Elsewhere: Saving the Industry by Thinking Smaller
Now that we know where the comic industry is, it is time to focus on where the comic industry can be.
February’s first (?!) big article at The Beat follows up the dark outlook for 2023 with some advice on how retailers can move this industry forward and survive.
There’s a lot in the piece, and still more to come, as the column coming in two weeks follows up with practical ways a business can enact the “think small” attitude I talk about.
Behind the Scenes
If you want a sneak peak at the heart of the next article, I suggest you read this gem:
It’s all about how the head of Barnes & Noble has been thinking smaller, and turned around the chain in a significant way. A lot of good lessons baked within.
The bulk of the writing for Thinking Smaller happened in a whirlwind on Monday. While the piece was planned for a while, I filled a lot of my writing time this weekend with a trip to see the family. Then, Danica and I went to see a screening of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once for the first time on Monday night. Writing was wrapped around that experience, and probably informs the end of the article. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about EEAaO, and see it as a defining parable of our times.
On Friday, I’m going to continue the Thinking Smaller theme by introducing many of you to a man by the name of Preston Sweet - who used to write a column in Comics Retailer Magazine entitled Small Store Strategy. The bulk of the things that he talks about are extremely sound, and almost everyone tries to make him eat shit for it in response. It’s pretty wild.
Alright, enough for tonight. Wednesday’s article will be up a little later than usual, but know it is coming.
Talk with you soon,
-B.