Pittsburgh Toy and Collectibles Show 12/3 - 4

Well, my check is in the mail for the Christmas toy show. Hopefully it will not be too late and I can get a couple tables. The April show was a total bust, but I think that I have a better plan for this one. If you are in the area that weekend, stop by and see me. and say high. I think it is only $5 to get in. I will start working on my logo for a sign.

My Story

I have been actively collecting since the early 80's (Arak, Son of Thunder #1 being my 1st "Collectible" new purchase, now worth a small fortune). I started buying a friend's Miller Daredevils with lunch money my freshman year in High School. Through local conventions, I completed my Daredevil run (with lots of help from Dad who would take my want list with him on business trips) I completed my run with #1 for $50 in April '83. I have been collecting steadily ever since.

My collecting bug waned in college when I had to choose between eating and drinking (and drinking) and comics. I kept my subscription to CBG, so I did not miss out on Dark Knight and Watchmen, though. After graduating from Penn State, I bounced around many jobs, from working on Capitol Hill to selling cars. One day in 1993, my lovely new bride asked why I didn't just open up a comic book store. That got the juices flowing. I was really looking into it and trying to estimate costs and looking into store spaces. I started doing conventions, buying in bulk for back stock and was ready to negotiate a lease with a strip mall when Marvel bought Heroes World Distribtution. I put the brakes on waiting to see how that all played out. I knew that it was not a good thing.

Things seemed to have settled down and I started up buying in bulk again in 1997. We moved to Chicago so my wife could start on her doctorate. I was clerking in a friends law firm and had to then decide between law school and opening a store. Marvel was still on bankruptcy, so I took the LSAT just to see. Well of course I aced it and then went to law school.

We are now back in PA and for 3 years I have worked nights at a title company and watched the kids during the day. While this has been fun and all I have decided that what I really want to do is to open a comic book store. I am 38, and no more screwing around. It is time to do what I want to do. My brother-in-law Dan is interested in joining me, so I really think that this can work. Because we have had 2 kids since my wife started on her doctorate, I have to wait for her to finish before starting. It is mostly a child care issue and I would not want to put them in day care, nor have to have day care expenses come from the store income, especially in the beginning. The only caveat from my wife is that this has to work, because it is getting too late to think about trying something else if it doesn't.

So, I am hoping to be open Fall '06. In the meantime, I am getting my website up (soon) I hope, as well as an eBay store. My check is going out today for tables at the Pittsburgh Toy Show. I am hoping to be able to get some money in the bank in order to open up. Plus, I hope to learn a whole lot about the business in the next year to try to avaiod any surprises.

We'll see.

I would like to thank Jason Richards at Riot Comics and Culture for posting his travails on opening and running his store. It has been interesting to watch it go and it gives me hope. We'll be out to see you soon and talk, Jason.

Well, I officially have a blog.

My reason for setting this up is to chronicle the trial and error of opening a new comic book store. I am hoping to be open sometime between Fall '06 and Spring '07. In the meantime, I will be getting a website up and running as well as an eBay store. I will also be doing the local convention circuit.
I am going into this with my Brother-in-law, Dan, so he will be posting here as well.
I am still working on getting everyting organized, but I hope to post at least weekly.