So you want to set up at a comic book convention.... 2 2

[G.A.tor]

Is it standard at east coast shows that you can flip a draped table like that and have books below the table on the floor? Ie, so people will be on their knees in the aisle? It seems to me that at SF Bay Area shows you can't do that.

 

I used to display 8 feet of silver age slabs and 8-12 feet of golden age slabs...

 

as the market changes, so must the convention dealers...

 

I now have 8 feet of modern-bronze raw keys, 4 feet of bronze keys, 4 feet of silver keys and 4 feet of gold keys...

 

you have to adapt ...

 

 

It's standard for us

[G.A.tor]

How is it that before the show opens you have so much room in the boxes? More than you need, it looks like. What's the philosophy and procedure there?

 

I know I pack some excess stuff in the front of the boxes so when it goes up on the rack or wherever it belongs, voila instant room in the boxes for browsing to begin.

 

I use bubble wrap to fill air space. Like folks to have room to shop!

[G.A.tor]

When you say so far, do you mean just to get to Thursday on the hotels and gas and food? What's the three night total? Just not following the math here.

 

 

mr bob stays with the inv while I go park the van (and pay the parking fees)...

 

so far we have spent about $500 on hotels, gas and food...not to mention the $1600+ booth costs....just to keep a tally...

 

 

Depends on venue

 

Orlando we stay with my father in law. So no additional hotel costs. In sdcc it costs $2000+ just in hotel costs. As does NYcc. Heroes con in nc runs us about $500 in hotels.

 

We drive to se shows but fly to all others. Some shows we have to ship our books.

 

Every shows costs are different.

[G.A.tor]

Rick, tremendous thread. One that people will remember for years, I think. Great set-up, great signage. Great racks.

 

This was Mega-Con, no? Interesting that you have to handtruck your inventory that far. The big shows in my area either have giant carts available (and not quite so far to go) or teamsters. I bring a lot less stuff but we're talking one quick load out for me or them quickly driving two pallets of my stuff to the booth for drop off and for you it would probably be double that. Ie, faster and not so painful. We don't have the humidity either...

 

Interesting to see the differences.

No union or teamsters here in the se. It is a lot of work. Ask dale Roberts or Greg Reece etc.

[1Cool]

Excellent post Gator. I purchased several blanks from you on Sunday, for a project I am working on, but you weren't at your booth at the time (I think you literally had just left).

 

I was wondering the following:

 

1). Do you sell a lot to dealers before the show starts?

 

2). Do you change up your stock for different shows because you have data that tells you certain material is better in certain areas?

 

3). Since you have an actual retail store, are the "cons" still worth it?

 

Would also like to know this

Sorry. Missed this.

1-I don't really. Most of what I sell I don't have the margins to discount to allow a dealer to resell. There are always exceptions but I don't really sell much to other resellers.

 

2-I do alter my material based on venue. This is generally learned from experience...no real "data" out there other than experience setting up

 

3-our store is there for our customers. We are happy breaking even. Cons are fun...my wife likes to travel, I really enjoy meeting with and see new and old friends, and yes, I generally make a fair profit

 

I don't understand your response to #1. Isn't your margin directly connected to your profits (which you say are good)? Are you saying you pay a premium for your top shelf inventory (you do have an amazing inventory) so you don't have the ability or desire to discount books like other dealers? I can't wait to check out your booth at Heroes in a couple months.

 

[G.A.tor]

Excellent post Gator. I purchased several blanks from you on Sunday, for a project I am working on, but you weren't at your booth at the time (I think you literally had just left).

 

I was wondering the following:

 

1). Do you sell a lot to dealers before the show starts?

 

2). Do you change up your stock for different shows because you have data that tells you certain material is better in certain areas?

 

3). Since you have an actual retail store, are the "cons" still worth it?

 

Would also like to know this

Sorry. Missed this.

1-I don't really. Most of what I sell I don't have the margins to discount to allow a dealer to resell. There are always exceptions but I don't really sell much to other resellers.

 

2-I do alter my material based on venue. This is generally learned from experience...no real "data" out there other than experience setting up

 

3-our store is there for our customers. We are happy breaking even. Cons are fun...my wife likes to travel, I really enjoy meeting with and see new and old friends, and yes, I generally make a fair profit

 

I don't understand your response to #1. Isn't your margin directly connected to your profits (which you say are good)? Are you saying you pay a premium for your top shelf inventory (you do have an amazing inventory) so you don't have the ability or desire to discount books like other dealers? I can't wait to check out your booth at Heroes in a couple months.

 

My general margins on better books is not strong enough to offer a discount (generally) to anyone. I've always operated my business with the "volume" mentality.

When we were distributing toys/action figures, we built out business on lower margins than everyone but tremendous volume. I rather sell 100 items at $1 profit than 10 items at $5.

 

I've kind of taken same approach with comics.

[marmat]

 

Wow, that is spectacular.

How much does it cost a stand like this one at a major con (SDCC, NY, C2S2)?

Thanks

[1Cool]

Excellent post Gator. I purchased several blanks from you on Sunday, for a project I am working on, but you weren't at your booth at the time (I think you literally had just left).

 

I was wondering the following:

 

1). Do you sell a lot to dealers before the show starts?

 

2). Do you change up your stock for different shows because you have data that tells you certain material is better in certain areas?

 

3). Since you have an actual retail store, are the "cons" still worth it?

 

Would also like to know this

Sorry. Missed this.

