Effects of Inflation on the Industry

 Prices were going to start falling as the money from last year’s stimulus checks worked its way through the economy but with the war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russian exports, expect to see them moving up again. Sanctions against Russian mean there are sanctions in place on their international trade against three of the major oil producers in the world:  Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.  The world’s economy has been doing OK with the sanctions against Iran and Venezuela but Europe, last time I checked, gets about 40% of its oil from Russia. The US, currently the number one oil producing nation in the world, has promised to ramp up oil production to help fill the gap left by the expected loss in Russian oil production, although the sanctions may provide exceptions for energy, which makes them much less effective. According to S& P Global Platts, about 75% of the world’s sunflower oil comes from Russia and Ukraine and  just under 25% of its wheat supply comes from the two countries, so disruptions in the supply from both of them will mean further, and longer term, price increases in the food supply. Food is a necessity, games and comics, luxury items. When it comes to how to allocate dollars as prices rise, food will (usually) take priority over entertainment. Although it is doubtful we will see the double digit inflation rates of the late 1970s, the current 7% rate still triples the numbers we have seen over the last 20 odd years and will likely continue for most, if not all of this year

Masks

 In accordance with the latest recommendations from the CDC, we recommend wearing masks and will provide them on request but no longer require them to shop in the store. We, of course, can change this policy if we see surges in infections and deaths from COVID-19

Masks

 Just a reminder that we are complying with the state, and likely city mandates, regarding masks starting tomorrow. Just of 12% of Jackson County has been infected since this started and we would like to keep it that way. There are indications the trend is starting to flatten and we would like to help it continue that way. We do have disposable masks if you need one.

Masks

 In line with the new state mandate going into effect on Monday, we will be asking that everyone coming into the store or playing here wear a mask. We do have disposable masks available if you forget your's but please try to remember them. 

Carbondale City Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss implementing a city mask mandate as well. however, that does not mean you will need to wear two masks when coming in, one will suffice.

Masks

 We are do not currently plan to require masks of people in the store. We do ask that, if you are not vaccinated, you do wear one in order to reduce the possibility of you maybe transmitting the virus. We also ask that if you are playing in back and are in a group with kids who cannot get vaccinated yet, that you wear a mask with them.

Masks

 If you are not vaccinated, we ask that you wear a mask when you come into the store. Of course, we are not going to ask you if you are vaccinated or not but you are free to tell us. We have noticed COVID numbers creeping back up and, while they are not as bad as last fall, they are certainly worse than last month.

Masks 2

 Just to make it clear, you do not need to wear a mask out on the sales floor. We assume you are adult enough to keep your distance from others and not breath in their face. However, if you are in the back, that is an entirely different kettle of fish. Since kids cannot be vaccinated yet, if you are playing in an event with young players, such as Pokemon or some of the D&D sessions, we will ask you to wear a mask. If you are playing in a group of people able to be vaccinated, you will need to either be vaccinated or wear a mask. If you tell us you were vaccinated and we find out you were not, you will be banned from the store.

Masks

 We are making masks optional as of July 5th. If you are playing in events at the store where you are siting either across from or next to someone for long periods of time, we will ask you to either be vaccinated or wear a mask.

OP Events

 Once we start running sanctioned events again, starting with FNM on July 9, we will be asking for proof of vaccination or ask you to wear a mask while playing. While we are not seeing any increases in infections immediately in the area, you are going to be sitting across from someone else for a significant period of time and they need to have the security of knowing that you have had the shot for COVID -19 or are going to wear a mask inorder to reduce the liklihood of spreading infection should you be carrying.

Masks

 We are asking you to keep wearing a mask until July 5th. Although the mask mandate has been relaxed, we want to make sure that COVID-19 numbers continue to decline, especially since we have 2 staff members with weaker immune systems as well as family members with weakened immune systems. We ant to minimize the liklihood of them getting infected as much as possible.  After July 4th, assuming numbers stay low, we will make mask wearing optional and start running in store Friday Night Magic, Forgotten Realms Pre-release and Sunday afternoon \Magic Commander.

