Comments on: Free TwoMorrows Magazine for FCBD http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/ Independent Opinions on Comics of All Kinds Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:32:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: bismark kwesi http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-71742 bismark kwesi Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:39:27 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-71742 i will be interested in reading your books i will be interested in reading your books

]]> By: John Morrow http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-3795 John Morrow Sat, 06 May 2006 15:51:53 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-3795 It's the big day (May 6), and our server has been overwhelmed by the tremendous response to Free Magazine Day! We've already received several hundred orders in just the first couple of hours. We're working to address the situation, and will be extending the offer through Sunday, so if you've been unable to get through, please try back again during non-peak hours (after 5pm, for instance), or on Sunday once things have died down a little. Thanks to eveyone for their patience and support! Best regards, John Morrow TwoMorrows Publishing It’s the big day (May 6), and our server has been overwhelmed by the tremendous response to Free Magazine Day! We’ve already received several hundred orders in just the first couple of hours. We’re working to address the situation, and will be extending the offer through Sunday, so if you’ve been unable to get through, please try back again during non-peak hours (after 5pm, for instance), or on Sunday once things have died down a little. Thanks to eveyone for their patience and support!

Best regards,
John Morrow
TwoMorrows Publishing

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2267 Johanna Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:46:41 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2267 John, yes, publishers are expected to bear some of the marketing costs, selling their books at 10-30 cents a copy. Everyone involved -- publishers, distributor, and retailers -- chips in to promote the comic industry. If publishers have some left over beyond orders, they use them as convention giveaways or in other marketing efforts. And you'd be surprised, I think, at how many participating retailers order some of every book offered. There are also publishers who distribute back stock, as you're planning to, through stores as part of the day, although their contributions aren't as valued as those who create something new aimed at new customers. It just seems to me that if many other smaller publishers can play by the rules of the day, you could, too. I'm sure they share some of your concerns about cost and coverage, but since some of them participate year after year, obviously, they've found it worthwhile. John, yes, publishers are expected to bear some of the marketing costs, selling their books at 10-30 cents a copy. Everyone involved — publishers, distributor, and retailers — chips in to promote the comic industry. If publishers have some left over beyond orders, they use them as convention giveaways or in other marketing efforts.

And you’d be surprised, I think, at how many participating retailers order some of every book offered.

There are also publishers who distribute back stock, as you’re planning to, through stores as part of the day, although their contributions aren’t as valued as those who create something new aimed at new customers.

It just seems to me that if many other smaller publishers can play by the rules of the day, you could, too. I’m sure they share some of your concerns about cost and coverage, but since some of them participate year after year, obviously, they’ve found it worthwhile.

]]> By: John Morrow http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2261 John Morrow Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:09:48 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2261 Everyone, thanks for your comments on our Free Magazine Day offer. Our main problem with doing a "sampler" (which I seriously considered first) is that, by my understanding, to offer such an item, we have to either give them away (ie. pay for all the printing out of our own pocket), or offer them at a ridiculously low price (say, 10 cents each, to slightly offset some of the printing/shipping costs) so retailers can order them at a cheap enough price to warrant giving them out. Based on the relatively small number of retailers who actually stock our mags (as opposed to just order enough to fill their pull lists), I don't think too many retailers would spend the 10 cents per copy to order a TwoMorrows Sampler to give away, when they can instead order something DC or Marvel is selling for a dime. I suspect they feel that, if they get a repeat customer, they'd rather see a DC or Marvel customer, who'll net them more in the long run than a TwoMorrows customer. And that's certainly understandable from a business viewpoint. But if only a few retailers order our Sampler, the print run would be extremely low, with each "free" copy costing us possibly more than the cover price of one of our new mags. It just doesn't make financial sense at this point for us. Don't forget, we're publishing MAGAZINES, not COMICS. So I felt giving away back issues of our mags would allow us to introduce new readers to them more effectively, and at less cost. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe we'll try the sampler route next year, but initial response has been great, so I'm expecting it to do really well (and end up costing us a LOT in postage!). As for the name? Well, we're saying Free MAGAZINE Day, which doesn't exactly infringe. Diamond doesn't seem to mind, and has been really supportive; they ran a big feature on it in their SCOOP Newsletter, and even listed our web address and a link in the feature (something they normally don't allow us to do in our Previews ads). So I suspect they see the value of it; if new people discover our mags, they're more likely to order from their local comics shop than directly from us, and everyone wins. To my mind, this could get more people into shops, or at least more sales for retailers, and that's the goal. Everyone, thanks for your comments on our Free Magazine Day offer. Our main problem with doing a “sampler” (which I seriously considered first) is that, by my understanding, to offer such an item, we have to either give them away (ie. pay for all the printing out of our own pocket), or offer them at a ridiculously low price (say, 10 cents each, to slightly offset some of the printing/shipping costs) so retailers can order them at a cheap enough price to warrant giving them out. Based on the relatively small number of retailers who actually stock our mags (as opposed to just order enough to fill their pull lists), I don’t think too many retailers would spend the 10 cents per copy to order a TwoMorrows Sampler to give away, when they can instead order something DC or Marvel is selling for a dime. I suspect they feel that, if they get a repeat customer, they’d rather see a DC or Marvel customer, who’ll net them more in the long run than a TwoMorrows customer. And that’s certainly understandable from a business viewpoint.

