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Shop News: OK Comics Vs The World

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  1.  
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      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2010
     
    People who have visited OK Comics over the last couple of weeks will have noticed scaffolding outside our shop. Thornton's Arcade is being renovated.
    The work was due to start in February when it would have least effect on trade, and last for six weeks in total. The work was to be carried out in three stages, two weeks per stage... this hasn't happened.
    The first stage of the work started in June and is now moving into it's fifth week. It's not known how long it will last.

    The ongoing work, the presence of scaffolding, workmen, dust and noise has had a massive negative effect on the amount of people visiting our shop.

    OK Comics has never been about making money. It's important that the bills get paid, staff get wages, and that stock is paid for. But it's not a high profit venture. It's about comics, and the people who read them.

    There is a bare minimum the shop needs to take to continue trading.
    The reduction of income because of the renovation work has, in one month, damaged OK Comics very badly, and threatened our ongoing existence.

    Our regular customers have been great. Enduring the restricted conditions to continue buying comics and graphic novels from us. But we've lost pretty much all our passing trade and all our casual browsing customers. New customers have dried up almost completely.

    Please help.
    If there is a book or comic you were thinking of trying, do OK Comics a favour and try it now.
    If you've ordered something and have yet to pick it up, do it today.
    Recommend OK Comics to your friends.
    If it's been a while since you collected your standing order, do it very soon.
    If you've got a friend who's got a birthday coming up, buy their present from OK Comics now.

    We'll continue to sell back issues for 50p (we recently acquired two great new collections), and we'll be running sales and special offers daily over the next few weeks (details of which will be posted here, on twitter and facebook).
    We'll continue to receive new comics and graphic novels regularly every week.

    Please help OK Comics through this, hopefully temporary, difficult time and we can continue to provide comics and books for years to come.

    Cheers, Jared
    OK
    • CommentAuthorLee
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2010
     
    This is bad.

    Can't you get some sort of discount on your rent? You pay for the location, so if the location is temporarily doomed, you should get a temporary discount. Do you have those sandwich boards saying you're open at the top and bottom of the arcade too?

    I sent a mate in the other day and he bought stuff - I'll encourage a return. Hel is almost persuaded to buy some of the Sandman books she doesn't have, and in the unlikely event that there are any comics about bellydancing, she'll have those too. I'm not sure I can manage to buy any extras myself, but I solemnly pledge to keep buying the World War Hulk tie-ins despite the fact that they are obviously awful.
    • CommentAuthorMidnighter
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2010
     
    I've always assumed that businesses get compensation for when work takes place that can take away business, I'm guessing thats not the case.
    • CommentAuthorsam
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2010
     
    ive got a friend who goes to forbidden planet ill tell him to go to ok
    • CommentAuthorCaptain Si
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2010
     
    Silly contractors. They could at least do this work after business hours. That would be sensible. or am i naieve? I know there's rules about sandwich boards these days (true! you can't have them in areas of high footfall in case someone falls over it!), and if every business in Thornton's Arcade did that, it'd be a problem. Hey! Perhaps you could send OK Oliver out with a board strapped to his back - like those 10 minute photo developing places used to! It would no dobut help if there were some form of signage at both ends of the Thornton's Arcade saying it was still open. I don't think I've seen any. And Midnighter, you are quite right. I am sure that businesses are normally compensated in some form or other when there are works taking place that are seriously affecting trade.
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2010
     
    No. No discount rent, no reduced service charge, no reduction in rates. Just reduced access, reduced customers and reduced income...
    I was notified in writing that the renovation work was going to begin... after it had started!


    Deals we've got on this weekend include...

    Twilight Graphic Novel £5.00
    Roy of the Rovers books £10.00
    All Vertigo Mystery Graphic Novels £10.00
    Johnny Cash Graphic Novel £10.00
    Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks Graphic Novel £5.00
    All Yu Gi Oh and Megaman Graphic Novels £2.00
    All Charley's War Hardbacks £10.00

    Brand New...
    Siege Hardcover £15.00
    Blackest Night Hardcover £20.00

    Scott Pilgrim Deal!
    Buy the first four Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novels and get the Fifth book FREE!!!!

