Tag Archives: retail

Top Cow Publisher Promoted to Retailer

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Official Press Release

TOP COW PUBLISHER PROMOTED TO RETAILER

LOS ANGELES, Calif., December 13, 2010 – Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce that the company’s publisher Filip Sablik has been promoted to working retail at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA for his birthday, this Wednesday, December 15, 2010.

While most individuals are beginning their holiday vacation, Sablik will be playing double duty as he teams up with the popular Los Angeles-area retailer to work as a sales associate as well as act as Santa. The publisher will hand-sell this week’s Top Cow releases (Velocity #3 and Witchblade Annual 2010), ring up customers, offer recommendations and follow storeowner Edward Greenberg’s every order.

In addition, any guest of Collector’s Paradise who purchases a Top Cow product and/or being an unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots on Wednesday, December 15, from 11am to 4pm will receive a present from Sablik.

“Collector’s Paradise has consistently been one of Top Cow’s biggest supporters in the LA area and has a terrific Top Cow fan base,” said Sablik. “And it certainly doesn’t hurt that I’m friends with Ed and his staff and family! I’ve worked his counter once before and had a blast, so it seemed like a great way to spend my birthday with the fans and give back to a worthy charity at the same time.”

Collector’s Paradise is located at 7131 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, CA 91306 and can by phone at (818) 999-9455.

About Top Cow Productions Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008.  WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.

Filip Sablik Birthday

Marvel Announces Retailer Support For The Point One Program

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Official Press Release

Marvel Announces Retailer Support For The Point One Program

The Point One program is a tremendous opportunity for both retailers and Marvel, and Marvel is proud to work with retailers to promote this unprecedented initiative. The Point One program offers readers the perfect starting point for new storylines spinning out of the new year. Self-contained and featuring some of Marvel’s greatest talent and characters, these Point One books will lay the groundwork for a whole year’s worth of storytelling.

Marvel is pleased to announce the rollout of retailer support items for the Point One Program starting in February. In an effort to maximize consumer awareness and sales, retailers will be able to order an assortment of free promotional items tied directly into the Point One program.

These items include:

  • Marvel Point One Bookmark – in stores 12/15/10
  • Marvel Point One Postcards – in stores 1/5/11
  • Marvel Point One Shelf talkers – in stores 2/2/11

Retailers: For more information on ordering additional items or how to qualify for the free promo items, please refer to the Marvel Mailer.  As a reminder, these are the upcoming Point One titles on sale Feb through April 2011:

FEBRUARY 2011
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #654.1
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1
• WOLVERINE #5.1

MARCH 2011
• CAPTAIN AMERICA #615.1
• DEADPOOL #32.1
• HULK #30.1
• THOR #620.1
• UNCANNY X-FORCE #5.1

APRIL 2011
• AVENGERS #12.1
• SECRET AVENGERS #11.1
• UNCANNY X-MEN #534.1

Helping Haiti

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via the Dark Horse website:

A Special Letter About Helping Haiti 01/27/10

We were filling customer files at 8th Street Books & Comics, and we were listening to the news about the unfolding tragedy in Haiti. The urge to pitch in and help out had come to grip Saskatoon, as it had gripped most of Canada. It urged at us too.

That same week we had received two Dark Horse One-Shot Wonders lithographs (signed by Travis Charest, Joss Whedon and Mike Mignola) for bringing in a specific number of the Dark Horse one-shot comics over the last few months. We had also been given a signed Mass Effect poster. Coming up with a purpose for these items was easy.

We created a raffle — a lithograph a week — and for a dollar our customers could attempt to win one. The store would match that dollar, and the Canadian Federal Government would match our combined donation. Every dollar a customer put forward would effectively become four dollars.

The selling points for our fundraiser are many: fans of Buffy, Hellboy, Dr. Horrible or Mass Effect (to name a few) can’t help but be attracted to the allure of a signed poster; the art is beautiful and draws the attention of other customers, who may or may not be familiar with the relevant Dark Horse comics; the cause is also a really easy one to embrace, with the donation stretching exponentially.

We have had no trouble promoting the event when anyone stops in. The box we made and decorated is now too small for its purpose. Our first week will bring in an estimate of $420 ($160 from our first day, on new comic Wednesday). If the generosity continues, we will prolong the fundraiser and find further treasures to raffle, though it will be tricky to match the greatness which is the Dark Horse lithographs.

Thanks guys,

8th Street Books & Comics

Thank you, Pat Thompson. 8th Street Books & Comics is clearly a great shop, full of good people. We’re sending you a package of more signed lithographs as soon as possible.

If you’re anywhere near the Saskatoon area, we encourage you to visit the store and participate in the raffle.

You can also help by visiting Heroes 4 Haiti: http://heroes4haiti-fb.com/

Diamond Decides to help Small Publishers

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Diamond, the major comic book distributor, has modified their purchasing policy.  They had implemented a rather unpopular decision of making a minimum order threshold for products.  If an item offered didn’t make this minimum the orders would be canceled.  Well, that policy has been changed.

In response to retailer feedback, Diamond is modifying its guidelines for canceling retailers’ initial orders for underperforming products and merchandise in PREVIEWS.

In the first quarter of 2009, in an effort to reduce the number of underperforming products in PREVIEWS, Diamond implemented higher minimums for purchase orders. At that time, Diamond also began canceling retailers’ initial orders for affected products.

Now, however, having had almost a year to fine-tune the processes for choosing catalog offerings, Diamond will place a purchase order with a publisher or vendor to fill retailers’ initial orders for any products offered in PREVIEWS, even if those orders fall below Diamond’s minimum purchase order levels. This policy takes effect with product solicited in the January, 2010 PREVIEWS.

