SLOW-DOWN SLIGHT IN COMIC BOOK SHOPS

Tokyopop Associate Publisher Marco Pavia, explaining recent layoffs to Icv2.com, said: "Publishers and booksellers are describing this as one of the worst retailing environments in memory and I don't know what to add. I think that's an accurate assessment. We're adjusting to this landscape that's shifting every day. We need to be as responsive as we can to these new realities just to endure." Being responsive in a self-preservation sort of mode, Tokyopop laid off another eight employees in early December, making 47 since last summer.

Pavia's description of the market conditions in the book trade follows the similar remarks by the CEOs of Barnes & Noble and Hastings. But, Icv2.com added in another December 18 report, the numbers from comic stores are "holding up really well" in the economic crisis, quoting Diamond Comic Distributors Vice President Sales and Marketing Roger Fletcher: "Diamond's sales are tracking close to last year’s levels, but down about 3%. Retailers are trying to be prudent and conservative on inventory," Fletcher explained. "That's led to some sales declines." Fletcher thought January orders might be down because that’s a time that retailers traditionally decide to close their stores, if they’re going to. But store counts dropped only 2.5% from last year, Fletcher said.