boss wouldn't let him take bereavement leave. "I not-so-eloquently told him to kiss my ass," Sutphin said.
But Sutphin took his knowledge of running events he picked up while in radio, and started his own events company, which expanded into a marketing agency, and even a retail store. Read his journey and learn what's he's learned HERE at ICv2.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Black Star Collectibles and Feon Cooper, courtesy Cooper |
It took Feon Cooper three tries—driving an ambulance before and and the middle—to get it right in opening and sustaining his own business. But with the aid of his partner, Kareem Burton, Black Star Collectibles is thriving with two stores. See what he's learned HERE at ICv2.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Photos courtesy Geoffrey's Comics |
Geoffrey Patterson owns two comic stores that have been institutions for 40+ years: Geoffrey's Comics, which he inherited from his father, and Hi De Ho, which he bought. It's a lot of weight to carry, but he carries it happily. Read about what he's learned HERE.
Jim McLauchlin
Pandemic lockdowns of recent years gave people more time to read, and re-connected them with their collectibles. Result: Comic store sales BOOMED in 2021.
The good news? The trend is continuing in 2022, albeit at a slower, but still upward, pace. Click on over to ICv2 for both some anecdotes and hard numbers.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Chedy Hampson and TGCplayer.com, courtesy TCGplayer |
It's more than just a few cards. TCGPlayer.com is a marketplace that ships about 100 million products a year (!) and employs 600 people. Chedy Hampson has grown the company with values, and a vision of what the future should always be. Find out what he's learned HERE at icv2.com.
Jim McLauchlin
There's a writer and there's an artist, but these days, comics is seen very predominantly as a writer's medium. Part of the problem? Editors skew toward being "word people" over "picture people" as well. Read all about the pendulum (over-) swing here at Newsarama.
Jim McLauchlin
Jim McLauchlin
Comes as no surprise to those who know: Editors!
The are the cheerleaders, the traffic cops, the advocates, the proofreaders, and according to Jonathan Hickman, "adult supervision."
You wanna be in the know? Read all about it over at Newsarama.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Mind's Eye Comics, above; and Eric Childs, below. Courtesy Childs/Mind's Eye |
Eric Childs was a computer animation artist bringing his kids to the same comic store he went to 20 years ago when…the store's owner was ready to retire and fold the shop. Childs felt Mind's Eye Comics in Burnsville, MN had to be preserved for future generations, and he's doing just that. Read all about it HERE.
Jim McLauchlin
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| June/July Beckett Vintage magazine, and the ONLY autographed 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie |
Within the rarefied air of special sports autographs, there's an even RARER air of population 1 and population zero signatures. Wanna know what the rarest are (and how they came to be that way)? Then check out the June/July issue of Beckett Vintage Collector, available in print and via Pocketmags.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Jen King (above) and Space Cadets (below); courtesy King |
Jen King has never been afraid of a new idea, and that's reflected in the amazing array of product found at Space Cadets Collection Collection (yes, that's the name). The store recently added a pizzeria in the back!
To learn about Jen and what SHE'S learned in decades in business, click HERE and get thee to ICv2.
Jim McLauchlin
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| Galaxy of Comics, courtesy Warren Jaycox |
Warren Jaycox grew up in bookstores, loved bookstores, and by 2008. started his OWN bookstore. He doubled his shop's size when…the massage parlor next door to him got busted!
Learn all about Warren, Galaxy, and more HERE at icv2.com.
Jim McLauchlin
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| David Wheeler and Dragon's Lair, courtesy Wheeler |
It's a rarity—no McDonalds, these!—but some comic/game stores are actually franchises. David Wheeler started Dragon's Lair in Austin, Texas 36 years ago (living at the store!) and these days, is franchising new Lairs across the country. Learn what he's learned HERE at ICv2.
Jim McLauchlin
