Updates!!

Hi everyone,

Just to update you on some new collectible toys that have just arrived.

Robocop premium format figure(Sideshow Collectibles)
RM 2580




















Master Replica's Black Spiderman Church Scene Replica
RM1388












I have also been asked numerous questions from customers visiting our stores which I would like to share for everyone's benefit and better understanding of the concept behind
Marveluz Comics & Toy Collections.

Q1:Why did you open your store in an office building?
Ans: Firstly,I am a company secretary/management consultant by profession and secondly a comic lover.

During my schooling days,I used to love reading comics,Marvel,DC and many other comics I could lay my hand on.

When I started working, I started buying my own comics from bookshops in town like Central Store and five foot way news vendors.In the late 70's to the 80's it was quite easy to source and buy English Language comics like Marvel and DC.

However supplies dwindled in the 90's and currently as far as i know,there is no specialty comic bookstores in Johore and most bookshops whether it be Popular,Central Store,MPH,etc. does not carry any specialty comics on a regular basis and if they do,are not anywhere near mint condition and supplies are very irregular.

In JB.you'll be lucky to get a copy of Spiderman or Batman,never mind the poor condition it's in.

Most comic lovers would be feeding their addiction from specialty stores in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.Both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have quite a sizeable numbers of specialty comic stores which indicates that the number of comic readers out there is not small.

The problem here is that you have to rely on someone to buy or if you order,to pick up from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and you only get them on your next trip to these places which in my case is maybe every 3 to 4 months.

Try ordering directly from DC or Marvel and you sometimes get your comics in good order or depending on the postman's mood,a crumpled and creased copy arrives.Horrors!Sometimes it doesn't arrive at all!

The concept behind Marveluz is that I believe that there should be a sufficient number of comic lovers in JB to support a comic specialty store to justify ordering from Diamond Comics Distributors to ensure a constant and regular supply of comics to collectors and readers.That way,it cuts out the frustration of missing a copy in a series that you are following or getting comics which are in an atrocious condition.

From the business aspects of running a comics store,unfortunately the margins are not attractive and a bulk of the cost is the air freight shipment cost of the comics from the US. Local shipment from KLIA to JB also adds further to the cost compared to those shops operating in KL or S'pore.I reckon this is one of the major reasons why no one wants to do this business in JB.

Therefore to ensure I have very low overheads,I have opted to operate out of the spare office space that I have in my consultancy firm,rather than opening in a shopping complex or shoplot.

I trust and believe that comic lovers and collectors would share my mentality.

-If I am an avid collector and reader,whichever nook or corner its located at,I will go and look for it and find it.Heck,we have gone all the way to KL and S'pore just to look for comic shops.Don't tell me you can't find out where Menara TJB is?

Q2:Why are your operating hours so short?
Ans:Our operating hours are currently from 2.30p.m. to 6.30p.m. on weekdays and from 10a.m. to 1p.m. on Saturdays.

As explained under question 1, I need to keep overheads low and therefore operate from an office building.These times are chosen for the convenience of anyone wishing to visit my store.Where I am located,traffic is normally heavy in the mornings because of the government offices located in our vicinity,but the traffic volume is lower in the afternoon especially after 3.30p.m. when there is ample parking space.

Secondly,from my experience so far,all customers and readers know what they want, since they are already following certain series and titles.In fact,in the line with all comic retails store operators,all comic publishers invites pre-orders for the titles two months in advance.Orders are placed with comic retail stores and when the orders arrive,you just have to pick them up.In our case,we provide free delivery within a 15km radius of our locality and a small charge outside of this area.Pick-ups can also be done by prior arrangements without the need to park.

The pre-order forms are accesible from this blog and orders can be easily placed to us via e-mail(marveluz_collections@hotmail.com) or fax(07-2230229).
http://previewsworld.com/support/previews_docs/orderforms/AUG08_COF.pdf

We are not specially catering to impulse buyers or walk in customers.Our comics being collector items are individually sealed in plastic bags with an acid free board and does not allow for walk in customers to browse and read.

Therefore,we do not think that it is necessary for us to maintain long opening hours which would add to our overheads.

Q3:Pricing

Much as we would like our comics to be competitively priced in line with the Klang Valley,we however have to take into account the additional transportation charges incurred for transport from KLIA down to JB.As an example, comics with a recommended retail price of USD 2.99 sold for RM12.90 in Kuala Lumpur is priced at RM13.50 here at Marveluz. Members will enjoy a 10% discount which will reduce the price to RM12.15. If you take into consideration the plastic bags & acid-free boards included(worth RM0.80) in reality the cost of the comic to you is RM11.25.

I shall update you guys on a weekly basis and appreciate your support and comments.Do tell all your friends about us.Support your local comic store!

Ciao...