Press Release
ComiXology is proud to announce their historic Retailer Digital Storefront program, enabling comic shop retailers to prosper from the sale of Digital Comics, is a resounding success.
To thank the over 100 Digital Storefronts that participated in this historic digital/brick & mortar partnership, comiXology, along with their Digital Storefront implementation partner ICv2, has now made two months of Retailer Digital Storefront payments one month earlier and at a dramatically lower threshold than promised.
“The retailers who participated in this program really are the unsung heroes here,” said David Steinberger, cofounder and CEO of comiXology. “Not only did we have a compressed time frame to implement the Retailer Digital Storefront program, but we were not allowed the luxury to beta test in the way we would have liked. But through thick and thin these stores stood by us and we really wanted to go out of our way to thank them for their support. We’re cooking with gas now and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
In direct response to feedback from retailers across the nation, soon comiXology will be rolling out a new Terms of Service (T.O.S.) agreement for the Digital Storefront program with language that is in better alignment with comiXology’s commitment to servicing brick and mortar retailers. ComiXology expects to see an uptick in new Digital Storefronts when the new T.O.S. is released.
In addition, the last several weeks have seen comiXology quietly make a series of improvements to Retailer Digital Storefronts, including:
- Improved retailer branding
- Improved retailer side reporting
- Expanded customer information for retailers
- Streamlined set-up
“This is a great program and getting better all the time,” said John Roberts, co-founder and CTO of comiXology. “We received a ton of harsh criticism out of the gate, but that happens any time people try to make big changes in business. Bridging the digital divide for comic shop retailers has always been at the heart of who comiXology is as a company. People don’t remember that we started the company in 2007 offering our ‘Pull List’ service for retailers. Comic shops are a hugely important part of our business and will continue to be a huge part of comiXology in the future.”
“ComiXology was the only company that could roll out a program for comic retailers to earn money from digital sales during this huge surge of new interest in comics,” said Milton Griepp, CEO of ICv2, which is assisting comiXology with its retailer programs. “Although the fast launch wasn’t easy, it was great to be part of something that can revolutionize the way comic stores serve their customers. This program is in its infancy and there are huge opportunities for everyone as it grows.”
Announced in January and implemented in advance of the launch of DC’s The New 52 this past August, the Digital Storefront program enables retailers to sell digital comics with a simple integration into their existing site while tapping into comiXology’s vibrant digital marketplace. Comic book fans are now able to purchase digital comics online from their local comic store’s digital storefront with a portion of each purchase going directly to the retailer.
ComiXology heard many success stories and positive comments from participating retailers across the nation:
“The Retailer Digital Storefront has performed beyond my wildest expectations! We here at Comics Conspiracy went out of our way to really promote the digital storefront outside our regular customer base and it paid off tremendously. I can see this becoming a steady part of my revenue stream in the future.” – Ryan Higgins, Comic Conspiracy in Sunnyvale, CA.
“We’ve spent more than 30 years showing our in-store and mail order customers that we’re their best source for comics of all ages and types. With that in mind, it only made sense for us to partner with comiXology, offering our customers access to digital comics via our online storefronts at both our MyComicShop Website, our Web store, and on the Website for Lone Star Comics, our brick and mortar stores in Texas.” – Chris Powell, Lone Star Comics and MyComicShop.com in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
“My customers and I are loving the new comiXology Digital Storefronts — what a great team-up! It’s pretty much effortless to set up, runs like a charm, and gives us analog retailers the power to provide our customers with all the preferred funnybook formats of their choosing. That is a beautiful thing. And hey… don’t feel guilty about loving comics on your iPad. Feel great you can shop for those comics at a place like the Isotope!” – James Sime, Isotope in San Francisco, CA.
“Several of our older and long time customers had decided that digital comics were for them. Some had space issues but still wanted to follow their favorite characters. With Digital Storefront I was able to keep long-time customers and help solve their storage issue. I’m surprised at the number of customers local and far flung that like buying digital while supporting their favorite local comic shop.” – Keith Colvin, Keith’s Comics in Dallas, TX.
“At Challengers, we’re in the business of selling comics. ComiXology helps us do just that. Our comiXology customers use it to supplement their established comic-buying habits, meaning they buy digital comics in addition to print comics, not in place of. We don’t understand the retailers who are ‘afraid’ of digital sales. Who’s afraid of making more money?” – Patrick Brower, Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago, IL.
