Just to let everyone know that we're still here. The past year has been very difficult but we're hanging on. As one of the last independent shops in Bromley, please support us with your custom otherwise we may not be around for much longer!
OK I had some more ideas. I'm thinking you should think about who your core market is: nerds. Building a community element turns people from casual browsers to loyal regulars. The following would all be possible without changing the space available:
Some sort of loyalty scheme. I know at least one guy who gets half his comics from you and half from Forbidden Planet up in London. If you had some sort of loyalty scheme (I don't know what, maybe a free back issue from that new £1 recent imports box for every 5 new comics bought or something) he'd have an incentive to buy them all from you.
Speaking of FP, they sell packs of 4 recent back issues for £1. Maybe financially unfeasible, but something to think about.
Start selling nerdcore CDs. Nerdcore hip hop is rap music with nerd culture lyrical themes (games, comics, computers etc). I suspect you don't make a huge amount from that CD/tape shelf unit you have; replace half of it with nerdcore (which is full of talented but unsigned independent artists) or other nerdy artists and you've widened your audience (as long as you market it so people know it's there). Nerdcore artists are very friendly and it'd probably be quite easy to set up pre-order situations with them too. Maybe T-shirts too! I'd buy them.
Put up a "nerd noticeboard". People could pay a couple of quid for a little notice advertising for people to play D&D with, or sell their old Star Trek VHS collection etc.
Feature local creators. See if there's a local comics creation scene, put a thing up (on your nerd noticeboard!) asking for local artists/creators and feature their work. That will encourage that scene (if it's out there) to get more involved with your shop.
Make your website a better place for people to actually buy stuff. Web retail is huge, and it doesn't look like you're taking advantage of your website enough. Is all of your stuff even on there? Get it up there! Get someone to do it for you! I'd do it for you for some comics or something.
I'll post another comment with ideas for if you can extend your available space
Right. If you can get some more space, the potential is endless. I don't know what's behind that mysterious door at the back of the shop, but if you could move the stuff in there maybe you could use it for some of these ideas:
The Magic The Gathering tournaments I already mentioned. People could pay £5 to enter, winner of the tournament gets their £5 back and a booster pack or poster or something.
D&D nights: Get your community together to play Dungeons and Dragons. Invite the curious who haven't played before with introductory sessions! Buy a player's handbook, get free access to one session. If you were going to charge for continuing sessions it'd have to be really cheap (as people with friends can play with them for free in the real world!). You'd need to add an incentive, like pay £5 or £10 a month for every other week D&D, get a free mini every session. Or just rely on the fact that people coming in for that are more likely to come in and buy other stuff.
Classic sci-fi film nights: Set up a small projector, stick Wrath of Kahn on. Encourage people to dress up. £5 for the film (cheaper than the cinema!) or £10 for the film and popcorn or something (although £5 extra for popcorn seems a bit steep).
Signings! This one's obvious. Get the space to stick a table in, get Bryan Talbot or someone in, profit.
Look, maybe the space is impossible. But, I've provided several non-space-needing ideas. Just make up a little card with "How likely are you to come to this/buy this/like this: no chance, maybe, likely?", stick 3 or 4 things underneath, a little 'suggestions' box, and make an incentive of a competition or something. Speaking of which, competitions are always good to get people coming in and need no space. Nerdcore artists might be good for setting up competitions! Maybe have a weekly draw that you can enter via your loyalty scheme I suggested - only need a small prize. Maybe a monthly thing with something larger.
Maybe you could stick something eye catching outside because the shop is very hidden, i always look down the high street and miss it. Or maybe, have you thought of teaming up with the games workshop somehow and do joint events?
ah absolutely I was lucky my misses was the one that came across the store i wouldn't never notice. It needs to be more flashy and make its presence known.
If Time Trek were to get more manga (order online and what not) i would be in there basically every day. Sadly though everytime i am in the manga i am after is "not available"...shame really
hey Guys, I may start supporting the store. I have been there once and was mind blown by how much stuff you have and the staff is amazing.
A good way to have more costumers, in my opinion, is to put yourselves out there and take advantage of new comic book movies coming out and make special deals and publicity. People watch the films and its a good chance because it is so popular. I want to be able to go with my son later on to a great comic book store and it would be awesome if you were to stick around a bit more.
Is there any way those of us who rely on Time Trek can help?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could start hosting Friday night Magic tournaments or something? Space in the shop is the obvious issue there.