But if only a few retailers order our Sampler, the print run would be extremely low, with each “free” copy costing us possibly more than the cover price of one of our new mags. It just doesn’t make financial sense at this point for us. Don’t forget, we’re publishing MAGAZINES, not COMICS.

So I felt giving away back issues of our mags would allow us to introduce new readers to them more effectively, and at less cost. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe we’ll try the sampler route next year, but initial response has been great, so I’m expecting it to do really well (and end up costing us a LOT in postage!).

As for the name? Well, we’re saying Free MAGAZINE Day, which doesn’t exactly infringe. Diamond doesn’t seem to mind, and has been really supportive; they ran a big feature on it in their SCOOP Newsletter, and even listed our web address and a link in the feature (something they normally don’t allow us to do in our Previews ads). So I suspect they see the value of it; if new people discover our mags, they’re more likely to order from their local comics shop than directly from us, and everyone wins. To my mind, this could get more people into shops, or at least more sales for retailers, and that’s the goal.

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Johanna Sat, 22 Apr 2006 13:58:13 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2142 Ray, I think it's a great idea for them -- it's just not in keeping with what Free Comic Book Day is supposed to be. Play by the rules or don't use the name, is my take. And Wizard's done a giveaway before featuring articles aimed at readers new to comics -- it doesn't have to be comics to be interesting, part of the program, and suitable to new readers. Eddie, I agree, a sampler could be a great tool for them. James, out of the ones they're giving away, I like <strong>Back Issue</strong> best. <strong>Alter Ego</strong> skews too old and self-indulgent for me, and I'm not interested in writing or drawing comics. Ray, I think it’s a great idea for them — it’s just not in keeping with what Free Comic Book Day is supposed to be. Play by the rules or don’t use the name, is my take.

And Wizard’s done a giveaway before featuring articles aimed at readers new to comics — it doesn’t have to be comics to be interesting, part of the program, and suitable to new readers.

Eddie, I agree, a sampler could be a great tool for them.

James, out of the ones they’re giving away, I like Back Issue best. Alter Ego skews too old and self-indulgent for me, and I’m not interested in writing or drawing comics.

]]> By: James Schee http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2134 James Schee Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:09:32 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2134 I'm not sure what, if any of these to try. When I've tried similar books like this before they seem more about the who behind the stories rather than the stories and time period. Which can be interesting in some respects, but dull in others. I’m not sure what, if any of these to try. When I’ve tried similar books like this before they seem more about the who behind the stories rather than the stories and time period.

Which can be interesting in some respects, but dull in others.

]]> By: Eddie Mitchell http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2123 Eddie Mitchell Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:03:38 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2123 Since their stuff is targetted to folks who are already into comics and FBCD is supposed to be a way to draw non-comics folks into shops to check them out, they may be thinking that the intended FBCD audience would not be interested in their output. Still, since a lot of regular customers use FBCD as a way to check out new stuff at no cost, they're missing an opportunity. I wouldn't think it would cost that much to put together a sampler of some of the best articles from recent issues of several of their titles. Since their stuff is targetted to folks who are already into comics and FBCD is supposed to be a way to draw non-comics folks into shops to check them out, they may be thinking that the intended FBCD audience would not be interested in their output.

Still, since a lot of regular customers use FBCD as a way to check out new stuff at no cost, they’re missing an opportunity. I wouldn’t think it would cost that much to put together a sampler of some of the best articles from recent issues of several of their titles.

]]> By: Ray Cornwall http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/comment-page-1/#comment-2112 Ray Cornwall Fri, 21 Apr 2006 01:05:58 +0000 http://www.comicsworthreading.com/2006/04/20/free-twomorrows-magazine-for-fcbd/#comment-2112 While I agree with your objections, I can't fault them for clearing backstock by giving it away. And even if they did create a special program for FCBD and publish it the way everyone else does, I'm not sure anyone would want a free comic book that doesn't have any, y'know, comics in it. While the trademark issue may be serious, I don't think they're hurting the FCBD movement. I doubt anyone who wants a free comic will stay home just because they got a free TwoMorrows mag (even if those mags are quite awesome). While I agree with your objections, I can’t fault them for clearing backstock by giving it away. And even if they did create a special program for FCBD and publish it the way everyone else does, I’m not sure anyone would want a free comic book that doesn’t have any, y’know, comics in it.

While the trademark issue may be serious, I don’t think they’re hurting the FCBD movement. I doubt anyone who wants a free comic will stay home just because they got a free TwoMorrows mag (even if those mags are quite awesome).

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