Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
It’s almost like having an industry bottlenecked with a monopoly was a bad thing.
The following 2 users liked this post by majorjoe23:
IBJoel (04-02-20),
The Valeyard (03-31-20)
#27
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/toda...ket-was-saved/
Not sure how much the service costs or how many stores are already using comichub (or even what publishers are onboard), but it's something at least.
I have been speaking to Stu Colson, owner of comic store Heroes for Sale of New Zealand, and of ComicHub, the point of sale management software for many comic book stores. They have been talking to a lot of stores and a lot of publishers about getting just that kind of system going.
Publishers can already post preview pages for upcoming titles for the existing ComicHub customer tools. When customers register their account, they link with a physical print store. Which means stores don't need even their own website. Customers order comics, receive them digitally and then redeem them for the physical copy at their comic book store at later date. Adding a shopping cart means that publishers, creators and stores get paid. That means there and then, without having to wait. Even Diamond can get paid in advance for that physical distribution as and when printing and distribution returns. This is a major game-changer for a comic book industry, under shutdown.
Publishers can already post preview pages for upcoming titles for the existing ComicHub customer tools. When customers register their account, they link with a physical print store. Which means stores don't need even their own website. Customers order comics, receive them digitally and then redeem them for the physical copy at their comic book store at later date. Adding a shopping cart means that publishers, creators and stores get paid. That means there and then, without having to wait. Even Diamond can get paid in advance for that physical distribution as and when printing and distribution returns. This is a major game-changer for a comic book industry, under shutdown.
#28
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
For individual comic book chains needing to meet payroll and other expenses, part of the Congressional bill were practically zero-rate interest loans to all small businesses under 500 employees. If you can prove the expenses were to meet payroll and other costs during the Coronavirus crisis, the loans actually turn into grants that don't need to be paid back. You can apply as early as this Friday. Details are coming out today and tomorrow.
https://fortune.com/2020/03/31/sba-s...-stimulus-faq/
https://fortune.com/2020/03/31/sba-s...-stimulus-faq/
#29
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
As a long-time collector (1968-ish) I'm really dreading the possible loss of physical comics. I've tried digital a few times and just cannot get into it. I won't read regular books on a screen either. Gotta have that feel, that tactile sensation. And the smell! I will not sniff my iPad, no matter what the picture looks like!
My LCS did a drive-up thing a few weeks ago, and then switched to mailing - or holding until whatever future date. Since I only get a few titles now, I held off to let my order grow. But with distribution now halted, I called and requested my books be mailed. That was yesterday around 2:30PM. At 11:00AM today, they were in my mailbox, packed with care! Sadly, this may be my final order if the industry is unable to adapt enough to survive.
No doubt I'll probably check out digital again (crap, I'll have to figure out how!) since I still have an interest in the stories and art. I still ain't sniffin' my iPad though.
My LCS did a drive-up thing a few weeks ago, and then switched to mailing - or holding until whatever future date. Since I only get a few titles now, I held off to let my order grow. But with distribution now halted, I called and requested my books be mailed. That was yesterday around 2:30PM. At 11:00AM today, they were in my mailbox, packed with care! Sadly, this may be my final order if the industry is unable to adapt enough to survive.
No doubt I'll probably check out digital again (crap, I'll have to figure out how!) since I still have an interest in the stories and art. I still ain't sniffin' my iPad though.
#30
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
As a long-time collector (1968-ish) I'm really dreading the possible loss of physical comics. I've tried digital a few times and just cannot get into it. I won't read regular books on a screen either. Gotta have that feel, that tactile sensation. And the smell! I will not sniff my iPad, no matter what the picture looks like!
My LCS did a drive-up thing a few weeks ago, and then switched to mailing - or holding until whatever future date. Since I only get a few titles now, I held off to let my order grow. But with distribution now halted, I called and requested my books be mailed. That was yesterday around 2:30PM. At 11:00AM today, they were in my mailbox, packed with care! Sadly, this may be my final order if the industry is unable to adapt enough to survive.
