The hobby comic book store that's paying its way (and growing)
"I really didn’t think this would be a sustainable thing that could actually grow. The best I thought would be making it work out of an old bedroom."
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Grey Power and a comic book shop, it’s a unique sort of partnership. But that’s just what has transpired in Invercargill.
In July last year, Leon Hartnett and mate Mark Egginton opened a small comic bookstore - Boom Comics - in a former upstairs bedroom at a Dee St property in Invercargill.
It’s a hobby rather than any sort of commercial venture. The pair don’t pay themselves for working at the store.
The goal has simply been to ensure the niche store pays its way and stays open.
So far, they've managed to do that.
Any small profits that have been made have gone back into purchasing more stock. Hartnett guessed they started with about 700 to 800 comic books and they now have about 3000.
Hartnett is pleasantly surprised that they have unearthed a few more comic book lovers than they thought were in Invercargill.
On top of that, Egginton’s particular area of “geek” is cosplay and they’ve incorporated that into the store as well.
As the interest and stock have grown the thought of moving to a slightly larger and more visible space in Invercargill has also grown.
Enter Grey Power Southland - an advocate for older people.
Grey Power had a space beside its office at 122 Esk St in Invercargill, which previously largely sat empty.
While biking past one day Hartnett decided to call in and enquire if Grey Power might be able to utilise that space for the comic bookstore.
Grey Power agreed. Hartnett was grateful Grey Power had been so accommodating.
“They actually thought it would be great in terms of some vibrancy and colour.”
The hobby Boom Comics store will now open in its new space on Saturday, March 2.
They will open from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays, and also at lunchtime from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Hartnett has been a comic enthusiast since he was eight years old and actually worked in a store in Dublin when he was 18.
“Thirty years later, on the other side of the world, I’m back selling comic books and loving it,” Hartnett said, also joking that it might well be some sort of midlife crisis.
“I really didn’t think this would be a sustainable thing that could actually grow. The best I thought would be making it work out of an old bedroom.
“But you get people and it’s literally their place, they’ve been waiting for this. They feel connected.”
“It’s just a great place for people to come and chat.”