Comments on: Girls Like to Shop … Maybe You Could Sell to Them?

By: Comic Book Candy

Comic Book Candy — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:33:23 +0000

I have been in some dank dens in my time, and plenty of well lit stores, too. At the end of the day whether you’re a man, woman, or have specific decor preferences, you go to a store for the people. If someone makes you feel welcome, you’ll come back, even if the store has cramped quarters. And likewise, you’ll avoid a store with the most fantastic merchandise if the people running it don’t treat you well.

I will say, one of the most female-friendly stores, in staff and ambiance alike, is Challengers Comics in Chicago.

http://challengerscomics.com/index.php

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:18:52 +0000

It’s descriptions like that that make me wish I drank coffee! It’s not the female fans that have to support the idea, but a few crotchety sole proprietors, I think.

By: El Santo

El Santo — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:11:25 +0000

Not a bad idea. Back when I was in business school, we did some research where we discovered that men tended to shop at Home Depot while women tended to shop at Lowe’s. (I’m a guy, and I prefer the latter when I’m not at Ace, but whatever.) Part of that was because Lowe’s was more spacious, better lighted, and had less of that overtly “manly feel.”

I’d like to think that a female-oriented shop could succeed, but you’ve nailed the culture being a clubby boy’s only club, and I don’t know if they’d necessarily feel like migrating toward something different. Hopefully, there would be enough female fans to support it. (I’m thinking the pre-teen/teenage crowd that frequents the manga section at Borders would at least appreciate a similarly friendly atmosphere, by the way.)

Incidentally, the comic shops near me have been very clean and very accessible. One concept that I think would really work with your concept, Johanna, is this one small comic store near the University of Washington that is also a coffee shop. Basically, you can pick up a book and read while enjoying a nice latte. A comic store for the more sophisticated patron!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:14:34 +0000

Exactly! If I can’t bend down or reach up to read titles without hitting others, I won’t be looking at those books.

By: Melinda Beasi

Melinda Beasi — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:10:44 +0000

I’d add to her suggestions that a store should have enough room for customers to move around and browse without having to touch or brush by other patrons.

I second this wholeheartedly! I’m a slow and careful browser–I ponder a shelf slowly enough so that I can read the name of every single title as I go, and I’ll probably repeat this process at least a couple times over and then stand there for another half hour, mulling over my choices before I make my selections. But in a crowded aisle, where others are constantly forced to squeeze by me as I browse will make me feel like I’m just in the way, and in the end, I’ll often just give up without buying anything at all.