November Sales?

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

So, when are the November sales numbers coming out? Isn't this a bit late in the month already?
Anyone have any tidbits on that they can share?

[BugsySig]

Thanksgiving was pretty late this year. Maybe that has delayed the numbers?

[hawkeyeps]

[FormerReader]

Great movie!

[lorddunlow]

DOOOOOM!

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Finally some numbers coming out from diamond:
http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3 ... eID=153347

Valiant in the Top 10 for Unit Sales.

[BugsySig]

Finally some numbers coming out from diamond:
http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3 ... eID=153347

Valiant in the Top 10 for Unit Sales.

Good to see VEI move into the Top 10 this month, even if it is a lower percentage than other months. Until something really "breaks out", it seems VEI will spend most months between .7-1.3%. Of course the percentage doesn't give a huge indication of actual units since it fluctuate so much for the industry monthly. This November was 22% lower in sales than October, for example.

[BugsySig]

Let's see if I can predict this month's total sales:

October unit sales = 8.41 million (for Top 300)
November unit sales (-22.73% from October) = ~ 6.73 million
VEI November unit sales (.73% in November) = ~ 49,129 units

Let's see if I'm close when the full numbers come out

[drmirage]

This November was 22% lower in sales than October, for example....

Ouch!!

[Ramses818]

Comic book stores are struggling. You know it's bad when the ComicsPro treasurer is embezzling to keep his stores open. Well the 2 he has left anyway.

[drmirage]

Yes. Comic stores have lots of overhead. Struggling... I bet.

Online stores are low balling... (Amazon) Then there's digital sales.

Does anyone think the humble bundle deals hurt the retail stores.

It's a dog eat dog world out there. Pirated comics are also out there via Torrent

Buying Comics / Collecting comics can be an expensive hobby.


End rant.

[Ramses818]

No please continue the rant! Lol. I just know that comic stores can survive provided they find their customer base. I mean in Los Angeles alone we have well over a dozen. And you know what stores to go to depending on what you're looking for. So I think the owner has to take the time to know the people he selling two. Of course he also has to make sure he has a good reputation!

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Yes. Comic stores have lots of overhead. Struggling... I bet.

Online stores are low balling... (Amazon) Then there's digital sales.

Does anyone think the humble bundle deals hurt the retail stores.

It's a dog eat dog world out there. Pirated comics are also out there via Torrent

End rant.

Ummm... Comic sales are up every single year for like 12 out of the past 14 years. That's in comic stores. Digital has been the best promotional tool for print ever. Studies have proven that.
Places like humble bundle give people a real chance to sample material before they purchase physical copies.
And frankly, there's just two different audiences now. Readers, and collectors. Digital only helps print. FACT.
And, as far as pirated comics go, those are not customers to begin with. They don't hurt sales, since those people wouldn't have shelled out $$$ for the product to begin with. If anything, they are exposed to the product, and buy other related merchandise which also helps publishers, and retailers.

[ilzuccone]

Yes. Comic stores have lots of overhead. Struggling... I bet.

Online stores are low balling... (Amazon) Then there's digital sales.

Does anyone think the humble bundle deals hurt the retail stores.

It's a dog eat dog world out there. Pirated comics are also out there via Torrent

End rant.

Ummm... Comic sales are up every single year for like 12 out of the past 14 years. That's in comic stores. Digital has been the best promotional tool for print ever. Studies have proven that.
Places like humble bundle give people a real chance to sample material before they purchase physical copies.
And frankly, there's just two different audiences now. Readers, and collectors. Digital only helps print. FACT.
And, as far as pirated comics go, those are not customers to begin with. They don't hurt sales, since those people wouldn't have shelled out $$$ for the product to begin with. If anything, they are exposed to the product, and buy other related merchandise which also helps publishers, and retailers.

i was thinking something similar. collector's paradise has a competing store 5 minutes down the road. if the industry was hurting that bad i don't think my area would support two stores. (full disclosure: a third store opened up and closed shortly after. but i believe it had something to do with bad management. )

[drmirage]

I've talked to a few comic stores and most are struggling. If it were a growing biz, more will be opening up if it was very lucrative. Just my own opinion.

There were more LCS around 10 years ago.

[ilzuccone]

I've talked to a few comic stores and most are struggling. If it were a growing biz, more will be opening up if it was very lucrative. Just my own opinion.

There were more LCS around 10 years ago.

true i'm not seeing much growth (unsubstantiated opinion here. ) but i'm also not seeing much drop off. most of the stores that went away probably had no business being open in the first place. there are far fewer dirty dingy mismanaged stores around my area.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

I've talked to a few comic stores and most are struggling. If it were a growing biz, more will be opening up if it was very lucrative. Just my own opinion.