Pokemon and Konami have not given us any information as to what their plans are for resuming in store play of their games, so for now, we will continue to Yu Gi Oh if asked and casual Pokemon play on Monday nights.

Paycheck Protection Plan

 Well, that didn’t last long. The $349 billion appropriated for the CARES act and the Paycheck Protection Plan, which was a major component of the Act, ran out after about 2 week. Of course, it did not help that several chains, such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Potbelly Sandwich Shop applied for loans/grants under the program and received $10 million each ($20 million in the case of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, since the corporation had two different subsidiaries apply), the maximum allowable under the PPP.  Under the plan, the government considered any business employing fewer than 500 people a small business. I would wager that is 450 more than 95% of the companies in the game industry employ. With the average loan, according to the SBA, running just under $240,000 and over 1.3 million loans, at least, approved, it is no wonder the program ran out of funds so quickly. I do find it interesting that, since the CARES Act does not require the SBA to release loan/grant amounts, it has declined to do so. The only reason we know about the $10 million loans some corporations received is because they are publicly traded corporations and required by law and their charters to make that sort of information publicly available. Privately held companies and corporations are under no such requirement and have no legal obligation to do so. Several members of Congress are pushing the SBA to release the names of organizations that received CARES loans. We will see if their badgering of the SBA, which gave out more money in the past fourteen days than it had loaned out in the past 14 years, pushes the SBA to make public the names of other companies that received loans.

Meanwhile Congress is looking at putting more money into the PPP but the plan has run into an impasse  with some members of Congress wanting to just appropriate more money for the PPP as it stands, while others want to add wording to a second funding proposal that targets more new funds towards more specific parts of the economy, including hospitals , state and local governments and food assistance.  Until some agreement is reached, which will probably include adding the extra funds for hospitals and state and local governments,  we should not expect to see any more money coming immediately from the Federal Government, unless you are someone who gets your tax refund in the form of a check, in which case you can expect to see those funds show up anywhere from early May through mid-September.

Meanwhile GAMA does have its FLGS Locater up and running, as well as the updated (as of April 15) list of publisher initiatives about which the organization knows and a handy one stop page of COVID-19 resources . Incidentally, GAMA last week sent out a very nice looking email with hyperlinks to all of the publisher initiatives on its list, and publishers have reported customers taking advantage of the offers and directing money to local stores.  

Masks

 We are still asking everyone who comes into the store to wear a mask. We have staff who have family members with compromised immune systems and would rather err on the side of caution. If COVID -19 numbers continue to fall, we are looking at ending masking about the first of July.  Thank you.

Masks Still Required

In the wake of the CDC's announcement regarding the relaxing of mask wearing, Carbondale has rescinded its mask ordinance. However, since several of our staff have family members with very compromised immune systems, we will continue to ask that you wear a mask while in the retail section at the store. Also, since our D&D games have players of all ages and the younger ones have not had the opportunity to get vaccinated yet, D&D games will still be played masked.. As time goes by, we will reevaluate the situation but believe asking people to continue to wear a mask will help protect the staff, and your health. 

WOTC In-store Play Update

 In store play restrictions on Magic play have been lifted in Japan and Africa but still stay in place in North America until May 14th

As of April 14, 2021, the in-store play suspension in North America, Latin America, and Europe will remain in place.

The suspension has been lifted in Japan and will be lifted in Africa on May 1.

The next update will come on May 12.

Games Workshop

 Here is what is going on with Games Workshop, as far as we can tell. Early during the pandemic, the entire company shut down and restocks were unavailable. Around early May, they started again and shipments were pretty timely. Now for the last two months, restocks of regular products have taking 2-3 weeks to arrive. New releases arrive on time but we, for the past month or so, have had to start putting new release orders in the Thursday or Friday before the release date to make sure they arrive by Saturday.

Part of the problem is the supply chain. GW prints all of their books in China so restocks of books, once they sell out, are taking 4 to 6 months to arrive. Restocks of miniatures take about 1-2 months to come back into stock.

GW also says that, due to COVID social distancing, they are short staffed at their Memphis warehouse so shipments take longer and require more lead time to get packed. However, we have not seen similar problems with our other suppliers who still manage to get our ordered out on a timely basis so not sure how much credence to give this.

