NYC Comic Shop Forbidden Planet Launches GoFundMe to Stay Open Amid Coronavirus Shutdown

[Javaman]

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/nyc-comic-shop-forbidden-planet-launches-gofundme-to-stay-open-a/

This one is a little special for me. This was my comic shop when I grew up in NYC, when I couldn't find something somewhere else, they always had it.

If Forbidden Planet goes, it will drag down much of the comic book store industry.

[hlthe2b]

1. Seems like the perfect type of store to go heavy as an online retailer.

(not meaning to diminish the challenges or difficulties, but it really seems to me that they could optimize their business with technology... )

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Drag down much of the comic book store industry? Really? Perhaps in NYC, but really, ...

this is a little much...

The whole industry has taken a beating, for many years, and not just recently. If the shop has been around for so long and seen what's coming down the pipeline, they should have caught early warnings of what's to come many times.

Perhaps they didn't transition successfully as some shops have, to an online presence like some have successfully done (and lots haven't). Some shops have integrated / incorporated longer business hours by
allowing players to remain after normal business hours to play games, etc., but I don't know how these efforts are successful or not.

A challenging market to say the least. At least there is a robust market for certain collectibles still, e.g., the first initial batch of starter comics for most issues, such as Bat Man, Superman, Disney, etc. (the premier issues, and those only of top quality/condition).