Mike Savage of ReadMore Comics in Tampa, Florida, feels that retailers should pay more attention to the Marvel VIP Retailer Program:

Since it's the beginning of the week and we are starting fresh, I wanted to take a moment and get a few responses on the Marvel Retailer VIP program.  Our store has been keeping a close eye on this since its inception, and we have been very pleased so far with what Marvel has to offer.  In many ways, the incentives are much better than any amount of co-op advertising from other publishers.

For instance... A few months back, by simply setting up a Marvel Age display in your store and sending a photo to Marvel, you were entered as a VIP retailer. In one month, by meeting certain order requirements, you had the chance at an ad in an actual Marvel Comic Book.  The cost of the books was far less than an ad, especially since it is in one of their top selling titles!  What made this particular incentive great was that a small shop wasn't competing against giants like Mile High or Atomic.  Each discount bracket was given their own tier to compete in.

Retailers should take a look in the back of their Marvel Previews order form and see what deals Marvel is cooking.  With millions of unique hits to their site every month, who wouldn't want a banner ad on Marvel.com?  All of us retailers have that opportunity with our October orders, and the ad will be up just in time for the holiday season in November!