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Dan Shahin of Hijinx Comics on DC Sales’ Relationship to Comics Stores
posted February 12, 2005
 

Dan Shahin
Hijinx Comics

DC comics probably has the very best relationship with retailers of any comics publisher. They spend an awful lot of time and money actually soliciting our input and acting on it. I personally receive a weekly phone call from a DC rep to apprise me of upcoming projects and to make sure my orders are correct for stuff that's just about to come out. DC also has a program called the RRP that solicits information from a key cross-section of Direct Market retailers, and they also maintain an active voice on the CBIA message board.

Frankly, their moves to strengthen DC product penetration outside of the DM is overdue. For a company with such a strong backlist of bestselling graphic novels, DC's placement in bookstores seems more like an afterthought compared to the rows and rows of Manga prominently displayed.

I tend to think a little differently than most comics retailers when it comes to other markets stocking comics. I'm of a mind that anything that reminds people of the rich diversity of comics available is a good thing for the industry and for my business. Booksellers will carry a certain portion of GNs, but they'll never match my selection or product knowledge, and thus can serve as a feeder market for my stores and others in the DM.