“Samurai Comics was very excited to be among the first stores to go live with the comiXology Digital Storefront. The Digital Storefront has been a great added value for our customers. We viewed having another revenue stream of comic books sales that we have no money locked up in inventory costs as a tremendous opportunity. Rather than have our customer go elsewhere if they want to purchase a digital version of a comic, we would rather have them purchase a copy through us where we get a percentage of the sale. This also enables us to reach out to these customers to offer them incentives to visit one of our stores.” – Michael Banks, Samurai Comics in Phoenix, AZ.
All digital purchases are compatible with the Comics by comiXology platform, providing fans the ability to enjoy their comics on their mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire) and on the Web at their retailer’s websites by way of cross-platform synchronization.
ComiXology’s Retailer Digital Storefronts have brought together participating publishers DC Comics, Image, Dynamite, BOOM! Studios, and many others, along with retailers that sell their comics in print, and their fans in the digital space — strengthening the relationships that have so successfully made comics a major force in world culture.
To request more information about the Digital Storefront program, retailers can e-mail retailers@comixology.com
Participating Stores:
4 Color Fantasies
A Comic Shop
Action Games & Comics
AJ’s Comics
Alter Ego Comics & Books
Alternate Worlds
Anime 101
Atlantis Games & Comics
B & M Amusement
B&D Comic Shop
BaT Comics & Games
Beyond Comics
Big Bang Toys-Comics-Games
Black Cat Comics
Blue Cape Comics
Blue Moon Comics
BlueMoon Comics
Books Comics & Things
Brave New World
Bulletproof Comics
Challengers Comics + Conversation
Charlie’s Comic Books
Chautauqua Comics
Chicago Comics
Chimera’s Comics
Coast City Comics
Collector’s Pair of Dice
Comic Book Jones
Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery
Comic Book College
Comic Book Ink
Comic Book University
Comic Break
Comic Cellar Cards, Comics & Games
Comic Crusaders
Comic Evolution
Comic Heaven
Comic Kings
Comic Quest
Comic Relief
Comic Store West
Comic Toast
Comicopolis
Comics America
Comics Conspiracy
Comics Dungeon
Comix Connection York
Cosmic Cat
Cyborg One
Discount Comic Book Service
DNA Comics
Docking Bay 94 Comics and Games
Dreamland Comics
Enchanted Grounds
Escape Velocity
Estrella Mountain Comics
Evil Squirrel Comics
Excalibur Comics, Cards & Games
Fanfare
Fantasium Comics & Games
Fantom Comics
First Aid Comics
Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet NYC
Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming
Funnybooks Comics & Stuff
Galactic Comics & Games
Galaxy Comics
Golden Apple Comics
Good Guy Comics
Gotham Comixs
Grasshoppers Comics
Ground Zero Comics
Gryphon Games and Comics
Heroes Landing
Heroes Your Mom Threw Out Comic Shop
House of Secrets
I Want More Comics
Impulse Creations
Isotope
Jester’s Playhouse
Jim Hanley’s Universe
Joe’s Comics and Video Games
Just Another Comics & Kollectibles Store
Kaboom
Keith’s Comics
Kessler Komics
Kool Comics
Legacy Comics
Lightspeed Hobbies
Lone Star Comics
Mac’s Comics & Collectibles
Manhattan Comics and More
Mavericks Cards & Comics
Mayhem Collectibles
Media Underground Comics
Meltdown
Metro City Comics
Metropolis Comics
Mission: Comics & Art
New World Manga Comics Cards & Games
NewCastle Comics & Games
One Stop Comics
Paradox Comics-N-Cards
Paragon Comics
Phantom of the Attic
Pittsburgh Comics
Planet Chaos
Poe Poz
Pop Culture Comix
Pop Culture Paradise
Pyramid Comics and Cards
Quest Comic Shop
Forbidden Planet International
Richie’s Comic Cabana
Richmond Comix
Rogue Comics
Rooks Comics and Games
Russo’s Books
Samurai Comics
Saturday Morning Comics!
SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery
Speeding Bullet Comics
Star Comics
Teahouse Comics
The Comic Book Shop
The Comic Book Store
The Comic Emporium
The Comic Vault
The Dark Side
The Geekery
The Hobby Shop
The Pop Culture Company
The Realm Games & Comics
The Vault Comics and Games
Third Coast Comics
Traders of Babylon
Treasure Island Comics
Vault of Midnight
Wayne’s Cards & Comics
Westfield Comics
Yottaquest
Zaldiva Comics
Zanadu Comics
About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics and Marvel Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which host over 16,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.