No doubt I'll probably check out digital again (crap, I'll have to figure out how!) since I still have an interest in the stories and art. I still ain't sniffin' my iPad though.
My LCS did a drive-up thing a few weeks ago, and then switched to mailing - or holding until whatever future date. Since I only get a few titles now, I held off to let my order grow. But with distribution now halted, I called and requested my books be mailed. That was yesterday around 2:30PM. At 11:00AM today, they were in my mailbox, packed with care! Sadly, this may be my final order if the industry is unable to adapt enough to survive.
No doubt I'll probably check out digital again (crap, I'll have to figure out how!) since I still have an interest in the stories and art. I still ain't sniffin' my iPad though.
The following users liked this post:
IBJoel (04-06-20)
#31
Banned
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/toda...ket-was-saved/
Not sure how much the service costs or how many stores are already using comichub (or even what publishers are onboard), but it's something at least.
Not sure how much the service costs or how many stores are already using comichub (or even what publishers are onboard), but it's something at least.
#32
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
It sounded nice in the press release, but apparently was just smoke and mirrors. Lots of profit for comicshub, expensive and risky for the shops, no agreements with most publishers, and no rights to release anything digitally. At least, that’s what I gather from cursory reading over the last couple days.
#33
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Marvel and DC will survive this Crisis on Infinite Businesses. It's the smaller publishers that are going to get massacred.
#34
DVD Talk Hero
Thread Starter
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Marvel and DC should be fine with their deep corporate pockets (though that only goes so far) and Image isn't a traditional for-profit publisher, so they should be able to weather this storm.
The smallest publishers, who only put out one or two titles a month, should be okay, too. Places like Fantagraphics should also be safe; seems like they've made it for decades by hanging on by a thread.
The ones I that I could foresee taking the hardest hits are the mid-level publishers like Dark Horse, IDW, Boom!, Dynamite, and all of these new upstarts like Aftershock, Vault, and Scout. They're big enough to be able to pile up a decent amount of debt, but I don't know if they could survive a much revenue sustained loss.
That's assuming there's even a comics industry to come back to. We'll probably be seeing a lot of DM shops that don't reopen after we're given the all-clear. And with so many people out of work, buying an armful of $3.99 comic books every week probably won't be a priority for a while.
The smallest publishers, who only put out one or two titles a month, should be okay, too. Places like Fantagraphics should also be safe; seems like they've made it for decades by hanging on by a thread.
The ones I that I could foresee taking the hardest hits are the mid-level publishers like Dark Horse, IDW, Boom!, Dynamite, and all of these new upstarts like Aftershock, Vault, and Scout. They're big enough to be able to pile up a decent amount of debt, but I don't know if they could survive a much revenue sustained loss.
That's assuming there's even a comics industry to come back to. We'll probably be seeing a lot of DM shops that don't reopen after we're given the all-clear. And with so many people out of work, buying an armful of $3.99 comic books every week probably won't be a priority for a while.
#35
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Yeah, the main fear I think comic fans have is if the parent companies of DC/Marvel one day stop bothering with all the pains of maintaining a huge comic book producing entity, decide they have enough IPs to work with to make money on the movie side and turn it over to some corporate hot shot who doesn't care about comics at all. Which is kind of what DC just did, we're still awaiting the results.
The loss of comic stores is going to impact the smaller publishers immensely, and my gut feeling is that when you just lost a lot of money you're going to focus on comics from the big 3 that you know people want and not so much indie stuff. But we'll see, hopefully they're small enough to be helped by the loans that turn into grants from the stimulus (both comic stores and publishers).
The loss of comic stores is going to impact the smaller publishers immensely, and my gut feeling is that when you just lost a lot of money you're going to focus on comics from the big 3 that you know people want and not so much indie stuff. But we'll see, hopefully they're small enough to be helped by the loans that turn into grants from the stimulus (both comic stores and publishers).
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story (04-03-20)
#36
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
In the case of some mid-level publishers going belly up, what happens to their back catalog? For example, such as digital versions and future graphic novel/compilations/ominibus type releases.
