Wired has an interesting article that spotlights a few employees of comics shops.
I put in a few years working a dream job in a comics shop. From 1996 to 1999, I worked at several of the now defunct Shinders stores. I even rose through the ranks to earn the title of Assistant Manager at the Maplewood store.
I’d been going to Shinders since I was a kid. A trip to Shinders was a big deal for a kid who grew up in a tiny town about 50 or 60 miles from the Twin Cities, and who’s only local access to comics was the squeaky spinner rack in the local drug store. I dreamed of being able to spend hours in that store rather than the 15 minutes my parents allowed me whenever we made that rare trip to Ridgedale.
I clearly remember the feeling of elation as I walked out of the Roseville Shinders store having just shaken the hand of Ron the manager and accepted a full-time job. It was quite literally a dream come true. I didn’t even blink as I turned down what would, in hindsight, have been a much more practical and beneficial entry-level position as copywriter with some company that called me the next day. I know I should feel regret for that decision, but I really don’t.
I started just running the register, restocking the coolers with soda, and refilling the candy displays. But eventually, I took over as the games guy which came with the great responsibility of buying cards and books from the public. It was kind of a thrill haggling and swindling kids out of their precious collections (not really, I wasn’t evil), but I hardly played any collectible card games.
I had a ton of fun with the crew in Roseville. Scherber, Wayne the lifer, Thomas the bass player, Justin the goofball, and Ron the manager. Easily the best group of people, the best team I’ve ever worked with. Everyone had their area of specialty, was responsible, and enjoyed their job.
At my peak, I was the comics, games, and, much to the entertainment of my friends, ‘adult material’ manager**. And while I do not, DO NOT, miss managing the porn section, I do miss the excitement that Wednesday brought as tote after tote of new comics showed up.
** *Despite the distasteful nature of the material, the porn was the most profitable sector in the store, with profit margins of up to 80% on much of the movies and magazines, so I was trusted with some pretty big, bouncy responsibilities.
And while I gained a number of funny yet disgusting stories, a part of me died during that year.*
