The fourth largest comic book chain of stores in the U.S. has also moved aggressively to the Web. Sacramento-based TheComicStore.com is a spin-off formed last April by the Comics & Comix store chain started back in 1972.
"There's great synergy in having a Web presence," says Ross Rojek, CEO of TheComicStore.com. "We have one bookkeeper for both operations and the inventory and database info for both are all online." There are seven Comics & Comix stores in California and some 35 online stores the company sells to including its own TheComicStore.com.
The Web site also brings in customers from out of the area. "We do a lot of overseas shipping such as to South America where there are collectors but they don't have local access to products," says Rojeck. "On the other hand, I've had people order from the Web site who are just eight blocks away from our store just because they find it more convenient."
WOMEN LIKE ANIME
The latest news out of TheComicStore.com is the announcement of a fulfillment contract this week to supply all manner of hard to find Anime (Japanese animation) products (CDs, toys, DVDs and videos) to AnimeDepot.com.
"This is a lot of niche stuff we're getting, not what you'll find at Walmart," says Rojek. "These include items that had small manufacturing runs in the low thousands of units. Some gorgeous action figures from the Akira movie for example."
While comic book buyers tend to be about 80% male, according to Rojek, he says Anime attracts a lot more women. "The anime customers are almost 50% women."
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