#37
DVD Talk Legend
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Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
#38
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Marvel and DC should be fine with their deep corporate pockets (though that only goes so far) and Image isn't a traditional for-profit publisher, so they should be able to weather this storm.
The smallest publishers, who only put out one or two titles a month, should be okay, too. Places like Fantagraphics should also be safe; seems like they've made it for decades by hanging on by a thread.
The ones I that I could foresee taking the hardest hits are the mid-level publishers like Dark Horse, IDW, Boom!, Dynamite, and all of these new upstarts like Aftershock, Vault, and Scout. They're big enough to be able to pile up a decent amount of debt, but I don't know if they could survive a much revenue sustained loss.
That's assuming there's even a comics industry to come back to. We'll probably be seeing a lot of DM shops that don't reopen after we're given the all-clear. And with so many people out of work, buying an armful of $3.99 comic books every week probably won't be a priority for a while.
The smallest publishers, who only put out one or two titles a month, should be okay, too. Places like Fantagraphics should also be safe; seems like they've made it for decades by hanging on by a thread.
The ones I that I could foresee taking the hardest hits are the mid-level publishers like Dark Horse, IDW, Boom!, Dynamite, and all of these new upstarts like Aftershock, Vault, and Scout. They're big enough to be able to pile up a decent amount of debt, but I don't know if they could survive a much revenue sustained loss.
That's assuming there's even a comics industry to come back to. We'll probably be seeing a lot of DM shops that don't reopen after we're given the all-clear. And with so many people out of work, buying an armful of $3.99 comic books every week probably won't be a priority for a while.
#39
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
#40
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
#41
Banned
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
IDW has lost millions of dollars in their TV ventures and it's what is keeping the company in the red for the past 5 years. That and the fact that they costs in licensing from pretty much everybody has made them soft on their cash flow. They invest too much money on their Hasbro, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney and Marvel licenses.
#42
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Does anyone know how this will affect Amazon deliveries of already pressed books like the upcoming Wolverine Vol 1 Omnibus? I know Instocktrades and Cheapgraphicnovels.com aren't getting new shipments but Amazon is a different beast. Does Diamond ship to them or do they get their stock directly from Marvel?
#43
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
I’d think anything already made would be fine, but might not get to you as early as it would have otherwise. Prime shipping is a thing of the past for now.
#44
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Apparently several shops have already closed up for good. Seems a bit early to throw in the towel, it’s been what, three weeks tops since any state closed non-essential businesses?
#45
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
A lot of the stores are always on the edge of extinction. Not all landlords are so nice to say forget about this month's rent. So 3 weeks of no income and with the possibility of this lasting a lot longer than they originally implied probably pushed a bunch of people already thinking about closing to make the decision now. I don't know how these stores turn any profit. The margins are low and everything is a guessing game. You either don't order enough of something and people get pissed that you don't have it, or you order too much and get stuck with stock you can't get rid of.
#46
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Does anyone know how this will affect Amazon deliveries of already pressed books like the upcoming Wolverine Vol 1 Omnibus? I know Instocktrades and Cheapgraphicnovels.com aren't getting new shipments but Amazon is a different beast. Does Diamond ship to them or do they get their stock directly from Marvel?
#48
Banned
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Many stores were just surviving before the pandemic. With the mandated closures, many simply decided to throw in the towel before they had to pay one more month of rent, utilities and any other recurring bills.
#49
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Did Diamond at least stop collecting money in the interim, or do all these stores pay up front when Previews solicits and they're just out of luck?
#50
Banned
Re: Coronavirus: An "Extinction Level Event" for the Direct Market
Well, that plus they had no idea how long this is going to last. I'm sure it's not an easy decision to shut what is probably your dream down like that.
Did Diamond at least stop collecting money in the interim, or do all these stores pay up front when Previews solicits and they're just out of luck?
Did Diamond at least stop collecting money in the interim, or do all these stores pay up front when Previews solicits and they're just out of luck?