How much would it take to open a shop?

[cgilmo]

someone asked about advertizing


I find facebook to be effective


http://www.facebook.com/pages/FCB-Comic ... 7439470255

I targeted the surrounding area with facebook ads, and brought gamers in the store of all kind.

 

[tonsofcommons]

Yeah, Definitely thinking comic books and MTG/Yu-Gi-Oh/Pokemon cards will be a sustaining business.

 

[gt2590]

Not too directly related, since it's died out now, but a funny story.

When Pokemon first hit (1998, the first 4 series or so), we sold so much of it, we had two lines running on either side. We made the Local paper for Pokemon day. But the funniest was how my newly-wed wife was often woken up by me talking in my sleep.

I was asking "How many packs? What series?", Ringing them up and thanking them all in my sleep. Now that's a HOT product... :lol:

 

[jkeys]

What about advertising.

What do you card shops do to advertise?

SEM and SEO. Search is where it's at. Geo-target for related terms phrases around "baseball card store" or "sports card store" and such. Google has fantastic tools for you to self manage this. Would also make in-roads with local middle and high schools. Their papers, parent newsletters and programs are super cheap and are a great tie-in for longevity in your smaller town. Design your website with search in mind and use geo-locational terms as well. Will help the engines crawl you and make you more relevant in your region.

When you start your business local radio, television and newspaper reps will hit you up. AVOID! The only expectation is if there is a really strong radio player in your town. You could consider a live remote during your grand opening...but even this usually only generates passive traffic.

*I've been in advertising and marketing for 10 years, and this would be my best advice to you.

- jkeys

 

[cgilmo]

Yeah, Definitely thinking comic books and MTG/Yu-Gi-Oh/Pokemon cards will be a sustaining business.

Pokemon is dead, yu gi oh is dying.

Mtg is large and in charge.

 

[tonsofcommons]

Really? I guess I will get a box or two and maybe some singles and see.

I went and looked at the building tonight. It will be about 725 sq ft of useable space.

I'm going to look in to SBA loans/grants.

 

[PujolsCollector]

If you open a shop be excited about it please. I hate when I walk in my LCS and I get this whisper hello where I can barely hear the guy. If someone has a question don't avoid it, I ask how much a pack of cards is and he is like well over here I have blah blah blah and it is way better. I know this but I want a pack of what I asked for not what you like. Try to have some energy it gets me excited about buying something not just hello because what I hear is (I really don't want to be here and could care less if you buy from me) Also clean the shop I hate my LCS his singles are a wreck his magazines out of order, this area in the center is piled with junk that should be thrown away used card storage boxes? nobody wants those. Also don't ever under value a customer I walked into the guys shop with 350 dollars and was going to drop it on a Pujols card I really liked (can't remember what it was now though 3 years ago) I said I wanted to look at it and he said Im not going to get it out because chances are you cant afford it. I did not buy that card and walked out immedietly. Last thing I hate is when the store owner watches me the whole time I am there like I plan on stealin a 1991 pack of Comic Ball cards seriously? Sorry for the long post.

 

[Casebusters]

Physical Store??

It would take a lot of $$ and NO BRAINS!

Why would anyone want to pay so much OVERHEAD (employees, rent, utilities, insurance, display, tax, etc.) and only sell to a 30-50 mile radius only during business hours 5-6 days a week.... when you could make a good website and sell to the whole World 24/7/365, with basically no overhead.

Thats why you dont see 95% of the shops that used to exist in NY anymore, they all sold the shop, bought a laptop, moved to Miami (or in my case Hawaii) set up on the beach and did a couple hours of "work" (lol) a day between dips in the ocean and glaces at the bikini next door And... MAKE FAR MORE $$$ THAN EVER BEFORE!

Bottom line........... Card Shops are just like the Video Store or Record Shop... History!

Yes, No overhead at all owning a website.
My internet access is free
my website is free
the electricity to pay for my computer is free
the business license is free
using paypal is free
Right? ::facepalm::
and why do people think you are just opening a store and not doing the internet stuff you were doing before??
You can do BOTH!!!
For me, It will be a place to work my internet stuff and since I do not want people coming to my home, a place for people to come and buy stuff!!

 

[Casebusters]

If you open a shop be excited about it please. I hate when I walk in my LCS and I get this whisper hello where I can barely hear the guy. If someone has a question don't avoid it, I ask how much a pack of cards is and he is like well over here I have blah blah blah and it is way better. I know this but I want a pack of what I asked for not what you like. Try to have some energy it gets me excited about buying something not just hello because what I hear is (I really don't want to be here and could care less if you buy from me) Also clean the shop I hate my LCS his singles are a wreck his magazines out of order, this area in the center is piled with junk that should be thrown away used card storage boxes? nobody wants those. Also don't ever under value a customer I walked into the guys shop with 350 dollars and was going to drop it on a Pujols card I really liked (can't remember what it was now though 3 years ago) I said I wanted to look at it and he said Im not going to get it out because chances are you cant afford it. I did not buy that card and walked out immedietly. Last thing I hate is when the store owner watches me the whole time I am there like I plan on stealin a 1991 pack of Comic Ball cards seriously? Sorry for the long post.

+1

 

[tonsofcommons]

This has been my passion since I was 15 years old (half my life time).

I don't know if it is going to work, but trust me, I WILL have passion for it! I live and breath sports cards!

 

[PujolsCollector]

This has been my passion since I was 15 years old (half my life time).

I don't know if it is going to work, but trust me, I WILL have passion for it! I live and breath sports cards!

Well I hope you make the decision that is right for you. Taking out heavy loans is a huge decision, and you should probably ask your self a thousand times is this going to be worth it. Figure out a number that you want to get to each month, figure out if it is reasonable, then figure out how long it will take to start making money. I'm 16 and I think what I said is common sense but that would be my best advice. I don't know how shops run or what it cost but my dad and grandma owned a laundrymat (closed in 2004) and I kind of learned business stuff at a way young age and I would absorb that. I am not saying I know how to be successful or even come close. I have ideas that I think will work and I try to analyze every situation to see if there is a way to solve it.It is my dream to one day own a store I don't know what type of store but I really can't see myself flipping burgers at McDonalds even though I know I will have to start somewhere and go to college.

 

[jrinne]

I think in a town of 10,000 people a shop might have a hard time surviving unless you are expecting the internet to be you main source of sales. What type of market do you live in? Is the town full of young people or old? Make sure you look at your demographic and get a full understanding of what people are looking for? Does sports play a big role in your community? (ie: lots of little league teams or tournaments held in your town) Diversify your business as much as possible, buy and sell used CD's and Video games. Give people who don't collect Sports cards a reason to come into your store.

 

[jrinne]

Here is good link to look over,

http://www.businessknowhow.com/StartUp/toughques.htm

If this is not a rush thing for you look into the local college to see if they offer a class called "starting a small business". Probably one of the best classes I took in college only because it makes you look at things you would never consider. Usually at the end of the class they will have you write up a business plan and the Professor will let you know what you did right and what you did wrong.

 

[zach]

Do the card companies still require a brick and mortar location? Or are you simply going to large distributors for product?