Meet Jesse James | Comic Book, Arcade and Trading cards store owner
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jesse James and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jesse, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was a 12 year old working at the Las Vegas Friendly neighborhood Comic book store in 1982 to 1985. It just never left my over all game plan to own a Comic Book, Arcade store in the future. Even when I was working with Nordstrom’s across the nation, it was all about going to the Comic book store to get my new issues every Wednesday. I would be in the store saying to “myself if they just did this or moved that”. It dawned on me that it wasn’t going to be a nice income to feel my void. When I decided it was time. I found out what city had the most stores per capita. At that time it was Phoenix and its suburbs. I decided on Glendale and put my self down the street from one the worlds largest stores at that time. It was not about being the best, just giving great service and great product at amazing prices. I also wanted to be part of the community and immediately created a huge social networked business.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have also had a position in a company that allowed me to coach others to be better. I have also given Hope to those who had no where to go or nothing to get them to the next stage in life or their career. I have always been the one to look at a goal , achieve it and improve it for the next person. I also make sure I never take away from my team, let them be the superstars.
I have been part of my community. Either running the comic book side for a major comic book convention. Or donating my time to creators for advice or a place to get their work done, including collaborating with like minded people.
I also understood social networking was the key to my business’s success. Jesse James Comics has over 46,000 + followers on Facebook. I also knew Livestreaming would be a huge platform. I was one of the 1st innovators, back in 2016, of Facebook live for comic books. This allowed me to create Comic Book Shopping network one of the largest live streaming companies in the industry, on FB. This allowed me to partner up with companies around the world providing them another way to pay their power bill.
There will also be more failure then success in our industry. However, that’s what’s makes our industry Great. The understanding that Failure makes you stronger. Is what makes your success more exciting. I’m someone that likes to pivot and created a path to success within the moment of when failure does happen. Most of what I do is live, now. So being able to maintain your mindset in a seconds notice is key. I will always invite failure, its what makes my team stronger and myself better as a coach and mentor to many.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It all began with Mary and Tom Heiner at the Friendly Neighborhood Comic Books Store in Las Vegas. They gave a 12 year old, in 1982, the opportunity to work for Comic Books, Bags and Boards. However, I learned very early the value of the items I was selling and how that would change the prospect of not just being a reader, but honing the craft of being a entrepreneur in the future, selling comic books
Blake Nordstrom was always there for me. While I worked not just for his brand, but for he families good historic image for service. It taught me the Best customer service should always be better the next time you help your customer again. I was also there to help them build their customer service logs and help them improve their retention. Blake kept in touch with me at least once a year to see how I was doing.
My father was always asking me “How I was going to be better then yesterday”. He pushed me to understand everything is for the customer. Their experience would be second to none. He also taught me how to respect others in your industry regardless on how they treated you.
Brian Pulido is one my biggest mentors and is just a solid person to know. He has taught me how to hang in there and fight the good fight. He has also shown me that records should also be broken no matter how much you think you have reached the top of your game.
Website: www.jessejamescomics.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessejamescomics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JesseJamesComic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jesse%20james%20comics
Image Credits
1. Jack Kirby 1983 2. Speaking at Phoenix Comic 2016 panel 3. Duel Guinness World record holder 4. Brian Pulido 5. Todd Mcfarlane and Greg Capullo 6. Chad Hardin, Tom Heiner, deryl Skelton 7. self 8 self 9 Live steaming Comic Book Shopping Network (1000’s show)
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
