What would you like to see in a science fiction and fantasy store?

sgotr · 01-19-2008, 10:52 PM

What would you like to see in a science fiction and fantasy store?

You open the door and what would you like it to have?

comic book drawing supplies
comic books
graphic novels
sculptures
etc

Biofungus · 01-19-2008, 10:59 PM

You left out two key elements in your science fiction and fantasy store:

science fiction and fantasy

Calloway · 01-19-2008, 11:02 PM

Oh snap!

Biofungus · 01-19-2008, 11:03 PM

Being serious though:

Art books (like sketchbooks from famous artists, like Frazetta and Brom and the like, many fantasy fans eat that stuff up)

DVDs (mostly of obscure or harder to find movies, and import DVD's (if you're going to do it totally legit, you'll get most imports from Hong Kong, as they have the same region code as the US, and often have english tracks or subtitles).

Statues/Sculptures are for show, but make sure your customers know you can *order* them on request. You generally don't want to invest too much in stock statues, as you can really lose big if you're not careful.

Posters are a must. Not just fantasy art posters, but a lot of movie and tv related posters (especially some of the classic sci fi series, like Space 1999, the original Battlestar Galactica, etc. Also, don't forget the sci fi actress cheesecake pinups).

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, I'll return if I can think of more.

sgotr · 01-19-2008, 11:04 PM

I guess it needs a time portal and parrall universe door so went you go in it can be a spaceship or some fantasy realm

Biofungus · 01-19-2008, 11:05 PM

Oh yeah, magazines, stay current! Lots of hard to find fantasy mags (Dragon, White Dwarf, etc).

Gaming miniatures (and the supplies to paint/build them).

crozonia · 01-19-2008, 11:12 PM

Just let it be clean with warm inviting lights would make me happy.
All this stuff sounds like a comic book store.

sgotr · 01-19-2008, 11:19 PM

How does a cafe style setup where you can lounge maybe with some drawing tables to lounge on and draw if you want - maybe have some of the tables in the cafe scinece fiction and some fantasy - kinda like pictures i have seen of cafes/resturants that have cars as tables.

sgotr · 01-19-2008, 11:24 PM

Biofungus
"DVDs (mostly of obscure or harder to find movies, and import DVD's (if you're going to do it totally legit, you'll get most imports from Hong Kong, as they have the same region code as the US, and often have english tracks or subtitles)"
DO you know of any of the names of the exporters?

Biofungus · 01-20-2008, 12:31 AM

Yep

although I think she specializes more in anime, but since it is still region 1, she might be able to help you get some more obscure stuff.

I don't know about the drawing table thing. It just sounds like asking for trouble. If you do set up a good gaming section, you might want to consider gaming tables, and some cheap (but comfy) couches around the back, so people can sit and watch the games being played, or relax when they're not playing that round. The drawing table thing is *too* specific, and more often than not will likely go unattended.

Crozonia is right about the clean/inviting thing. You don't want to get a reputation as a "fan boy dungeon". In fact, we got customers based on the reputation that "ours was the store that didn't smell like B.O."

Calloway · 01-20-2008, 12:45 AM

you know what sucks about a lot of those places...aside from product once a week they don't make you feel the need to come in.

I say set up some sceneray, sci fi paintings on a wall...a cave of dvd doom that looks like it was wretched from the set of a 50s or 60s sci fi movie...so much to add atmosphere.

T.J. May · 01-20-2008, 09:23 AM

I like the idea of a cafe style joint. You'll need something other than "Direct Market" stuff to get people to come in. Without a VERY unique draw, or if you happen to live in a "geek" commune, these stores are going the way of the Dino because of the internet and chain "pop-culture" stores around here.

Ironically, I was just thinking about how I'd do something like this myself. I came to the conclusion that I could only have a profitable, physical store if I could buy a building with a store front on the first floor, and one or more apartments above it. I'd dress the store up for walk-in traffic, but spend most of my day shilling crap on eBay, and hope the apartment rentals cover most of the overhead costs.

joshm · 01-20-2008, 10:56 AM

Everything sci-fi. I would so buy from this store.

C_Lawson · 01-20-2008, 11:05 AM

I'd like to see sci fi store that doubled as an art gallery, almost what Mr. Glass had going in Unbreakable. Original concept art, big inked comic pages, models of vehicles and weapons actually used in movies.
I'd also like to see events, like creator Q&A sessions, signings, movie nights (there is a surf shop in Maine that plays surf films on the side of their building every saturday during the summer).
Of course, before anyone else says it, I do realize that most of that is not fiscally reasonable.

The Anti-crest · 01-20-2008, 04:45 PM

Books written by ethnic minorities.