    We've just added thousands of genuinely awesome 90's Marvel/DC/Image/Dark Horse back issues to our 50p range!
    We've got hundreds of Marvel and DC Graphic Novels for £5.00 each, or five for £20.00.

    I'm also up for doing any special one off deals, but I wont be reserving any sale items! Get them now, or don't.

    Thanks.
    • CommentAuthorPauls
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2010
     
    This is bad stuff! Why oh why are they making it so crap for the independent shops to make a living??? You are the place I get my comic fix!!! Keep positive and I will certainly be recommending OK to all......
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2010
     
    Thanks dude.
    • CommentAuthorCaptain Si
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2010
     
    Question: Are all the traders in Thornton's experiencing similar problems? (I'm betting the answer is 'yes') and have you, as a group of retailers, tackled whomever owns/ maintains Thorntonsabout this? i would expect them to do something to help you all out whilst this (necessary?) work is undertaken. Having retailers go under wont be good for them in the long run - particularly during a period of economic downturn, and may (and i stress may) lead to another ghostly uninhabited arcade in Leeds, which surely isn't the point.
    • CommentAuthorrah
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2010
     
    Get someone dressed as a gorilla at each end of the arcade directing people in.
    • CommentAuthorCaptain Si
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2010
     
    or get a really big net and drag them in...
    • CommentAuthorrah
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2010
     
    That's it! Hire a DeLorean!
  13.  
    I want to help!

    I have emailed you, about how I can help make people aware of the issues you are facing.

    We really need to help independent traders like yourself.

    Everyone, well I was, brought up on comics, and we have so few comic shops in Leeds!!!!!

    If you haven't received my email contact me darren [at] mylifeinleeds.co.uk and I will help all I can

    Darren
    • CommentAuthorToddish
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2010
     
    I've been skint recently, but next pay day I'll be coming in and buying a few more issues. I'll pass the message on to my friends and see if I can't get them to go in and get some stuff.
  15.  
    Harsh times for everyone in business at the moment but the renovation/maintenance issues seem inconsiderate given the state of the current financial climate. I will advise all of my friends to get in ASAP & I will send my wife or my Mum as usual cos I'm a lazy shit!

    Seriously and I am being deadly serious, I refuse to go back to Forbidden Planet with those arrogant, obnoxious bastards that they call staff. eg: Can you use the other till? No, can you lick my balls instead of just standing there like an emo dipshit who can't goddamn read anyway. Why is that bloody till there if I cant even use it? Why is someone stood at the in-active till , tempting me to approach it? I haven't been in FP since OK opened & never want to return, I'd rather be shot in the chest with projectile diarrhea than do so.

    I will email my friends right now & I'm sure everyone here will do the same.
    • CommentAuthorMidnighter
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2010
     
    Nice to see the article up on bleedingcool.com !
  17.  
    Is there any way that we, as members of the public, can make our feelings about this known to the management of the Arcade?

    And I am in full agreement with the post above. Forbidden Planet is a hideous shop staffed by dead-eyed fools. And Travelling Man isn't that much better. Please don't go OK Comics, you're our only hope!
  18.  
    Some thoughts based on my own experience in retail marketing (including a store which had a general problem with foot traffic):

    1. Make sure the path inside is very clear. Which usually means asking someone randomly on the street who's never been to your store and isn't super familiar with the area. Sometimes, if you see it every day, you develop too much familiarity.

    2. Similarly, make sure your open status is really apparent.

    3. If it's a hot day, offer free water. If it's a cold day, offer free tea, hot coca, or coffee. It's surprising how many people will come inside for it.

    4. I know you guys use Twitter, but have you looked into Foursquare as more social media free marketing. I know some brands have had great luck doing Swarm Parties at their retail locations. (A swarm on Foursquare is where 50+ people have checked-in at once local.) You give a narrow time frame (30 minutes or so) and let everyone know when it will happen a week or so in advance.

