I don't count a sales trend until I have three consecutive months under my belt.
Still, you have to have that first month....
September was the first month since July 07 that I was significantly higher than the previous year in the same month. (There were two other months in 2008 that beat the previous year by a bit.)
This is the first month in the last consecutive year that I've beat the previous year.
Not only did I beat September 2008, I fried it.
Even with the 5 fewer days (Labor Day and 4 Sundays off) I beat last year by 18%. If you take the daily average, I beat it by 32%. I basically matched the summer daily sales level.
That is such a Big Number, that I almost have to consider it a fluke. You know, how you throw out the worst and the best of a sample? -- this would be the best.
Comics and Graphic Novels showed the biggest improvement. I lost some longterm customers last year -- maybe 15% of subscribers. Some just failed to show up, others left town.
But over the last year I've slowly replaced them, one at a time, and we are back to previous numbers. Of course, it helps the totals that comics are probably a good 15% higher in prices this year.
The Categories.
1.) Comics. Up about 30%. The DC series, Blackest Night, has had a major impact on the monthlies.
2.) DVD's. Sold 4 times as many as last year, which wasn't hard to do what with selling them for roughly half price and zero profit...
3.) Sport cards were down by half. Not a big number, either way.
4.) Card games were up double, which makes sense since I had the hot product (2010) in stock all month at regular price.
5.) Boardgames were up double, but last year was unaccountably lower, compared to surrounding months.
6.) Books. Up marginally.
7. Toys. Down about 30%. I think these have been hit the hardest by the recession.
8.) Graphic novels. Also up by 30%, which is encouraging.
The only negative I can find is that the last 3 days of the month were just dreadful. Not an encouraging sign for October. Also, last October was relatively good, so it may be hard to beat. I've got high hopes for the new magic release -- I certainly spent enough money on it, so there is a chance. I also went and spent all the extra profit this month...plus. But the month bailed me out of my misstep by about 2/3rds
I'm not expecting to beat last October unless the Zendikar is explosive. (I'll be kicking myself, if it doesn't at least sell well.)
But after that, I'd like to shoot toward beating November and December of last year.
Still, you have to have that first month....
September was the first month since July 07 that I was significantly higher than the previous year in the same month. (There were two other months in 2008 that beat the previous year by a bit.)
This is the first month in the last consecutive year that I've beat the previous year.
Not only did I beat September 2008, I fried it.
Even with the 5 fewer days (Labor Day and 4 Sundays off) I beat last year by 18%. If you take the daily average, I beat it by 32%. I basically matched the summer daily sales level.
That is such a Big Number, that I almost have to consider it a fluke. You know, how you throw out the worst and the best of a sample? -- this would be the best.
Comics and Graphic Novels showed the biggest improvement. I lost some longterm customers last year -- maybe 15% of subscribers. Some just failed to show up, others left town.
But over the last year I've slowly replaced them, one at a time, and we are back to previous numbers. Of course, it helps the totals that comics are probably a good 15% higher in prices this year.
The Categories.
1.) Comics. Up about 30%. The DC series, Blackest Night, has had a major impact on the monthlies.
2.) DVD's. Sold 4 times as many as last year, which wasn't hard to do what with selling them for roughly half price and zero profit...
3.) Sport cards were down by half. Not a big number, either way.
4.) Card games were up double, which makes sense since I had the hot product (2010) in stock all month at regular price.
5.) Boardgames were up double, but last year was unaccountably lower, compared to surrounding months.
6.) Books. Up marginally.
7. Toys. Down about 30%. I think these have been hit the hardest by the recession.
8.) Graphic novels. Also up by 30%, which is encouraging.
The only negative I can find is that the last 3 days of the month were just dreadful. Not an encouraging sign for October. Also, last October was relatively good, so it may be hard to beat. I've got high hopes for the new magic release -- I certainly spent enough money on it, so there is a chance. I also went and spent all the extra profit this month...plus. But the month bailed me out of my misstep by about 2/3rds
I'm not expecting to beat last October unless the Zendikar is explosive. (I'll be kicking myself, if it doesn't at least sell well.)
But after that, I'd like to shoot toward beating November and December of last year.