To sum up my life the past few days (that I haven't posted in my LJ about), I am very actively trying to open a Comic Book Store in the Lynnwood area. We're just in the planning stages now; looking in to Grants and Loans, distributors, locations, etc.
Today I decided to see about Co-Op Advertising. See, *sometimes* a company will actually PAY you to use their characters in your advertising, or at least pay for something like up to 75% of the advertising costs. So I decided to contact Marvel Comics today and see what types of Co-Op they do these days. After several phone calls and wrong turns, I got the e-mail address of a guy who was supposedly "The Man" for Co-Op advertising. So I sent him an e-mail that said (and I quote):
Hi there, Rob!
My name is Brian Pierce, and I am opening a new kind of comic book store (I know... they ALL say that!) in the greater Seattle area some time in the next 6 months (our timeline isn't completely fleshed out yet). Everyone I have talked to so far at marvel has told me that you may very well be the person I need to talk to about Co-Op Advertising; promoting Marvel Comics characters and products through my store advertising and signs. I hope that you are the guy who can help me, or if not at least the guy who can point me in the right direction. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
His reply was as thus (once again, quoted directly):
Steve,
I oversee our Ad Sales and can help you promote your comic book store through advertising within our books. Please let me know if you are interested in such opportunities.
Regards,
Rob
This does NOT fill me with confidence. Not only did he refuse to answer my question by giving me a cut-and-paste version of his job description, but he DIDN'T EVEN CARE TO GET MY NAME CORRECT!
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