1-I don't really. Most of what I sell I don't have the margins to discount to allow a dealer to resell. There are always exceptions but I don't really sell much to other resellers.

 

2-I do alter my material based on venue. This is generally learned from experience...no real "data" out there other than experience setting up

 

3-our store is there for our customers. We are happy breaking even. Cons are fun...my wife likes to travel, I really enjoy meeting with and see new and old friends, and yes, I generally make a fair profit

 

I don't understand your response to #1. Isn't your margin directly connected to your profits (which you say are good)? Are you saying you pay a premium for your top shelf inventory (you do have an amazing inventory) so you don't have the ability or desire to discount books like other dealers? I can't wait to check out your booth at Heroes in a couple months.

 

My general margins on better books is not strong enough to offer a discount (generally) to anyone. I've always operated my business with the "volume" mentality.

When we were distributing toys/action figures, we built out business on lower margins than everyone but tremendous volume. I rather sell 100 items at $1 profit than 10 items at $5.

 

I've kind of taken same approach with comics.

 

You definitely are doing a ton of stuff right. Thanks for all the great responses and a killer thread.

[1Cool]

any floor racks, customer bags, tools, etc have to be loaded and accounted for...

 

we tightly wrap all our metal comic holders because 6 hours of "rattling" can get nerve racking on the road...

 

 

Where do you live in Florida? I assumed you were in Miami but I see its a 3 hour drive up to Orlando from Miami - was the 6 hours due to traffic?

[jsilverjanet]

wonderful thread, makes me want to buy you some coke zero for all the info

[G.A.tor]

 

Wow, that is spectacular.

How much does it cost a stand like this one at a major con (SDCC, NY, C2S2)?

Thanks

at sdcc this would run $3700 I believe. Approx $3300 at NYcc. About $2200 at ww Chicago

[G.A.tor]

any floor racks, customer bags, tools, etc have to be loaded and accounted for...

 

we tightly wrap all our metal comic holders because 6 hours of "rattling" can get nerve racking on the road...

 

 

Where do you live in Florida? I assumed you were in Miami but I see its a 3 hour drive up to Orlando from Miami - was the 6 hours due to traffic?

 

Lived in Miami in the mid 90s. We are in the nw panhandle of Florida, opposite end of the state

[1Cool]

any floor racks, customer bags, tools, etc have to be loaded and accounted for...

 

we tightly wrap all our metal comic holders because 6 hours of "rattling" can get nerve racking on the road...

 

 

Where do you live in Florida? I assumed you were in Miami but I see its a 3 hour drive up to Orlando from Miami - was the 6 hours due to traffic?

 

Lived in Miami in the mid 90s. We are in the nw panhandle of Florida, opposite end of the state

 

I still haven't forgiven the stupid Marlins for beating the Indians in the world series in the mid 90s. 1 out away from getting the 1st championship in 40 years.

[wombat]

How is it that before the show opens you have so much room in the boxes? More than you need, it looks like. What's the philosophy and procedure there?

 

I know I pack some excess stuff in the front of the boxes so when it goes up on the rack or wherever it belongs, voila instant room in the boxes for browsing to begin.

 

I use bubble wrap to fill air space. Like folks to have room to shop!

 

Such a good idea. Nothing worse than a long box so tightly packed you can barely pull something out let alone skim through them.

[marmat]

 

Wow, that is spectacular.

How much does it cost a stand like this one at a major con (SDCC, NY, C2S2)?

Thanks

at sdcc this would run $3700 I believe. Approx $3300 at NYcc. About $2200 at ww Chicago

 

I don't know why, but I thought it would be more expensive.

 

[chrisco37]

 

Wow, that is spectacular.

How much does it cost a stand like this one at a major con (SDCC, NY, C2S2)?

Thanks

at sdcc this would run $3700 I believe. Approx $3300 at NYcc. About $2200 at ww Chicago

 

I don't know why, but I thought it would be more expensive.

 

When you add in the lodging, food, gas, etc.... it gets pretty expensive.

[G.A.tor]

 

Wow, that is spectacular.

How much does it cost a stand like this one at a major con (SDCC, NY, C2S2)?

Thanks

at sdcc this would run $3700 I believe. Approx $3300 at NYcc. About $2200 at ww Chicago

 

I don't know why, but I thought it would be more expensive.

 

that's booth costs alone...

 

it costs us about $10,000 to do SDCC and NYCC...about $6,000 to do Chicago, about about $3000 to do shows we can drive too... it's not cheap

[marmat]

Let me explain, it is not cheap.

But at the Barcelona Comic Con, a small table, maybe 8 feet long, will cost you $1500, and it's only a three days show, with probably 1/1000 of the SDCC attendance.

That said, the organization put the tavle, you don't have to bring your own

[G.A.tor]

Let me explain, it is not cheap.

But at the Barcelona Comic Con, a small table, maybe 8 feet long, will cost you $1500, and it's only a three days show, with probably 1/1000 of the SDCC attendance.

That said, the organization put the tavle, you don't have to bring your own

I bet there are more comic buyers at the Barcelona con than SDCC

[marmat]

This year, there where 12 booths that actually sell back issues. In the whole con. You read right, TWELVE.

All the other booths were offering marchandising, toys, t-shirts, and so on.

Even Panini, who edits the Marvel comics here in Spain, set up a big stand with NOT A SINGLE COMIC FOR SALE, it was more like a reception. I'll try to find some pic

It was sad