Locked Down, but not out

                                                                       

                                                                            

 

      When the world shut down the question of course was how will small businesses survive? WIth only non essential businesses being shut down during the pandemic it seemed that most if not all local shops would be forced out of business. An interesting thing happened though. While people worked from home and essential workers like myself went about their lives as if nothing was happening, the internet showed us how we could still keep in touch with everyone without leaving the safety and comfort of our homes. Local comic shops may not have been able to get us new comics, but they faced the pandemic with a fresh outlook and a way to keep from shutting down entirely. When Diamond announced that they weren't going to release new books it seemed as if comics were about to die a sad and tragic death. As a reader and a collector I was bummed out but when you look at the entire landscape of shuttered shops and restaurants it went far deeper. and affected so many others. Unemployment would soon skyrocket as we faced not just a recession, but a sense of loss as people scrambled to find work in places that they've probably never worked at before. The essental employees who were frowned upon for having jobs that no one wanted were now heroes because for us, we still went to work, we still put ourselves at risk because we didn't have a choice. 

        This blog isn't about the economy or how the loss of income will affect us years from now, it's about comics. It's about how local shops rose up and used the resources available to them. As a reader and a collector I wasn't able to buy new books. No one was, but there were ways to still get them. During the quarantine there were tons and tons of sales that allowed us to invest in back issues. If our local stores weren't open that was okay because we have online stored mycomicshop.com, Midtown comics, eBay, and even Things From Another World. Throughout this crisis I've been able to fill in holes in my Batman collection. and even got some free graphic novels through Marvel. While most people were vegging out on Netflix. I was working and still buying comics. Nothing changed for me, but I was still concerned about my local shop Stuff Genie Emporium. When this was over would they be open?

      Turns out, they'd be just fine. In fact, Stuff Genie and their sister store Rubber City Comics found a way to reach their customers through Facebook live. They hold Joker's WIld Drawings, claim sales, .and even Funko Pop claims. They're not only reaching older customers, but gaining new ones who will no doubt flock to the stores once they open their doors again. It's an interesting time not just for consumers, but retailers who are now thinking outside the box. How does any small business survive in a time like this? You have to be open to new things, new ideas that allow you to reach your customers in ways no one has thought of before. It's not just Stuff Genie and Rubbr City who have weathered this storm. Many others are following suit. 

      They're offering curbside pick up, they're even willing to ship stuff and that gives them to opportunity to sell to customers outside of Ohio who are just now discovering them thgrough a live stream on Facebook. They're creating revenue in the face of crisis. Even restaurants have changed the way they do business by offering up the same type of service. You can't eat in, but you can order and pick it up or have it delivered. All types of businesses are adapting which couldn't have happened this successfully without the internet. It's the internet that binds us all together, keeps us sane while we're stuck inside. Well, at least most of us anyway. 

      The Joker's Wild held by Stuff Genie has been a great way to support my LCS and pick up some great books. Justin Fulmer hosts it and so far, he's picked some killer books. I've gotten stuff I probably wouldn't have picked on my own, but now I'm a fan of because of a blind draw. Other shops I'm sure have done the same thing or at least have found a way to keep the doors from closing. As the weather changes and the doors slowly start opening it's going to be interesting to see how these sales affect long term business. People are itching to get outside agin now that the weather's turning warmer. We all want out lives to get back to normal but when you think about the long term effects is it too soon? Are we on the verge of another round of Corona? No one is going to remember the social distancing or how important it really is to wash your hands and that's not something you want to forget, but most will. 

       So, as we all sit inside reading blogs, bingwatching television shows we've become more tethered to the silicone obsession in our pockets. Is this a good thing? It could be but as of right now, it's the only thing linking us together. We faced a crisis and while it's not over for those affected financially, it's getting closer to returning us to our normal lives. WIll be kinder and gentler after this is all over? Not likely. The Corona has brought out the worst in people so it's doubtful that anything will change or even have us alter our way of thinking about the world around us. Until things go back to normal I'll still be wearing my face mask at work and waiting for the day I can finally stop wearing it and taking my temp every morning. Good news, it hasn't spiked and I've remained healthy all winter.