Lee Hester of Lee's Comics in Mountain View and San Mateo, California sends in our first Free Comic Book Day Report of 2006, and sounds like it went great!
I was a little worried going in to Free Comic Book day this year. I didn't get the media coverage I was hoping, and I just didn't feel that I had generated the buzz I was hoping for. I thought we were going to have just a so-so event this year. Boy was I wrong! The people came in waves all day. They filled the store and crowded around the outdoor free comics.
I set the free comic books outside on a rolling counter like I always do. I like to set up outside so I can greet the passersby and show them the free comics. I like to talk to the fine folks. Many of them have really interesting things to say once you get them talking. Often they have questions about the store, which I am, of course, delighted to answer. Setting up outside also really drives home the point that those comics are truly free, with no strings attached. You don't have to buy anything. You don't even have to go into the store if you don't want to.
The usual method in business seems to be to offer 'free' things only with strings attached, and I think that the public is getting sick of it: 'You can get this candy bar for free but you need to sign up for our store credit card. You can stay at our hotel for free, but you have to attend a 2 hour time share presentation.' Despite not forcing people to come in and shop, or I like to think because of it, everybody came in anyway and spent freely. We had one of our best days ever, ringing up nearly 500 sales between the 2 stores.
Ted Naifeh came by at 12:00 for his signing. He is an amazingly talented and productive guy who is the creator of Courtney Crumrin, Death Jr., and Polly and the Pirates. Ted was very generous with his time and talents, and delighted a steady stream of people. I predict that Ted is on his way to great fame and fortune. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Ted a little better. He's really a great guy. Hopefully he will grace us with a return visit from time to time.
It was exhausting, but I had a great time. I think our store made many new friends and customers that we will see in the future. Free Comic Book Day is a boon to the comics industry. It's a great annual tradition. I look forward to next year!
