Mike Pascuzzi, VP of Sales and Marketing at Media Blasters, New York, saw Ed Sherman's Talk Back comment on competing with chain outlets on anime (see 'Ed Sherman of Rising Sun on Anime at Best Buy'), and offers this response:

Ed Sherman makes some good points, but we all need to realize a few things.  We (anime companies) are in business to make money.  If we had to rely on the specialty retailers we would all be out of business.  They simply do not do enough volume to sustain us.  Costs have skyrocketed since I have been in anime (13 years now), and we need to be able to sell enough units to cover costs and hopefully make some profit.  As the audience has grown, retailers like Best Buy have taken notice and entered the fray.  There is no law against it.  There is no agreement that we must sell to only the specialty retailers, or any other segment of the marketplace.

Sharp specialty retailers will realize that they can compete against the big boys by being creative.  Look at how many independent stores still exist in other industries that face stiff competition from larger, better-capitalized operations.  The independent can offer something that a consumer cannot get at the larger retailers - service.  Try to find a clerk at a large store.  If you do find one the odds are that they really do not know much, if anything about anime, or anything else.  You can also compete by carrying product or titles not offered at the larger retailers.  In most cases the selection is pretty poor at the larger retailers.  Be creative, knowledgeable and offer-personalized service and you can compete and thrive.

The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.