Almost a stockbroker, now a comic store owner

Mike Banks, owner and operator of Samurai Comics

Mike Banks had a crazy year in 2002: He had a stockbroker job disappear from under his feet, and then got married, had a kid, and opened his own business, all in one year.

Today, Samurai Comics is three stores strong, and you can learn what Banks has learned over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

The porny Dungeons & Dragons module that costs $5000

The cover to the original "Palace of the Silver Princess"

So when Dungeons and Dragons was first becoming a Real Big Deal in the early ’80s, sales were doubling every year. Management had one clear directive: Crank out more product!

But one product was so bad, TSR had to bury the entire print run in a landfill. Check out what made it so bad, and why copies today trade for $5000 on the collector market over at Wired.

Jim McLauchlin

Tiny Margins in Internet Business

Part of the warehouse at InStockTrades

An internet-based business can be low overhead, but also low margin. Christina Merkler at Discount Comic Book Service and In Stock Trades has been living on that thin margin for almost 20 years, and she'll tell you what she's learned HERE.

Jim McLauchlin

Maxxing out your in-store appearance

George Pérez at Bedrock City Comics via GetSynd.com

If you're a store having an author appearance, you might as well get the MOST bang for your buck. Here's your tips and tricks for running a great—and profitable!—event at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Where Health meets "Hype"

Eggs are good for you! No, they're bad!
Red wine is great for you! No, it'll kill you!
Hey, look at this "cancer-busting" food!

There's a lot of hype in health, and Dr. Nina Shapiro has done her level best to separate fact from fiction in Hype, her new book in which she tells everyone how to calm down and focus on what really matters in health and wellness. Read an interview with Shapiro at LiveScience, and…have a glass of water. Just one will do.

Jim McLauchlin

Kids, $1 sales, and keep it simple

Menachem Luchins followed a dream and opened a comic store. He built it in $1 sales, catering to kids, and reminds himself that Cerebus is not for everyone. See what he's learned, right and wrong, over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Comic store suppliers: More than just one

Challengers Comics in Chicago, 110 suppliers!

Everyone in the comics business knows that Diamond Comic Distributors is the go-to for comic stores. It's effectively the only place you can get new monthly comics. But stores do not live by Diamond alone!

Read all about the wealth of different distributors stores use over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin