Phoenix Comicon 2012 Wrap

So, we just completed our seventh Phoenix Comicon.

We’ve been telling folks for years how good this show is, and indie creators are slowly beginning to notice. I haven’t heard the numbers yet, but it’s sure to have been a record-breaking shows. Even with the exhibitor floor expansion and the ultra-wide aisles, the place was packed, full of energy, and a lot of fun.

In fact, the excited vibe felt a lot like San Diego Comic-Con… without so many costs or hassles.

Prints

This year, we ended up pulling our initial iconic superhero head print… due to some grumbling and our realization that we need to focus on creating our own lasting intellectual property… even if it doesn’t make as much money initially. The replacement jackalope print didn’t sell out, but it did very well and I’m confident that the remainder will continue to sell until it sells out. You can now order one for your collection!

One thing that I was really concerned about was the plethora of exclusive products for the show, the majority of which were prints. Combine that with the number of new indie exhibitors selling their own batman/hunger games/original prints – and it’s a pretty big print bubble. I’m not sure how many prints a person needs before they start to pass on the whole idea. Our prints continued to sell well, though I’m pretty certain that these issues had some effect.

In the end we had 27% sales growth year-to-year, which isn’t quite as much as previous years – but still pretty great. I’ll take that during this economy – with a humble thank you.

We had amazing help at the show

Our Steam Crew included Dirk and Jenni – Dawna’s brother and my in-laws on Saturday. They’re always great and they’ll be joining us for the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con as well.

Jason filled in where we needed him for the week, and was a welcome addition. He also looked sharp in his suit. We’ll miss him as he’s moving out of state very shortly.

Sara, Dawna’s sister joined us on Sunday as well as during the whole break down. (Hard work, there.) She’s a hard worker, and she’s really great to work with.

Our pal Andrew was around the entire weekend, and generously put more than 40 hours of work in for us. Dawna’s school wasn’t out yet, so Andrew was our only help on setup day. We worked hard and laughed a great deal. He worked the entire weekend (with just some time off on Saturday for his family) and he stuck around to help breakdown… when everyone is totally exhausted and the help is the most needed. Anyway, Andrew did it all with a smile, and made it a great time.

Patriot Patrons

Attendees came out in droves, and while I haven’t heard the overall numbers – I’m certain that it’s yet another record-breaking show. We talked to folks from all over the country who attended; Oregon, Texas, California, and on and on. It was insane, but yet the vibe of the show was FUN!

This guy was nerdly fun, too!

We met a lot of new folks, handed out a bunch of Keen Halloween flyers, and handed over piles of prints, t-shirts, the majority of our Snappy Cameras, and a couple cases of glasses. All kinds of stuff, and we thank you for that.

Goblin Shack

We finally were able to make something special for our son, Goblin Boy. We built him the “Goblin Shack” where he could sell his $1.00 sketch cards. (For spending money.) The kid made over $80, with some generous tips from a few of you guys. He started to learn the value of money, and had to figure out what he could buy for the cash that he had. I’m really glad that we found a way for him to really participate in Steam Crow, and to make some tips for himself. He had a great time, and learned a bit about talking with people publicly.

Thanks

We need to thank all of the Staff, hundreds of Volunteers, and tens of thousands of attendees who make this show something awesome, unique, and terrific. You’ve built something great!

- Daniel & Dawna

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