Comic Shop Spotlight: Fantasy Books
Jul 06, 2015
Click to see larger image.
Fantasy Books in Belleville, Illinois.
OWNERS: Tony Favello and Steve Unverferth
GENERAL MANAGER: Brandon Adamson
MANAGER: Chris Weymer
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 30
YEAR OPENED: 2004
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 4
STORE SIZE (SQ. FT): 2,500
Favorite Recent Comic Book: Action Comics #39
How was your Halloween ComicFest event? It was not nearly as big as Free Comic Book Day, but all of the customers arriving in costumes was a lot of fun.
What has been your best promotion or event? Customer Appreciation Day has been a great event for us. Our customers really like our do-it-yourself grab bags.
What recent changes have you made in the store? We had to move everything anyway to put in the new flooring, so we redesigned the store with a fresh layout.
What steps have you taken to expand your customer base or to reach out to individuals unfamiliar with your store or comics in general? We are developing a "ladies' night out" event.
What are your plans for the near future? We will sponsor a backpack giveaway program with the local elementary school districts.
How did you choose your store name? We inherited the name from the previous owner. We probably would not have chosen it otherwise.
What superpower would you most like to have? Flight.
Specialized displays lead the way to the new release wall. | The trade paperbacks section. |
Young readers get their own pick of books and merchandise in the kids' corner. | Housewares are popular items in the shop. |
The store also boasts a nice gaming area. | The front counter display showcases a number of CCG's. |
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