Chapter 121: Direct Market Readying
While everyone was readying up and making up a timeline for the upcoming December Volume Book upheaval, so were the comic book stores or the direct market that would bear the entire brunt of it.
Unlike the semi-ignorant masses that only knew what was happening from a superficial level, the owners and their employees were gearing themselves up for the things that they exclusively knew.
As much as everyone outside analyzed how Creed Comics had reached their staggering success, it was those in the direct market that knew much more and got a much-grounded outlook on everything.
They were the ones to oversee everything as the bridge between Creed Comics and their growing fanbase after all.
They've heard the words of appreciation, debates, theories, and firsthand expressions that everyone had towards the stories.
The Creed trains, either buy or Survey, wasn't just symbolism to the major flow of the industry but how the direct market could get a much conducive outlook on the progression of the market.
As far as their eavesdropping and their employee observations have gathered, everything Creed was the major trend and it is incrementally increasing by the day.
It would go as far as technically society-influencing movements when they think much further on it. As many major benefits and hidden influential power that Creed Comics had gained from all of it, those in the direct market only had gratitude to give back from their established connection.
The popular Volume Books itself was the most stable source of income that came into their midst. Trade paperback was something that was their specialty but it had a limited relevance while the Creed-types had much long-standing influence due to the issues being scheduled to be released in the long term.
As such, they had not much doubt or delay when the new Creed Comics initiative was explained to them. Aside from the 10-in-1 deal, the premise of an endearing merchandise was much too great to take a pass on.
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While their customers were still hooked up and sure of themselves from the explicit promise of Volume Books, the store owners were already setting up Creed Comics' hidden trap that would catch everyone off guard.
From the end of September and by the middle of November they've already been gearing up with all the 'new merchandise' plans that Creed Comics had in mind.
It was still in relative secrecy though as the hooking #10s and #20s has lulled the market into thinking that it was all the biggest surprise of December.
Unfortunately for the fooled masses and fortunately for everyone overall, Volume Books was just the surface level of the layering December snow.
Creed Comics and the direct market constituents had a much elaborate ploy that was hatching.
Those 'in the know' can't help but feel smug at their information superiority and could only look forward to how everyone would react by then. It was up to the point that they were even considering using photo cameras to record those moments.
As such, while everyone was enjoying their Thanksgiving week and with the stores closed for the family holidays, the shops were getting minor renovations to cater to the new merchandise that was hiding away in their inventories.
They were even much more attentive to these new Creed-related materials than when they were decorating their stores with Christmas paraphernalia. It wasn't about the holiday's atmosphere after all but a fresh source of income.
The new retails were just too precious as their store's new way of earning more money while also changing up their comic book direct market identity.
Even Creed Store with the most distinct relation to Creed Comics was busy at work. Mr. Counterboy was in charge as usual and accomodating the things in the store with much Creed themes as possible.
As the previous 'Creed Toys', it had a reputation to uphold as the little store that started everything.
It was a shame to lose the adult toys and other toy paraphernalia but it was much amazing to finally stock up with things that were appropriate for all ages and also something that comes from its 'twin' company.
Even though Creed Store should call Creed Toys its simple sibling company, however, their story is strangely interconnected with a simple but also complex story that they might as well go further with being twins.
As for the Big Two and other comic publishing brands, they could only coop up for now to accommodate the enterprising entrants.
Although it was clearly a biased re-organization that would warrant trouble, there was no denying that making more room for Creed things that appeal much greater to the market is the most profitable way to go.
There was even no denying that other direct market stores were following suit with the marginalization of other publisher titles.
As long as these other published titles also find their heyday, then they could also have their chance at the spotlight in the store renovations.
For now, Creed Comics just had the market dominance to make others make way and even had a new merchandise initiative that would only prove beneficial to whomever is business-mindedly involved.
If one would think further on it, Creed-related stuff might remain dominant for a while as they are truly in the lead with everything.
As for how long that Creed dominance time would be, perhaps that would be up for the next ambitious, resourceful, and more creative company to tackle.
That was still far ahead in the future though as the priority of comic book stores at the present is to prepare for what is ever near and easily reached.
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Everything went on schedule as the direct market had a collective interior change and what they achieved was already phenomenal in their opinion.
They just did some simple realignments but the prospects of everything had shot up.
It had already shocked them when they looked at these new things up close after all and knew the great potential that these merchandises had on everything.
It even pleased the store owners greater when they finally displayed it all together and by theme. Dragonball should go with Dragonball, TMNT should go with TMNT, and so on and so forth.
If such incredible and high-quality products with matching themes and displays don't wow the customers, then they don't know what will.
It looked way too good that they feared the selling out of units scenario, so some of them were already snagging up their own.
The owners paid for the retail price while the counterboys, gender-progressively hired counter girls, and other store personnel snagged it up with their salaries.
In any case, they already got their own versions and those that couldn't get to buy from the limited units had it coming to them for being tardy.
Every comic book store that tasted the benefits that Creed Comics brought to their industry had done what they can and could only hope that their efforts truly make a greater difference than everything should be coming next.
Thus, the stores were ready with all the renovating expansion that they've done as they also matched up the eagerness that their customers were exhibiting for the past couple of days.