Comic Shop Spotlight: River City Hobbies
Jun 29, 2015
Click to see larger image.
River City Hobbies in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
OWNER: Jim McCauley
MANAGER: Tom Johnson
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 4
YEAR OPENED: 2014 (Originally 1983)
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 1
STORE SIZE (SQ. FT): 2,600 (Main Floor); 1,500 (Game Room)
Favorite Recent Comic Book: Saga and Southern Bastards
How was your Halloween ComicFest event? We had several local artists in doing sketches which were very popular. Comics, candy, and the free sketches made this a great event for us!
What has been your best promotion or event? Our anniversary event stands out, but both Halloween ComicFest and Free Comic Book Day are always great for us.
What recent changes have you made in the store? We added some product lines not always associated with comic shops including Disc Golf, darts, video games, and DVD’s.
What steps have you taken to expand your customer base or to reach out to individuals unfamiliar with your store or comics in general? Instagram gets a lot of activity for us. We also do some fun television commercials including a zombie-themed commercial which airs throughout the Walking Dead season on AMC and a Flash-themed commercial on the CW.
What are your plans for the near future? We will be looking to fine tune the new product categories to find the right mix and stocking levels.
How did you choose your store name? It was really about carrying on the legacy of the latest owner of this 30 year old store where I bought comics as a kid.
What superpower would you most like to have? Super speed.
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| The new comic also hosts a collection of action figures. | There's also an extensive trade paperback section. |
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| Board games are neatly organized and displayed effectively. | Disc golf supplies are a recently added product line. |
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| As are supplies for playing darts. | An expansive gaming area awaits customers downstairs. |
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| Owner Jim McCauley (right) with manager and IT specialist Tom Johnson (left). | |
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