OK I had some more ideas. I'm thinking you should think about who your core market is: nerds. Building a community element turns people from casual browsers to loyal regulars. The following would all be possible without changing the space available:
ReplyDeleteSome sort of loyalty scheme. I know at least one guy who gets half his comics from you and half from Forbidden Planet up in London. If you had some sort of loyalty scheme (I don't know what, maybe a free back issue from that new £1 recent imports box for every 5 new comics bought or something) he'd have an incentive to buy them all from you.
Speaking of FP, they sell packs of 4 recent back issues for £1. Maybe financially unfeasible, but something to think about.
Start selling nerdcore CDs. Nerdcore hip hop is rap music with nerd culture lyrical themes (games, comics, computers etc). I suspect you don't make a huge amount from that CD/tape shelf unit you have; replace half of it with nerdcore (which is full of talented but unsigned independent artists) or other nerdy artists and you've widened your audience (as long as you market it so people know it's there). Nerdcore artists are very friendly and it'd probably be quite easy to set up pre-order situations with them too. Maybe T-shirts too! I'd buy them.
Put up a "nerd noticeboard". People could pay a couple of quid for a little notice advertising for people to play D&D with, or sell their old Star Trek VHS collection etc.
Feature local creators. See if there's a local comics creation scene, put a thing up (on your nerd noticeboard!) asking for local artists/creators and feature their work. That will encourage that scene (if it's out there) to get more involved with your shop.
Make your website a better place for people to actually buy stuff. Web retail is huge, and it doesn't look like you're taking advantage of your website enough. Is all of your stuff even on there? Get it up there! Get someone to do it for you! I'd do it for you for some comics or something.
I'll post another comment with ideas for if you can extend your available space
Right. If you can get some more space, the potential is endless. I don't know what's behind that mysterious door at the back of the shop, but if you could move the stuff in there maybe you could use it for some of these ideas:
ReplyDeleteThe Magic The Gathering tournaments I already mentioned. People could pay £5 to enter, winner of the tournament gets their £5 back and a booster pack or poster or something.
D&D nights: Get your community together to play Dungeons and Dragons. Invite the curious who haven't played before with introductory sessions! Buy a player's handbook, get free access to one session. If you were going to charge for continuing sessions it'd have to be really cheap (as people with friends can play with them for free in the real world!). You'd need to add an incentive, like pay £5 or £10 a month for every other week D&D, get a free mini every session. Or just rely on the fact that people coming in for that are more likely to come in and buy other stuff.
Classic sci-fi film nights: Set up a small projector, stick Wrath of Kahn on. Encourage people to dress up. £5 for the film (cheaper than the cinema!) or £10 for the film and popcorn or something (although £5 extra for popcorn seems a bit steep).
Signings! This one's obvious. Get the space to stick a table in, get Bryan Talbot or someone in, profit.
Look, maybe the space is impossible. But, I've provided several non-space-needing ideas. Just make up a little card with "How likely are you to come to this/buy this/like this: no chance, maybe, likely?", stick 3 or 4 things underneath, a little 'suggestions' box, and make an incentive of a competition or something. Speaking of which, competitions are always good to get people coming in and need no space. Nerdcore artists might be good for setting up competitions! Maybe have a weekly draw that you can enter via your loyalty scheme I suggested - only need a small prize. Maybe a monthly thing with something larger.
I just don't want to see Time Trek shut down!
Maybe you could stick something eye catching outside because the shop is very hidden, i always look down the high street and miss it. Or maybe, have you thought of teaming up with the games workshop somehow and do joint events?
ReplyDeleteah absolutely I was lucky my misses was the one that came across the store i wouldn't never notice. It needs to be more flashy and make its presence known.
DeleteIf Time Trek were to get more manga (order online and what not) i would be in there basically every day. Sadly though everytime i am in the manga i am after is "not available"...shame really
ReplyDeleteDo you have marvel original sin in Bromley?
ReplyDeleteGive out leaflets to people
ReplyDeleteTime trek is the only comic book shop i go too
ReplyDeleteI have 53 comic books and 50 of them are from time trek, you guys are awesome 😊
ReplyDeleteI have 53 comic books and 50 of them are from time trek, you guys are awesome 😊
ReplyDeletehey Guys, I may start supporting the store.
ReplyDeleteI have been there once and was mind blown by how much stuff you have and the staff is amazing.
A good way to have more costumers, in my opinion, is to put yourselves out there and take advantage of new comic book movies coming out and make special deals and publicity.
People watch the films and its a good chance because it is so popular. I want to be able to go with my son later on to a great comic book store and it would be awesome if you were to stick around a bit more.
kindest regards