Valiant Entertainment Announces Valiant Retailer Direct

[Second_Death]

Excellent point and I agree 100%. Ordering from amazon.com will only help VEI in the short term where as sticking with the LCSs will help long term.

Right. I agree with both of you. We gotta be talking to our LCSs.

/Magnus

Absolutely. Talk to your shop. The one I'm orderering through still had no idea that Diamond had cancelled and had yet to receive info about VRD. They know now, though.

[scherem]

Does anyone know any Canadian Retailer of the HC? Amazon.ca doesn't have it listed.

[leonmallett]

Excellent point and I agree 100%. Ordering from amazon.com will only help VEI in the short term where as sticking with the LCSs will help long term.

Right. I agree with both of you. We gotta be talking to our LCSs.

/Magnus

Absolutely. Talk to your shop. The one I'm orderering through still had no idea that Diamond had cancelled and had yet to receive info about VRD. They know now, though.

Rang my LCS this morning. Apparently I and one other customer ordered the HC. They don't yet know what they are doing about ordering it having just found out themselves. This is going to hurt any relaunch, if only a little.

[ManofTheAtom]

In SDCC I attended a "So You Want To Be A Comic Book Retailer" panel where they said that Cold Cut Distribution (a distributor that mainly handles indies) is for sale.

VEI could just buy it and use their distributon network to deal with retailers, heh.

[Von Allan]

In SDCC I attended a "So You Want To Be A Comic Book Retailer" panel where they said that Cold Cut Distribution (a distributor that mainly handles indies) is for sale.

VEI could just buy it and use their distributon network to deal with retailers, heh.

While I believe you were joking, I should point out that Cold Cut's distribution system is too small. ICv2.com estimated that Cold Cut's active customer base (that's retailers, folks) was about 250 (http://www.icv2.com/articles/indepth/164.html) and their own website lists their retailer mailing list at about 600 (http://www.coldcut.com/publishers.html). While both of these are a few years out of date (Cold Cut doesn't mail out a snail mail catalogue anymore as far as I know), it's not a bad benchmark numbers-wise.

On top of it, Cold Cut specializes in re-orders and not pre-orders. And, their distribution East of the Rockies isn't that great. They don't have an East Coast warehouse or anything like that.

All that said, I have a lot of respect for them. I dealt with them only a handful of times as a book retailer, but found them very professional and easy to deal with.

[ManofTheAtom]

In SDCC I attended a "So You Want To Be A Comic Book Retailer" panel where they said that Cold Cut Distribution (a distributor that mainly handles indies) is for sale.

VEI could just buy it and use their distributon network to deal with retailers, heh.

While I believe you were joking, I should point out that Cold Cut's distribution system is too small. ICv2.com estimated that Cold Cut's active customer base (that's retailers, folks) was about 250 (http://www.icv2.com/articles/indepth/164.html) and their own website lists their retailer mailing list at about 600 (http://www.coldcut.com/publishers.html). While both of these are a few years out of date (Cold Cut doesn't mail out a snail mail catalogue anymore as far as I know), it's not a bad benchmark numbers-wise.

On top of it, Cold Cut specializes in re-orders and not pre-orders. And, their distribution East of the Rockies isn't that great. They don't have an East Coast warehouse or anything like that.

All that said, I have a lot of respect for them. I dealt with them only a handful of times as a book retailer, but found them very professional and easy to deal with.

Not really joking.

I think that there should be more comic book distributors, specially afer what Diamond did to Claypool.

What indy publishers need is a distributor who'll look after their interests and help them grow the same way Diamond helps their Premiere line-up.

I do admit that I didn't know exactly how small Cold Cut was.

[Von Allan]

I think that there should be more comic book distributors, specially afer what Diamond did to Claypool.

What indy publishers need is a distributor who'll look after their interests and help them grow the same way Diamond helps their Premiere line-up.

Oh, you're speaking to the converted here. I'm trying to bring my own graphic novel to market sometime next year and it is very indy-oriented. More distribution options would certainly be better. FM International is gone, Last Gasp is small, Cold Cut is on somewhat shaky ground, and on and on. They are more than would first appear, but these are not Direct Market specific (say book trade distributors like Ingram, Baker & Taylor and others in the States, not to mention Raincoast Book Express or North 49 Books here in Canada).

However, the book trade as a channel is still tricky. It is growing, but there still problems with racking (for instance, my old store (http://www.perfectbooks.ca) is currently racking Alison Bechdel's Fun Home in the humour section. It makes my teeth ache). Manga is popular, of course, but there is still much development that needs to be done on this front.