D&D Sessions

 Since we have had more people wanting to play Dungeons and Dragons and , due to the possibility of COVID-19, we want to keep sessions small, we will offer 2 additional weekly sessions, one on Saturday at 5:30 run by Syd and one on Monday at 6 p.m. run by Brandon. If you already play in the Wednesday or Friday games, we ask that you skip these two so that other new players can get a seat at the table. In addition, we are moving the Friday D&D session back half an hour to start at 5:30 p.m.

Game Room

 Just a reminder that, due to our desire to mitigate the possibility of people catching COVID 19, we do ask that you call at least two hours ahead and confirm that there is space for you to play. Due to D&D games, we generally do not have space on Wednesday and Friday and, starting this week, we will likely not have space on Thursday as well, unless you want to play with the boardgame group or in the Star Wars RPG.

Letter From Mary Alice

 Got an email from my friend Mary Alice Wilson, who owns Dark Star Books in Yellow Springs, OH on how he store is handling the epidemic

? I received the following response, reprinted with her permission,  from Mary Alice Wilson, owner  of Dark Star Books in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

“Dark Star is doing ok with ebay and one employee.  Our comic guy whom we laid off, is getting the unemployment boost to his check . The check is for more than his salary.  he was hinting it would be   good thing if he stayed laid off. and that we hire a newbie. Kate wasn't good with that idea! 

Our Gov. De Wine just announced plans for the future.  First doctor, dentist and then veterinarian.  then construction and factory work.  and on May 12, WE can open.  Already have the $335 plastic shield at cash register. trying to buy a large hand sanitizer dispenser for at the front door,  which is  hard to find.  However, i could see Magic and Pokemon games with a plastic shield between the players across from each other.  I don't really know much about gaming, but it might work.

One of our staff has been making masks like a demon - and today i saw one with clear plastic over the mouth area, so folks a little hard of hearing, like me, can read lips a bit.  i either have to have visitors lift the mask up  or have someone tell me what they said.  Getting folks to just talk louder doesn't seem to be in my skill set.  Our staff mask maker  said, “oh yes, I know about those”.  Well, MAKE some, for goodness sake.  i wouldn't know how.   I said, there is one thing a comic book store has, is plastic, and Mylar. 

Hoarding is great!  I don't know why I bought - and much less KEPT - bathroom decals from the 30's; a whole box full of boxed 12" figures from the 70'S (well i know NOW it was a good idea - best one sold for  $400); boxes full of mads and cracked and warren mags like elvira.....we have a double house. The other side was was where we put stuff we didn't know what to do with after we bought it.  or stuff that came in while buying things we DID know what to do with.  but along comes our staff member Kate and her pop culture know how, and all that stuff now has price tags.  Being in the book biz means we had hoarded lots of first editions for when we got an on-line presence.  Well we have that now, and 1700+ items currently listed.  Some of the things that sell are from early days.  we sold something the other  day that had been on eBay for 10 years, maybe, and i cringed at the way it was listed and the price - too low - but hey, it sold, that's all good.

Where do I sell online? Ebay, baby! and abe and amazon.  Gary does abe, which is strictly books.  He also does amazon - and Kate and staff do ebay.  and the latter does amazingly well.  if there is someone out there that wants to pay some outrageous price - and remember this is being available to everyone in the world with an internet device - that person can find us.  They would NEVER find us on our website.  The most looked at items on our website are cat pictures.  (They are really cool; kate finally put up a video.) Really glad to hear from you.”

Free Comic Book Day

 For those interested, Free Comic Book Day in 2021 will take place on August 14, the 2nd Saturday in August. Typically the event takes place the first Saturday in May but the hope is that the pandemic will be enough under control by mid-August that people will be able to congregate in the size of crowds that FCBD normally brings, without increasing the likelihood of spreading  COVID-19

D&D Update

 Here is the current status on D&D at the store. Brandon Hale is running a campaign on Wednesday nights set in Ravenloft through the last Wednesday in October. Syd returns from quarantine from her bout with COVID-19 this week and will start running D&D again on Friday nights on October 16. She will return to running D&D on Wednesday nights on November 4th.