Consignment is a Con

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:00:00 +0000

As publisher, I generally do not sell my comics on consignment. The only exception is if it’s some sort of community/collective art store that only deals in consignment. However, in regular stores that buy products wholesale, no I won’t put my product at that kind of disadvantage. Sure, some people might say, “But you make more money from consignment, why would you wholesale and make 50% of the cover price when you could make 80% by selling on consignment?”

Brendan Boyd

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 03:34:46 +0000

Hey Mark! Some great valid points. It's a 2 way thing. Some shop owners claim Aussie comics don't sell, while they order multiple copies of some crap comic about a XXX porn star that sits on the shelf and collects dust (some of you may recognise the shop I'm talking about). Most shops would realise they have a core audience that will buy well-produced Aussie comics, whether it's 5 or 10 copies (maybe more). Pulp Fiction is incredibly supportive of local stuff in SA and stock stuff from all over the country.
Small Press publishers also need to get savvy. When you publish a book, consider if it's something you want to pay good $$$'s for. Canberra has some great well produced mini's, some boasting colour covers (Impact is a great source of local small press stuff). In Adelaide, 5031 and Anthology of Alvin are always nicely produced books that have a heavier stock cover and quality copied pages inside. Paper Tableux & Cardigan comics do some nice things in Victoria. Visit a small-press expo to see how some people think a poorly photo-copied, badly stapled zine is a saleable item...I think not.
IF you haven't published your own zine a few tips are
1) do your homework
2) read books on self publishing and producing comics...even if you don't like mainstream stuff there's some valid points in How To Draw the Marvel Way. Will Eisner & Scott McLeod also give some great advice.
3) Get quotes from printers/copy shops, ask to see samples. Look at different paper stocks, consider a colour stock for the cover.
4) Ask about discounts for larger quantities. Most of these places charge on pages you want printed, so print 2 or 3 books at the same time. Got some friends who want do publish mini's? Get together to reduce your printing costs.
5) Don't get 500 printed if you're only likely to sell 50. Investigate your market. Will your local shop only take 5 copies at a time. Is there only one outlet in your town?

Very few people can say they've made any (decent) money out of Aussie comics, and I've known some people who have spent heaps for little return. Do it 'cause you love, but ensure you've got something that looks good.

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Fri, 14 May 2010 06:16:48 +0000

Very informative post

OzComics

Consignment is a Con

Brendan Boyd

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