Von

[ManofTheAtom]

What surprises me is that the retailers who spoke at that panel said that they deal with 20 to 50 distributors at a time.

You'd think that they could make room for a distributor that deals with indies... of course it's not completely on them, readers have to want the material as well.

The problem I've noticed with most (if not all) indy publishers is the quality of the artwork. If the books were more attractive then people might ask for them and retailers would order them regardless of who the distributor was.

Of course the problem there is that the quality requiered to make the book attractive enough for the audience is expensive. In most cases indies who can afford that kind of quality limit it to the covers thinking that'll be enough to attract the customers.

I'm currently working on self-publishing my own comics and those are the kind of things I need to think about.

[Zaphod]

And who are you, exactly?

A retailer of 14 years who was there during the OG Valiant boom and the downfall after that, and is still there.

The nearest LCS to me is junk, run by an idiot who never takes my orders. The next nearest is 60 miles away, driving into downtown Vancouver.

These days I order Graphic Novels and thats about it. When Valiant gets back to publishing I'll need to figure something else out.

I am also in Canada and surprised Amazon.ca hasn't had the Harbinger graphic novel listed.

[Second_Death]

Excellent point and I agree 100%. Ordering from amazon.com will only help VEI in the short term where as sticking with the LCSs will help long term.

Right. I agree with both of you. We gotta be talking to our LCSs.

/Magnus

Absolutely. Talk to your shop. The one I'm orderering through still had no idea that Diamond had cancelled and had yet to receive info about VRD. They know now, though.

Rang my LCS this morning. Apparently I and one other customer ordered the HC. They don't yet know what they are doing about ordering it having just found out themselves. This is going to hurt any relaunch, if only a little.

You're probably right. Let's do what we can to minimize the pain for VEI.

[Von Allan]

The problem I've noticed with most (if not all) indy publishers is the quality of the artwork. If the books were more attractive then people might ask for them and retailers would order them regardless of who the distributor was.

Well, I don't think I suck (for instance, those interested can take a peek at http://vonandmoggy.livejournal.com/295074.html) but this is really becoming a broader argument. Even if the work is excellent, how does one market it effectively and on a budget? On top of it, good books sell through re-orders, but you have to remember that Diamond is not really a distributor in the classic sense - they are a freight forwarder. In other words, they do not take an "inventory position" on most books - they fill retailers orders very closely if not exactly. So if a book begins to sell and retailers try to re-order, Diamond has to cut the publisher a new Purchase Order first. Then the publisher has to ship Diamond the books. Then Diamond has to redistribute those books to retailers. This entire process takes time - and time can kill hotness very quickly. There are exceptions, of course. Mouse Guard has been doing well from all accounts and books like Strangers in Paradise are strong sellers. But it is a difficult nut to crack at the best of time.

Von

[ManofTheAtom]

Well, I don't think I suck

You definitely don't.

but this is really becoming a broader argument. Even if the work is excellent, how does one market it effectively and on a budget?

That's the hard part, but word of mouth is a good tool. Word of mouth can help make or break a comic.

On top of it, good books sell through re-orders, but you have to remember that Diamond is not really a distributor in the classic sense - they are a freight forwarder. In other words, they do not take an "inventory position" on most books - they fill retailers orders very closely if not exactly. So if a book begins to sell and retailers try to re-order, Diamond has to cut the publisher a new Purchase Order first. Then the publisher has to ship Diamond the books. Then Diamond has to redistribute those books to retailers. This entire process takes time - and time can kill hotness very quickly. There are exceptions, of course. Mouse Guard has been doing well from all accounts and books like Strangers in Paradise are strong sellers. But it is a difficult nut to crack at the best of time.

Well, the Internet can be a useful tool in keeping the hotness of a comic going while those orders are being filled, right?

[Von Allan]

You definitely don't.

Thank you - very much!

That's the hard part, but word of mouth is a good tool. Word of mouth can help make or break a comic.

Definitely. Positive reviews certainly help, but word of mouth by retailers, readers and fans is huge. There's a great article (in PDF form) over on the American Booksellers Association website on the growth of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. While this is obviously not a comic, it's not a bad illustration of how positive word of mouth grew sales. The PDF is at http://www.bookweb.org/files/open/pdf/BScasestudy.pdf.

And yes, the internet has definitely helped. No doubt there. Using the internet effectively is still a tricky, tricky thing, though. And I don't believe that there's a surefire way of doing it "right."

Von

[ManofTheAtom]

I'll check the PDF later.

I'm actually working on a script right now, heh

[SnotDrip]

After careful review and discussion, Diamond Comics Distributors and Valiant Entertainment have mutually agreed that Harbinger: The Beginning will be distributed through the Valiant Retailer Direct program only and not through Diamond Comics Distributors.

