Brainstorming!!!!!!

A great deal if you’re a stranger? That was the situation at Brainstorm comic’s 50% of sale this past week.

This week had a huge everything 50% of sale at Brainstorm comics everything from comics, trades, gear, toys and everything else was 50% off great deal right? Wrong!!! The deal did not include anything in your pull list, that is to say anything you asked the store to order for you. Having a pull list is standard practice for many regular comic readers/shoppers, they order their books and stuff in advance so they don’t miss an issue if they can’t get to the shop that week or what not. This is a practice usually taken advantage of by regular loyal customers of the comics shop.

A few of my friends (who shall remain nameless to protect their secret identities) are regulars at Brainstorm and they were both angry and hurt by this 50% sale stipulation. Simply put the sale did not apply to their reserved books i.e. the stuff they read regularly and the material they want to buy sale or no sale. Also the sale turned them into second-class citizens who are treated worse than a total stranger from off the street.

In my opinion any store comics or other should cater more to their regular returning customers rather than a one time only buyer. I myself could very easily have gone into Brainstorm a bought a great deal of material as well as my regular Wednesday comics and gotten the 50% off discount but I’m loyal to my comics shop and prefer to give them my business.

While I do realize that selling comics and collectables is a business and we all need to make money, I just feel Brainstorm made a huge blunder during their sale. Brainstorm should have allowed the sale to cover everyone and every thing in the shop. The purpose of any sale is to increase business and attract new cliental to boost your profits. If you back hand your regular veteran customers in favor of new rookie customers it is not only disrespectful but also bad for business cause the veterans will say why should I go to this guy when I can easily go somewhere else and get treated better or just the same.

I have heard many, many retailers say that a regular customer is more valuable then any one-time sale. This is because regulars keep coming back even if they don’t need to.

Point of fact in today’s world one can super easily get comics, and collectables over the internet at great discounts usually better discounts than any shop can give their customers. People go to the comic shop for the personal touch, the corner hang out experience and the friendly atmosphere. The regulars want to come in and discuss(argue) about Movies, TV, Comics as well as current events, for many of us the comic shop is like our neighbor hood bar where the bar tender is poring us the usual as we walk in the door or the old barbershop on the corner where our dad brought us and we can in turn bring our kids. We go into the comic shop and everyone knows our name and they’re always glad we came.

So Just word of advice to all the shop owners out there don’t take you regulars for granted.

go for the geek gold!!!

As the New Year begins its time to establish who is the top comic dog or supreme super geek. Now how to claim that coveted comic honor?

1st head on over to Challengers comics and conversation and register for your throw down with their Challengers Olympics this will be truly a contest of champions. Challengers comics has created the perfect contest of physical comic skill’s and mental fortitude to prove once and for all whose comic Kudos Kick Kiester. So head on over and sign up the Olympics start Jan 16th and run through the 21^st.

If you feel you need to train more before you go for the gold then head on over to Graham crackers comics they will be having a huge new years graphic novel sale. All trades and graphic novels will be priced at 30% off. Also on Jan 13 colorist Jeff Balke will be signing issues of Kickass at Graham crackers so stop buy and pick his brain on all things geek.

Another great way to train for the Challengerlympics is to hit up the huge toy sale at Chicago comics not only is this a chance to get some great deals on cool comic toys but it is also a great chance to expand your data base on all this comic book. Make sure to check out this sale many items are at a massive discount and you can always find some real hidden gems.

A great way to improve your indie cred is by heading over to Quimbys starting the week of Jan 10^th and indulge in the great events they are hosting. Quimbys will be hosting on the 10^th a great muppeet event with author Jessica Max Stein reading from her zine ìThe Rainbow Connection Richard Runt, Gay Muppeteer.î There will be over an hour of great muppeteet clips.

Then on the 14^th Quimbys will be hosting the series launch of ìSo You Think You Have Nerves of Steel. Quimbys will then play host to two great female poets and artists who run dancing girl press an imprint focused on promoting the work of female artist and poets. This event is on Jan 15 so stop on by that evening and explore the indie world.

Finally you can end your training by getting your mind blown by Artist Mike Norton and his vast knowledge of comics especially the Blue Beetle. Mike will be signing at 3^rd Coast comics on Jan 16^th so stop by and pick his brain or if you dare challenge him to a comic’s trivia throw down.

Now begin your training and remember knowing is half the battle.

new year news

just gearing up for the new year I'll have more art process to post on the months a head as well as more stuff on the chicago comics scene.