    5. Last week, I went to a really successful comic book swap party. It wasn't at a store (at a bar instead), but I imagine that the same swap format could happen in a store. It included comic book trivia, a drawing contest, and a skit.

    Best of luck!
    •  
      CommentAuthorShaunw1973
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
     
    I'll pop over from Sheffield at the weekend. Sure I can fork out a few quid :-)

    good luck!
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
     
    • CommentAuthorMidnighter
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
     
    Wow, awesome write up!
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
     
    Yeah, this whole thing seems to have really struck a nerve. Whether its' in support of the shop, or anger at landlords/management/councils, it's got a lot of people's attention.
    • CommentAuthorPauls
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
     
    And rightly so- I think folk are genuinely pissed off with the independent shops and business having to walk through hot coals just to make a living. This needs as much publicity as possible. Losing shops like OK is not an option - how the bloody 'ell would we have even known some of these comics even existed if it wasn't for a peruse in the shop, a quick chat or the invaluable email each week! The Internet can only give a certain amount of guidance...... I truly hope that the coverage continues on this. In the meantime my OK bag for life is off shopping with me in support!! How about some Save our OK t-shirts!!! Plus I'm nearly 40, how about doing some OK tokens??? I have already dropped a sneaky hint at work that should there be a collection I know where I want to spend it- on another tact all us OK fans could by tokens for others! Might introduce others into the wonderful world of comics!

    Viva la revolution!!
    • CommentAuthorCaptain Si
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2010 edited
     
    I have added my comments to the grauniad's website (i is skyquake87). I am especially not in the mood for this silliness because I have just been put under notice of redundancy in an equally wishy-washy fashion.
    •  
      CommentAuthorShaunw1973
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2010
     
    So I contacted the gorgeous Babs on comicvine.com and expalined the situation and asked if she could run something on their website. She's replied and she's happy to help. She wants to ask me some questions (as a customer I guess), but I suggested she cc you guys at OK in on the email too.

    Hope that's ok. I figure the more publicity you get the better.

    Shaun
    • CommentAuthorjustneil
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2010
     
    doin a bit a spamming on facebook etc.....don't want to go to a chain store for my comics :(
    • CommentAuthorAHZ
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2010
     
    The whole thing just seems to representative of the inherently shoddy way things are done by landlords/council etc. When I was there today I had to sidestep two guys with a ten foot ladder on my way up to the shop, how can they expect walk through trade to carry on regardless? . OK Comics is by far the best comics shop I've been in, I had a few friends up from London the other week and they were saying how they really liked the place especially the sofa since one of them isn't really into comics but had somewhere to sit whilst the others were having nerdgasms and considering they usually have to resort to Forbidden Planet they were quite surprised at the absence of the "don't touch the precious things of the shop" vibe they're used to dealing with add that to the shock of having friendly and knowledgeable staff.
  28.  
    I've been trying to rack my brains of some way to raise funds, there must be some kind of way to set up a website (or even a section on your main site?) where people could donate money through paypal or similar, even if people could just give a pound it would be something, I'm sure you have enough customers who could spread the word. Or what about hosting some kind of fundraising event, get some comic fan celebrities involved, maybe charge entry and people can have a bring and buy comic swap type of thing? At the very least get a petition going to the manager/whoever's in charge of the arcade and those of you who live in Leeds what about writing to the local MP? It's all very well doing up the arcade but it will all be for nothing if half the businesses inside it can't survive. Good luck guys, we're all with you, I'm off to spread the word.
  29.  
    Me again, just thought, you should get a Paypal donation button added to your facebook too...
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2010
     
    We've got a couple of plans for events in the works over the next month... more on that as details are confirmed.
    Thanks to everybody for the wishes of well, advice and continued support.
    I feel a bit odd taking donations, but if people are stuck for something to buy you can always email me at
    shop@okcomics.co.uk and buy a badge, or one of our bags...
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leeds-United-Kingdom/OK-Comics/88486657488?ref=mf#!/album.php?aid=208355&id=88486657488
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2010
     
