2009 Sales Breakdown

I found this interesting, so I thought I'd share.

Apparel .33%
Back Issues 2.99%
Card Games 3.04%
Games 3.65%
Graphic Novels 24.23%
Magazines (& Lead Figures) 3.36%
Miscellaneous 1.72%
New Comics 47.97%
Posters .04%
Supplies 1.76%
Toys & Statues 11.14%

A few clarifications.
Sadly, the system groups Toys and Statues together. I would like to see those separate. Maybe something to work on for 2010.
The lead figures are classified as Magazines and that is the bulk of that category. I don't sell that many Wizards.

So, my quick analysis-
- I sell more lead figures than I do back issues. The new side should change that, or I am going to have to seriously rethink back issues.
- For as much as people are screaming that comics are dead and trades are the way to go, comics outsell trades 2:1 here. I am happy with both of those numbers though.
- For the new side to really start paying for itself, I need to get games and cards both up to 5% and back issues up to 10%. in store gaming and the new back issue racks should help that.

Now these are only for March-Dec because that's when I got the new POS system.

Top Selling Comics
1. Blackest Night #1
2. Blackest Night #2
3. Green Lantern #43
4. Green Lantern #44
5. Captain America Reborn #1
6. Blackest Night #3
7. Blackest Night #5
8. Blackest night #4
9. Batman & Robin #1
10. Green Lantern #45

Top Selling Graphic Novels
1. Boys TP Vol 4
2. Boys TP Vol 2
3. Boys TP Vol 1
4. Boys TP Vol 3 (Yes, I feel shame for pushing these so hard)
5. Walking Dead TP Vol 10
6. Watchmen TP
7. Mini Marvels TP Secret Invasion Digest
8. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
9. Walking Dead TP Vol 9
10. Joker HC
(tie) 10. Wolverine Origin TP New Printing

For fun, Top Selling Lead Figures
1. Green Lantern
2. Robin
3. Batman
4. Flash
5. Deadpool
6. Wonder Woman
7. Superman
8. Hawkman
9. Green Arrow
10. Catwoman

New Years Resolutions 2010

Aside from my standard "Lose 30 pounds", I figured I would make some for the store this year. Since I can no longer use "I am out of room, where could I put it?" as an excuse anymore, I figured it may be cathartic to actually write them down and in a place where I, and everyone else, can see if I am accomplishing them. So here it goes:

1. Get more organized
While I have always blamed this on space issues, it is really more of a "me" problem. I am not and organized person, and it kind of shows in the store. Things are usually where they should be, or close, but my space is a mess. If I can focus on this, I see lots of things improving. And this has a lot of sub-categories:

a) Get inventory in computer correct once and for all. It is mostly correct since I started using it in March 2009, but it does not have all of the inventory in the store prior to then. I have been adding it piecemeal since then, but it is still not correct and I know that is hurting me by not having the product on hand.
b) Get back issues organized. If I get this done, the new side will start paying for itself. It was strictly a space issue before (Why spend lots of time organizing and pricing stuff when i had no place to put it.) It is a huge time sink though, and that has been keeping me from really jumping into it. Plus you can only look at so many boxes of early 90s Image stuff before your eyes glaze over.
c) Better organized overstock will let me be able to keep the racks thinner and not falling over, while still having easy access to those books.

2. Get Online
Yes, I know I am there, but I need to do it better. I need to do this more often. I need to do more with the website than just print shipping lists. Facebook, Twitter. Ebay. Again it is more of a time issue than a lack of desire. I will work on it

3. Read more comics.
What? Don't I read enough already? No, not really. I need to read more of the oddball stuff, so I can promote it. I still need to read the biggies so I know what is going on, but I need to read more. A lot more. I can't remember the last Superman family book I read. And that is not good. If you can't ask me about a certain book, who can you ask?

4. More promotions
Now, I don't mean more sales. Who doesn't love a sale? The bank. I have lots of ideas, but I generally run out of time. I need to take one of these fancy Marvel calendars and mark it up. These 3 weeks, I will promote X. Then I will do Y. It will make things more interesting for the customers and will help me move product around, get more books in front of people. It worked well when I did Brian Wood month. I really need to do this more.

Well, that's all I have for now. If I can master those in the next 12 months, I think things will take a pronounced surge in the right direction.