01-19-2008, 10:52 PM	#1
sgotr Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 140	What would you like to see in a science fiction and fantasy store? What would you like to see in a science fiction and fantasy store? You open the door and what would you like it to have? comic book drawing supplies comic books graphic novels sculptures etc

01-19-2008, 11:04 PM	#5
sgotr Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 140	I guess it needs a time portal and parrall universe door so went you go in it can be a spaceship or some fantasy realm Last edited by sgotr; 01-19-2008 at 11:07 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-19-2008, 10:59 PM	#2
Biofungus Not for your amusement Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nega-Earth Posts: 22,083	You left out two key elements in your science fiction and fantasy store: science fiction and fantasy

01-19-2008, 11:02 PM	#3
Calloway I haz cookiez an kool-aid Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 9,385	Oh snap!

01-19-2008, 11:03 PM	#4
Biofungus Not for your amusement Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nega-Earth Posts: 22,083	Being serious though: Art books (like sketchbooks from famous artists, like Frazetta and Brom and the like, many fantasy fans eat that stuff up) DVDs (mostly of obscure or harder to find movies, and import DVD's (if you're going to do it totally legit, you'll get most imports from Hong Kong, as they have the same region code as the US, and often have english tracks or subtitles). Statues/Sculptures are for show, but make sure your customers know you can order them on request. You generally don't want to invest too much in stock statues, as you can really lose big if you're not careful. Posters are a must. Not just fantasy art posters, but a lot of movie and tv related posters (especially some of the classic sci fi series, like Space 1999, the original Battlestar Galactica, etc. Also, don't forget the sci fi actress cheesecake pinups). That's all I can think of off the top of my head, I'll return if I can think of more.

01-19-2008, 11:05 PM	#6
Biofungus Not for your amusement Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nega-Earth Posts: 22,083	Oh yeah, magazines, stay current! Lots of hard to find fantasy mags (Dragon, White Dwarf, etc). Gaming miniatures (and the supplies to paint/build them).

01-19-2008, 11:12 PM	#7
crozonia Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TORONTO, Canada Posts: 714	Just let it be clean with warm inviting lights would make me happy. All this stuff sounds like a comic book store.

01-19-2008, 11:19 PM	#8
sgotr Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 140	How does a cafe style setup where you can lounge maybe with some drawing tables to lounge on and draw if you want - maybe have some of the tables in the cafe scinece fiction and some fantasy - kinda like pictures i have seen of cafes/resturants that have cars as tables.

01-19-2008, 11:24 PM	#9
sgotr Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 140	Biofungus "DVDs (mostly of obscure or harder to find movies, and import DVD's (if you're going to do it totally legit, you'll get most imports from Hong Kong, as they have the same region code as the US, and often have english tracks or subtitles)" DO you know of any of the names of the exporters?

01-20-2008, 12:31 AM	#10
Biofungus Not for your amusement Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nega-Earth Posts: 22,083	Yep although I think she specializes more in anime, but since it is still region 1, she might be able to help you get some more obscure stuff. I don't know about the drawing table thing. It just sounds like asking for trouble. If you do set up a good gaming section, you might want to consider gaming tables, and some cheap (but comfy) couches around the back, so people can sit and watch the games being played, or relax when they're not playing that round. The drawing table thing is too specific, and more often than not will likely go unattended. Crozonia is right about the clean/inviting thing. You don't want to get a reputation as a "fan boy dungeon". In fact, we got customers based on the reputation that "ours was the store that didn't smell like B.O."

01-20-2008, 12:45 AM	#11
Calloway I haz cookiez an kool-aid Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 9,385	you know what sucks about a lot of those places...aside from product once a week they don't make you feel the need to come in. I say set up some sceneray, sci fi paintings on a wall...a cave of dvd doom that looks like it was wretched from the set of a 50s or 60s sci fi movie...so much to add atmosphere.

01-20-2008, 09:23 AM	#12
T.J. May Writer/SUMM Publications Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 2,185	I like the idea of a cafe style joint. You'll need something other than "Direct Market" stuff to get people to come in. Without a VERY unique draw, or if you happen to live in a "geek" commune, these stores are going the way of the Dino because of the internet and chain "pop-culture" stores around here. Ironically, I was just thinking about how I'd do something like this myself. I came to the conclusion that I could only have a profitable, physical store if I could buy a building with a store front on the first floor, and one or more apartments above it. I'd dress the store up for walk-in traffic, but spend most of my day shilling crap on eBay, and hope the apartment rentals cover most of the overhead costs.

01-20-2008, 10:56 AM	#13
joshm Comic Book creator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 548	Everything sci-fi. I would so buy from this store.

01-20-2008, 11:05 AM	#14
C_Lawson Broken Soul Press guy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 367	I'd like to see sci fi store that doubled as an art gallery, almost what Mr. Glass had going in Unbreakable. Original concept art, big inked comic pages, models of vehicles and weapons actually used in movies. I'd also like to see events, like creator Q&A sessions, signings, movie nights (there is a surf shop in Maine that plays surf films on the side of their building every saturday during the summer). Of course, before anyone else says it, I do realize that most of that is not fiscally reasonable.

01-20-2008, 04:45 PM	#15
The Anti-crest Robert Tidwell - JUGGALO Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,554	Books written by ethnic minorities.