    School Holidays started today. Usually our busiest time. The time we pick up most new customers. Today was too quiet in Thornton's Tunnel.
    We've been told that the renovation work will be finished on Sunday 15th August. So, only three weeks to go, if that's to be believed. I was told on Thursday that the scaffolding at the ends of the Arcade would be removed by now, but it's still there...
    • CommentAuthorLee
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2010
     
    School holidays are my least favourite times of the year. However, in good news, I thoroughly enjoyed the first Scott Pilgrim book I bought from OK and will be buying the rest! Take that, scaffolding!
  33.  
    Has it been mentioned that Jonathan Ross has got behind the OK cause? I'm a few days behind here! He tweeted:

    If you like comics and like helping people -help stop a comic shop from going under! OK Comics!: http://wp.me/pikV4-3zE

    Yay for Wossy. And buy his comic Turf 'cos it's pretty good.
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeJul 27th 2010
     
    This whole OK Comics vs Scaffolding thing has generated a bit of attention...
    Not only have hundreds, maybe thousands, of people been made aware of it through twitter, but there have also been a few news articles, print and online, about it.
    Here's a bit of a round up of coverage. Let me know if I've missed anything...

    Guardian
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/19/traders-anger-at-leeds-shopping-arcade-work

    Leeds Guide
    http://www.leedsguide.co.uk/review/news/why-leeds-shop-ok-comics-needs-your-help/16167

    Bleeding Cool
    http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/07/18/can-you-help-save-ok-comics/

    Geek Syndicate
    http://geeksyndicate.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/please-help-ok-comics/

    Down the Tubes
    http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.com/2010/07/comic-fans-rally-to-help-leeds-based-ok.html
    • CommentAuthorMidnighter
    • CommentTimeJul 27th 2010
     
    CBR linked to the Guardian article:

    http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/07/comics-a-m-the-comics-internet-in-two-minutes-168

    Yesterday was the first time I'd been into OK (and Leeds proper) for about a year and I couldn't believe how quite the arcade was. Even on weekdays there was always people scurrying around. Starbucks at the bottom looked like it was in complete darkness, could hardly tell that it was open.

    I hope this whole mess is over with quick for the sake of all the shops in there. It's tough times for everyone, no one needs anything making it tougher.
    • CommentAuthorsmiggy3000
    • CommentTimeJul 27th 2010
     
    I can't beleive its got as far as CBR, but don't like the use of the word 'claimed' in the headline...
    • CommentAuthorMidnighter
    • CommentTimeJul 27th 2010 edited
     
    Using the words "claims" or "claimed" is just standard journalism talk when it comes to stories where no hard evidence is involved. I don't think they were implying anyone was lying.
    • CommentAuthorCaptain Si
    • CommentTimeJul 28th 2010
     
    i notice they've removed the scaffholding from one end...to reveal that they've painted the brick work! Amazing. Hardly the restoration of a listed structure i was expecting. just the cack-handed touch up of some crumbling brick work. well done.
    • CommentAuthorAHZ
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd 2010
     
    I shall be heading down Saturday to pick up my gear and will see what progress has been made on the now infamous "renervation work".
  40.  
    oliver told me they have put spikes up in the roof to stop pigeons nesting. ooh.
  41.  
    Previously they just hired Dastardly and Muttley.
    •  
      CommentAuthorOK Comics
    • CommentTimeAug 3rd 2010
     
    The work looks like it's about finished, and it does look good. Whether it's good enough to increase pedestrian traffic enough to make up for the damage done to OK Comics and the other businesses in Thornton's Arcade remains to be seen.

    Next time you're visiting OK Comics treat yourself to a smoothie from Juice Junkie, or a sandwich from Lillian's, or a haircut from First Floor, or a fancy new diamanté encrusted fashion shirt from Chimp.
    • CommentAuthorLee
    • CommentTimeAug 3rd 2010
     
    I've always been scared to go in Chimp. I am scared of many things.

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