Anyone want to buy some comics?

…Because that’s what I might be selling in a few months time.

I’ve had the idea in my head for a few years now that I’d like to set up my own comic shop and it’s only now that I’m geting the finger out anf giving it a try.

I know it’s going to be damn hard work but promoting the comic book medium is something that’s really important to me, and it’s not easy doing this in a place like the UK where every other person still thinks comics are for wee kids. It’s that kind of narrowminded thinking I’m going to have to fight against.

I have several ideas for marketing the store as an alternative to the other comic shops in Glasgow. There are 5 shops I know of in Glasgow at the moment.

• Forbidden Planet: This is the big one. Usually it’s cluttered with neds (in a comic shop, what are they thinking?) and it’s the big hitter in Glasgow.
• A1: This resembles a toyshop more than anything and the staff tend to out number the customers. It’s still good for comics though.
• Future Shock: Close to the West End of Glasgow this messy wee shop is best avoided. It has a back issue collection which, quite frankly, has seen better days and the comics and books are generally a mess.
• Plagarist Comics: Just off Byres Road they have a great collection of back issues. i know that the used to do a few comics but I’m not sure they still do.
• The guy in “Collectables” in Parnie Street, just along from A1: It’s only back issues this guy does and he has a really good selection.

So who will I be up against?
Well, I’d like to wrestle the customer base off scary FutureShock guy and seeing as i’m going (hopefully) to be based in the West End / Partick area there’s the student element, I’m aiming for that as well.

Word of mouth is going to be the main draw i think…

But I have a meeting with a guy from Small Business Gateway this afternoon, so I’ll see how that goes.

BigAl