There were more LCS around 10 years ago.

Not disagreeing that stores are struggling. I'm just saying that it's not digital's fault. Who knows, maybe without digital, there would be even MORE stores closing.
You have to understand that in a down economy, comics are a luxury item with basically the lowest value for your dollar. $4 for a 5 minute experience isn't as good as $10 for a 90 minute movie, or paying $50/mo for internet. Just saying...

[bygranddesign]

I agree with Bone-A-Fach-ee's rantings

I think the comic book industry is in much healthier state than what it was 10-15 years ago.

Are comic stores doing well? Thats probably a different question. But the business has definitely evolved ... and Comic Stores need to evolve with it. From a Market perspective ... Consumer Perspective ... We are much better off because we have more choices ... Comic Store, Digital, Online discount (DBCS).

Look at Ed .. I would assume he is pretty successful and I think that is because he has a Comic Store that has evolved and embraced the changing habits of comic consumers. He has a strong online presence(Ebay + he even has an online DIGITAL store through Comixology!), he always has interesting deals and specials for collectors, and he has fun store events and parties (its important to make your store a fun destination that's worth the trip). Thats how I think you need to be successful if you have a comic store. Most stores I don't think are willing to put in that extra effort to find multiple streams of revenue ...and expand their customer base.

[drmirage]

I agree with Bone-A-Fach-ee's rantings

I think the comic book industry is in much healthier state than what it was 10-15 years ago.

Are comic stores doing well? Thats probably a different question. But the business has definitely evolved ... and Comic Stores need to evolve with it. From a Market perspective ... Consumer Perspective ... We are much better off because we have more choices ... Comic Store, Digital, Online discount (DBCS).

Look at Ed .. I would assume he is pretty successful and I think that is because he has a Comic Store that has evolved and embraced the changing habits of comic consumers. He has a strong online presence(Ebay + he even has an online DIGITAL store through Comixology!), he always has interesting deals and specials for collectors, and he has fun store events and parties (its important to make your store a fun destination that's worth the trip). Thats how I think you need to be successful if you have a comic store. Most stores I don't think are willing to put in that extra effort to find multiple streams of revenue ...and expand their customer base.

[drmirage]

Back in topic.

So.. this November was 22% lower in sales than October

Ouch!!

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Back in topic.

So.. this November was 22% lower in sales than October

Ouch!!

Yes, but overall, 2014 is better than 2013.

[drmirage]

Boni... What do the numbers translate for VEI?

Are they doing better now than 12 or 24 months ago? In terms of sales...

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Boni... What do the numbers translate for VEI?

Are they doing better now than 12 or 24 months ago? In terms of sales...

On the surface, my guess would be absolutely. They have grown from 1 title, to 9 titles a month. They've had some big releases that brought massive exposure, such as Unity, and Rai. The Valiant just sold out of it's 22k print run.
So, even if it's not consistent every single month, they are undoubtedly on an upswing overall. That's just a 10,000 foot view. I'm sure someone else will get more in depth with it all, but they are delivering consistently. Diamond is not the only way to judge sales.

[BugsySig]

Boni... What do the numbers translate for VEI?

Are they doing better now than 12 or 24 months ago? In terms of sales...

On the surface, my guess would be absolutely. They have grown from 1 title, to 9 titles a month. They've had some big releases that brought massive exposure, such as Unity, and Rai. The Valiant just sold out of it's 22k print run.
So, even if it's not consistent every single month, they are undoubtedly on an upswing overall. That's just a 10,000 foot view. I'm sure someone else will get more in depth with it all, but they are delivering consistently. Diamond is not the only way to judge sales.

It's really hard to say. I think they've taken a hit lately. Just because they've gone from consistently having all their titles in the top 300, to having several fall out. I think this was a product of all the one-shots and minis and a relative uncertainty of them from retailers which led to lower orders. Overall monthly sales have dipped in recent months from the first year plus of very hefty sales per title.

With VALIANT NEXT I think this will turn around. Retailers and readers will have more confidence in the name creators that have been brought in, the guarantee of continuing series and the overall mood/tone of the push. These new titles remind me of the many terrific Image books, but with the added awesomeness of a shared universe. I think that can be really huge moving forward for VEI.

[kjjohanson]

Back in topic.

So.. this November was 22% lower in sales than October

Ouch!!

Don't the sales numbers reflect the date the books were available in stores? October had 25% more Wednesdays. That means there was a per week increase in sales.