I swear this wasn’t just an excuse to plug my eBay listings.

§ October 19th, 2015 § Filed under self-promotion, sterling silver comics § 4 Comments

One year ago today was my last day working for my previous place of employment, Ralph’s Comic Corner/Seth’s Games and Anime. Which of course means in a couple of weeks, it’ll be the one year anniversary of opening my shop, and it’s hard to believe that much time has flown by already.

Well, so far, so good, and I’m still reasonably certain I made the right choice opening up my own store. Around this time last year, I was in a fairly high-strung state, making sure all the right permits were filed, the proper licenses obtained, trying to get the inside of the store built while hoping my sign would get installed soon, placing my orders with Diamond and wondering if I had enough stock to keep customers coming back, and, and, and….

Of course, that’s all settled now, and everything’s working perfectly smoothly and I never have any problems ever, like all small businesses after nearly a year of being open. …Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. There are ups and downs, like all businesses, but I think back to a year ago and I am glad right now that the store set-up juggling I had to do is mostly behind me, and all I have to worry about at this point is making enough money to survive, ha ha! But I’ve survived so far, and while some weeks are tighter than others, overall I’m doing okay, and look forward to doing even better in the years ahead. (And, hey, if you wanna chip in….)

Thanks to all of you for your help and words of encouragement over the past year, and for sticking with this site when content got a little sparse. Turns out running a store can tire you out, and “sleep” won out over “writing for the blog” more than a few nights. I don’t plan to stop either this site or my store anytime soon, so you’re stuck with both for the foreseeable future!

• • •

In other news, over there at the ol’ Trouble with Comics website, the Question of the Week was “what trade paperback collection would you like to see?” and I bet my contribution isn’t surprising in the slightest.

4 Responses to “I swear this wasn’t just an excuse to plug my eBay listings.”

  • philip says:
    October 19, 2015 at 11:21 AM

    Happy Quitaversary(?). Congratulations, Mr. Sterling. I do very much enjoy your writings on funny books and I look forward to one day visiting your shoppe.

  • Sarah says:
    October 19, 2015 at 9:41 PM

    A year with a small business–that’s a real accomplishment. Congratulations.

  • Sanctum Sanctorum Comix says:
    October 21, 2015 at 2:37 AM

    MIKESTER,

    One year ago you began a
    JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY
    If not an actual
    JOURNEY INTO FEAR
    Itself.

    You sought to create a store that defied the usual stigma of being a
    CREEPY
    Or
    EERIE
    place
    WHERE MONSTERS DWELL,
    while overcoming some of the usual logistical
    MYSTERY IN SPACE -ial
    arrangement, where you can provide a family-friendly atmosphere;
    Be they a
    BATMAN FAMILY,
    SUPERMAN FAMILY
    Or even a
    SPIDER-MAN FAMILY.

    I’m sure some of the financial aspects have held some
    TALES OF SUSPENSE
    but as long as you’re successful enough to pay your utility bills, you can be sure to avoid your establishment becoming a
    CHAMBER OF DARKNESS
    Or a
    CHAMBER OF CHILLS
    Any time soon.

    I’m sure the past year has been a
    CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS
    and has provided some
    TALES TO ASTONISH.
    But has also provided the opportunity to share with your customers the
    WORLD’S FINEST
    comics. All kinds of
    WEDNESDAY COMICS,
    some
    ACTION COMICS,
    DETECTIVE COMICS,
    SENSATIONAL COMICS
    of all kinds, with maybe some
    FUNNY STUFF
    Tossed in.
    I’m sure you can expose them to
    MORE FUN COMICS
    then they knew existed, more than just what
    MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS
    Or
    DC COMICS PRESENTS.
    A veritable
    NEW TALENT SHOWCASE
    to put some
    PEP
    in their lives.

    You’ve got something for everyone, be they a
    NANCY
    SLUGGO
    ARCHIE
    Or
    JUGHEAD,
    You’ve even got stuff for every
    LITTLE LOTTA
    and
    even those with a questionably placed
    COMIC BOOK TATTOO.

    So, whether your customers can just
    SHONEN JUMP
    to your store, or have to hitch a ride with a
    SPACE CABBY
    I’m sure
    STERLING SILVER COMICS
    is the place to visit.

    And unless your blog becomesa
    HOUSE OF SECRETS,
    I look forward to whatever
    STRANGE TALES
    Are to be told in the years to come.

    -PTOR

  • Casie says:
    October 21, 2015 at 10:05 PM

    That’s so great to hear, Mike. I’m not really surprised though. You’re so awesome and a pro in the funny book business. I have you to thank for introducing me to a lot of my favorites. You’ve pressured me…I mean ‘talked’ me into MANY purchases, which of course always end up being fantastic. ;) Congratulations, comic shop owner and friend.