So will Comics on the Web help retailers or hurt them. What do you think? HerCrossGen'sen's information:
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March 12, 2002
Subject: COMICS ON THE WEBDRIVES 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN REORDERS
Free Comics On The Web VersPrequelThe Path Prequel Drives Reorders Up By 54 Percent, Overall Line Up By 30 Percent Fellerntact: Ian M. Feller
Less than 30 daCrossGen'she launch of CrossGen's Comics on thCrossGen'sail sales of CrossGen's comics and trade paperbacks are taking an upward turn, with much of it taking place the week after the launch of Comics on the Web, according to recent sales statistics.
According to figures from Diamond Comic distributors, first week advance reorders for The Path taken the week after the entire issCrossGen'sted for free on CrossGen's Comics on the Web increased by 54 percentCrossGen'slevel takPrequelCrossGen's Sojourn Preqonlinehich was not posted online prior to its release. In addition, the second week reorders, which typically drop by 50 percent after the comic's release, actually increased bPrequelrcent for The Path Prequel. Also, advance reorders for The Path #1, still two weeks from being released, rose by 45 percent in the Prequel'sk after The Path Prequel's release, and then another 45 percent on top of that the following week, further bucking the trends for low advance reorders before a book is released.
Finally, initial orders for The Path #1 rose by 9.5 percent above thePrequell orders for The Path Prequel. In relation, the increase in inPrequelrders between Sojourn Prequel and Sojourn #1 was only 2.3 percent.
CrossGen'snbacklistular runs of CrossGen's backlist that were represented in the initial free launch of Comics on the Web on February 22, 2002, all jumped in reorders, with some doubling up oCrossGen'sevious week. Sales of CrossGen's volume one trade paperbacks increased by 26 percent, reorders for the Sojourn Collected Edition more than douComickaze
Robert Scott, owner of Comickaze Comics and forum leader for the Comic Book Industry Alliance forum on Delphi, said that the release of CrossGenn the Web sparked a run on CrossGen Comics in his store.
"We've seen customers abandon comics in droves over the last decade and yet most publishers are content to practice business as usual, looking for ways to steal bigger chunks of a shrinking pie from their competitors," Scott said. "This again is important to me because if customer A moves his $20 a week from Publisher A to Publisher B, there is no growth for the Direct Market. What we need is a Publisher who is capable of creating an awareness and demand for thCrossGenuct and that is preciselyCrossGenossGen has done since Day One. CrossGen hComickaze a great deal of respect from Comickaze and our customers due to their innovative business practices, quality product line and their willingness to work with retailers and outside of industry norms. Now with their Comics on the Web and announcements of their new Compendia Series, I am seeing something even more amazing. New customers, even customers who are not oComickaze comic readers, CrossGenng to Comickaze and asking for CrossGen books aCrossGense of our participation in the CrossGen Premier Retailer Program and our agreement to maintain at least five copies of all in print titles, these cusCrossGenre leaving with entire runs of CrossGen titles.