Marvel Retail Resource Center

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In November we brought you news about you news about Marvel’s Retail Resource Center.  The service allows retailers to create websites advertising their business with some help and content provided by Marvel comics.  On Monday, Marvel announced the initial list of retailers to take advantage of the program.

As the site continues to grow, with new ways to communicate directly with Marvel on their way, retailers continue to rave about Marvel’s groundbreaking new service which includes web sites, First Looks at comics before they arrive in stores, marketing materials, updated ordering information and more!

You can go to the Marvel website to see the full list of retailers taking advantage of the program.

No Second Printing for Siege

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Usually when a company would jump all over a second printing when a series is hot enough to sell out.  Marvel is taking a different route though.  From their website:

We’re blown away by retailer and fan response to SIEGE,” said David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Circulation, Marvel Entertainment LLC. “I’ve seen what’s coming next and trust me, you’ll want to order even heavier on subsequent issues of Siege. This is the end of the Marvel Universe as you know it.”Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on SIEGE #1 DIRECTOR’S CUT, SIEGE #2 and all SIEGE tie-ins as they continue to sell out and garner acclaim!

Now, will Siege #1 Director’s Cut get a second printing if it sells out?

Marvel Lays Siege to Blackest Night

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To promote Blackest Night, DC offered Lantern rings with various comic books.  Stores could choose if they wanted to do a “buy a book get a ring” promotion or give away the rings separately.

Many retailers were left with a glut of unsold Blackest Night tie-in books sitting on their shelves.  Marvel has decided to take advantage of this glut of books by offering Deadpool Variants of March’s Siege #3 in exchange for the stripped covers of unsold Blackest Night tie-in issues from DC.

MARVEL OFFERS RETAILERS COMICS FOR COMICS

In an effort to provide assistance to comic retailers in 2010, Marvel is offering retailers an opportunity to turn unsold comics into an extremely rare Siege #3 Deadpool Variant!

Retailers – for every 50 stripped covers of the following comics sent to Marvel, you will qualify to receive one FREE Siege #3 Deadpool Variant.  The 50 stripped covers can be any combination of the comics listed below and all submissions need to be received at the Marvel office at the address below by Tuesday 2/16/2010.   Also included with the stripped covers must be your store contact information including Diamond Account # and email address.

Stripped Covers To Be Sent:
Adventure Comics #4
Booster Gold #26
Doom Patrol #4
Justice League Of America #39
Outsiders #24.
R.E.B.E.L.S #10

Address To Send Submission:
James Nausedas
Marvel Entertainment, LLC
417 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10016

Information To Be Included With Submission:
Store Name
Store Address
Contact Person
Email Address
Phone Number
Diamond Account #
List of stripped covers being returned and their quantities

All the directions above must be adhered to in order to receive the free Siege #3 Deadpool Variants and the submissions must be received by Tuesday 2/16/2010 in order to qualify.

Please note that this is not a Diamond-affiliated promotion and Diamond should not be contacted. Retailers will be contacted via email once Marvel receives the submissions.  Retailer with further questions should contact helpme@marvel.com.

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit www.comicshoplocator.com

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics).  Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online.  For more information visit http://www.marvel.com.

It’s a great offer for retailers, as they can make a good amount of change on limited edition variants.  We’re left scratching out heads though as to what Marvel gets out of this, other than a hefty recycling bill.

Marvel Online as a Platform

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Marvel comics has been a leader when it comes to new media and having an online presence.  In December we’ll be giving a full breakdown grading each publisher in their online operations, a new yearly tradition.  However, we’ve decided to spotlight something a little early, Marvel Comics’ Retailer Resource Center.

Marvel is pleased to announce that retailers are now able to participate in the MARVEL RETAILER RESOURCE CENTER- an invaluable tool to help retailers make use of all of the information, artwork, and previews that is at their disposal. This innovative tool offers tremendous benefits to local retailers and fans. The MARVEL RETAILER RESOURCE CENTER enables retailers to create websites for their stores with up-to-the-minute news, artwork, catalog listings and changes, as well as maps and local happenings. Ask your retailer if they have signed up for the MARVEL RETAILER RESOURCE CENTER and tell them Marvel sent you!

The service is a pay service that allows comic book retailers create websites with some content provided by Marvel.  These websites include features of the store’s choosing, creating a platform for an easy web presence.

These websites are equipped with Google Maps, store images, events calendars, complete Marvel product listings (updating by Marvel, not the retailer, saving hours of labor each week) product listings for all other companies,” David Gabriel said. “Plus, we provide printable on-sale lists of all our comics and collections, so a store’s customers can click a button and print out a checklist of all the books on sale that week.”

The resource center helps stores with early previews to help better manage their orders, promotional tools such as flyers and early art, and an easier way to interact with Marvel staff.  Will retailers pay Marvel for a website, when there are much cheaper and more flex able options available?

Most retailers we’ve spoken to do not want to pay the monthly fee,” Gabriel explained. “However, when we did the individual math and consider the cost to maintain and create a website, add in the First Looks program that most retailers were a part of and then throw in the slew of free books, exclusive variants and special members only sales, the retailers that participate are definitely coming out ahead. I liken this to paying your monthly basic cable bill and then being reimbursed for watching certain programs each month.

Retailers can check out the service and a video tutorial at http://www.marvelretailers.com/.  While we here at Graphic Policy applaud Marvel for providing this platform we have to wonder why Diamond Distributors hasn’t ventured into this territory?  Stay tuned for a further article about the platform Diamond should provide to their clients and the comic book industry.

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