Thursday March 19, 2020
MICHAEL TIERNEY OF AT COLLECTOR'S EDITION & THE COMIC BOOK STORE ON THE COVID-19 IMPACT
'Business as usual and business has been good so far.'

Michael Tierney of At Collector's Edition and The Comic Book Store, both located in Little Rock, Arkansas, writes in to share how his stores are coping with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (see "Comic and Game Retailers – What's Happening in Your Store?").

At Collector's Edition (3217 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock, AR 72116) and The Comic Book Store (9307 Treasure Hill, Little Rock, AR 72227) it has been business as usual and business has been good so far.

While other businesses around me started price gouging, I ran a sale last Friday and Saturday, promoting it on Facebook, my website (www.thewildstars.com) and by email--using a touch of humor. In the ad and other posts I made on Facebook, I touted the dual use possibilities of comics books when faced with constant toilet paper shortages. But I did throw in a caution of: Don't use the John Wayne comics--he won't take #### off anyone.

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RALPH DIBERNARDO OF JETPACK COMICS ON HOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH COVID-19'S IMPACT ON RETAIL
And Helping their Comic Book and Gaming Customers

Ralph DiBernardo of​ Jetpack Comics, located in Rochester, New Hampshire, writes in and shares how they're taking care of their comic book and gaming customers in wake of the coronavirus pandemic (see "Comic and Game Retailers – What's Happening in Your Store?").

We are offering local delivery, expanded mail-order and curbside pickup. You can still come and shop the store as well. All in-store events are canceled indefinitely, and Free Comic Book Day is postponed but if things get better we will put FCBD back into place.

We are also implementing a few other things:

JETPACK COMICS INTRODUCES ROCHESTER READING FREE COMIC BOOK DAYS, WHILE THE VIRUS LASTS

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SEAN JOHNSON OF BRUTE FORCE GAMES ON THE COVID-19 IMPACT
'We've made 3 changes.'

Sean Johnson, owner of Brute Force Games in San Diego, California, writes in and shares how his store is coping with this coronavirus pandemic threat (see "Comic and Game Retailers – What's Happening in Your Store?").

Everyday staff and I are trying to find ways to stay ahead of the curve. We expect this to evolve, but so far we've made 3 changes:

1. Add curbside pick-up to your offerings. A lot of people do not want to come into a store front right now, and if you're unable to deliver, then pick-up is the next best solution.

2. Engage the community to support local business. This should be done year-round, but it's especially important to do now. Remind people you're still there and appreciate their support. It's also important to remind them that support doesn't always mean financial (see attachment).

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GARY RAY OF BLACK DIAMOND GAMES ON THE COVID-19 IMPACT
'The county has shut us down.'

Gary Ray, President of Black Diamond Games, Ltd., located in Concord, California writes in and shares how his store has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic (see "Comic and Game Retailers – What's Happening in Your Store?").

Black Diamond Games is in the San Francisco Bay Area, so despite all our plans to work through this, the county has shut us down. Working through this for me, usually I say us, but it's just me now, means planning to come back to the business in several weeks (or longer) with a plan in hand. The lost revenue means I've got over $50,000 in expenses during our down time. A plan means coming up with funding to re-start my business and working with vendors and stakeholders to come to some, unknown, middle ground.

I know there will need to be accommodations made for small business when we start again, but I have to assume there won't be. I also know from distributors that many stores will be done after this.

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