Valiant Entertainment is launching Valiant Retailer Direct, a new program that will allow Valiant to distribute directly to retailers and fulfill orders for Harbinger: The Beginning.

What can you do to ensure you get your copy? Contact your local comics store and make sure they have received the Valiant Retailer Direct information we have sent them. If not, send your retailer's email address and phone number to us at inquiries@valiantentertainment.com with the subject: Valiant Retailer Direct and we will be sure to send them the appropriate information.

The book will not be in stores on August 29th as originally scheduled but will be in stores 10 days following your retailers' order of the book via Valiant Retailer Direct. Please note that Valiant Retailer Direct is for retailers only and we cannot distribute directly to consumers.

In addition, Harbinger: The Beginning is in stock at Amazon.com and can be ordered at http://www.amazon.com/Harbinger-Beginni ... 0979640903

We appreciate the support from Valiant fans and apologize that circumstances didn't allow for normal distribution channels. We hope you enjoy Harbinger: The Beginning!

-Walter Black, Senior Vice President & Publisher

Wow..

Gone for three weeks and have been really looking forward to the Hard cover. Trying to catch up on a ton of threads and came across this one (among others)...and everything has gone to ratsh!t. Am off to my 2 LCS' to see if anything has come in (or will) as I have 2 if not 3 ordered (mayby 4 but can't remember).

Someone told me a while ago that TWT was just an editor ( ). Congrats you have my

[Todd Luck]

Looks like Diamond dropped them because of 'legal reasons' or aka VIP making trouble for them as late as possible in the game to screw them over.

CBG news

Wow

[paradise]

OK, this is an unofficial news that is 100% true and your retailer can test it.

The shipping on the HCs has been lowered, specially on a 10-copy+ Lot. This will make it easier to get these for the retailers who were upset about the $2 per book shipping charge.

I just spent the last 24 hrs on the phone and by email with Chip Carter, the VP of Marketing at Valiant, and let's just say they are trying hard to make this new setup work. They are not happy about the situation, I am 100% positive they would rather be with Diamond and not worry about it, but this is where it's at, and at least they are trying really hard.

I just ordered a bunch of them, and should have them in 4-5 days. Anyone who needs them and does not have a shop next to them, I will take care of you. I promised VF members 25% off plus exact shipping. That is still on.

[DevilBro]

I talked to my LCS owner when I was in earlier getting my new books, and he told me he still hasn't received an e-mail about the Valiant Retailer Direct (I sent his shop info to the e-mail TWT had posted). Has anyone else heard from retailers saying they haven't received any info yet?

[paradise]

I never got it either. But some of us are abit more internet friendly, so I heard about it on CBIA (Comic book industry alliance -retailer forum). They could not have sent it to everyone. I really doubt Diamond would supply them with a list of accounts right after breaking up a relationship. I hope retailers are not sitting there surly about not getting an email.

[superman-prime]

because the valiant stuff wull not be in previews how will we get advance knowledge of it coming out
dcbs more or less copies previews and posts it on their site im sure mail order comics does the same thing
so any ideas there

[ManofTheAtom]

because the valiant stuff wull not be in previews how will we get advance knowledge of it coming out
dcbs more or less copies previews and posts it on their site im sure mail order comics does the same thing
so any ideas there

Good point.

Is VEI out of Previews for good, is it a one time thing, or just till VIP's dealt with?

[Second_Death]

because the valiant stuff wull not be in previews how will we get advance knowledge of it coming out
dcbs more or less copies previews and posts it on their site im sure mail order comics does the same thing
so any ideas there

Good point.

Is VEI out of Previews for good, is it a one time thing, or just till VIP's dealt with?

Good question. I'm betting our boys at VEI are planning for this situation.

[superman-prime]

i hope they post blurbs on their website that would be awsome

[ManofTheAtom]

i hope they post blurbs on their website that would be awsome

I hope they post ANYTHING on their website

[Todd Luck]

because the valiant stuff wull not be in previews how will we get advance knowledge of it coming out
dcbs more or less copies previews and posts it on their site im sure mail order comics does the same thing
so any ideas there

Good point.

Is VEI out of Previews for good, is it a one time thing, or just till VIP's dealt with?

Refer back to the article Whet posted:

CBG news

It's purely a VIP-related legal problem so when (or if) that's cleared up they should be able to use Diamond just fine for the Harbinger Trade as well as any other products they put out (assuming there will be some).

This is just the damn strangest thing I've ever seen, a distributor pulling out at the last minute like this.