Merchandising: Turning Your Comic into Something More…

[Tieback]

Many webcomic artists hope/plan to self publish and sell their comic. (Some also sell electronic copies.) It’s also common to see webcomic merchandise: buttons, bookmarks, shirts, keychains, magnets, etc. I’ve also seen comic artists selling copies/original work and excepting commission work. But, what else can be done beyond these popular, but common merchandising approaches to generating revenue?

I’ve seen a few webcomic artist think outside the box. From creating original musical scores to developing a visual novel video game, some webcomic artists break new ground with the ways they successfully sell their brand. I thought it would be fun to brainstorm new ways we might sell comic related products/experiences. Feel free to share any existing ideas you’ve seen (make sure to include a link though, so we can check it out )

Visual Novel Video Game: http://starfightercomic.com/games.php

[Rueleer]

Ok this isn't really an idea, but I just think it'd be super cool if some webcomics made figures. (Not the action type, the collector type XD)

The closest that I've seen is with Yuumei and her series Knites, where she made sculptures of her MCs Sen and Kai. And they weren't for sale. :'D

http://fav.me/d9wxy2s
http://fav.me/d9w677w

It's an impossible concept (since figures are difficult as ass to make, and the price tag would be HORRIFIC), but it just tickles my fancy, since I am a collector myself. X'DD

(And omg Starfighter :'DDDDD I heard of it through the original comic, and I'm so tempted to play, but alas, I have work to do. OTL)

[Puppisama]

If my webcomic was that popular, I'd sell plushes and clothes of it, I'm not a fan of buttons and keychans, but I DO love plushies and figurines, also a fancy bag, lovely. I'd love a real sized plush of Momo the Corgiberus, heck, I would even sell clothes for dogs because I love them hahaha. Instead of selling stuff for my human fans why not sell stuff for my human fan's dog? That'd be cool.

[WakaXO]

If I ever get to the point of making merch for my comic I would love to make plushies of my comics mascot the Neon Rabbit. (Mostly becuase I want one myself ^^; )
Other than that, if you want really out if the box, it would be cool to make my MC's costume available for sale, though I don't know how well it would sell '__'

[dojo]

Mine's kinda backwards in that I was making a game and turned it into a comic, although I do plan on going back to the game in the future. Getting the comic out there first is helping me figure out what I'd want out of the game, so I'd say I've made a good decision with my flip B)

I think it helps to kinda think about what you can feasibly make on your own, though, so you don't end up spending a ton of money on something that you don't know if it'll sell at first, if you're only just stepping into the merchandising game. Like for me, I'd probably do limited figurines and plushies cuz I'd be able to make prototypes myself since I sew and sculpt in my spare time, then share them with my readers to kinda gauge interest and see how many people might be interested in preordering and that kind of thing. That way I'm not stuck with a million figurines in my house that no one wanted, and out a lot of cash I didn't even need to spend. At least if I got stuck with a pile of plushies no one wanted I'd be able to dump them on my bed and cuddle a giant pile of narcissism, but it'd still be better if that didn't happen.

SO YEAH I guess my recommendation is think about what you can make and see if you can't sell that. I'm sure there's some pretty unique things that could come out of that.

[phoenixrenaissance]

There's a webcomic I follow that has gone the figure making route. He got them 3D printed but the cost was still pretty high and they haven't sold very well so they're probably the sort of thing you need to gauge audience response from before attempting. http://www.mylifewithfel.com/shop/

[Kamikaze]

I'd LOVE to do a video game, or some really well made resin figures. However, those are kinda pricey to do, HA!

In the more reasonable realm I've been thinking about enamel pins lately. Maybe making some of the characters or props and seeing how that works. :o

[Tieback]

At least if I got stuck with a pile of plushies no one wanted I'd be able to dump them on my bed and cuddle a giant pile of narcissism

OMG, I love this idea! Ha ha!

[mjmassey]

I have a Redbubble store just for the hell of it: https://www.redbubble.com/people/mjmassey/portfolio

With Redbubble, they take care of all the printing and manufacturing, and then I get a cut. I don't even have to pay to have the store up. I haven't made many sales yet, but it's nice to have a place where people can get stuff with my art on it. Redbubble just needs to make a way to integrate with wordpress, and then I'd be set.

If you're thinking of making some merchandise with your art on it, they have tons of options.

[indagold]

I've been creating musical scores for a while for my comics: http://alannanikol.bandcamp.com/
I think it's just because I am animator and animators need music so learning it is better than paying for it. I got into the habit of making thematic music for my work and imagining which characters, scenes or environments would fit with each song.
But my work isn't super popular so it's just my narcissistic need to go the extra mile lol

[Tieback]

That's too cool that you are creating your own music for your comic! If you don't mind me asking what program(s) do you use?

[quietsnooze]

Since people have mentioned plushies... I was commissioned by the creator of Agents of the Realm to make this plushie of her main character!

And here's one of my own characters from Radio Silence:

[indagold]

I don't have access to high end equipment or programs so I use garageband. It's not really too bad as a music program and is sometimes used professionally. I also use audacity or adobe audition for editing.

[Memokkeen]

Gosh, I tabbed this thread days ago but didn't ever get around to replying...
I think it depends a lot on what kind of series you're making. Is it action-packed? A fighting game or 2D scroller of it would be cool, or maybe keychains of the characters' weapons, etc.
Romance? Visual novels to sate fans' ships!

And so on.

...but I would also like to bring up Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, whom most of us know and grew up with. There's a really great documentary on him and his views on Netflix (Dear Mr Watterson) , but what it summed up to was that Watterson consciously, continuosly, chose to not make Calvin and Hobbes merchandise, because he felt it would pervert the idea of his original intentions, characters, the story.

So... you know. It's risky, less income, to not merchandise... but that is one way of doing this, one way of looking at it, as well.
Just throwing it out there as food for thought!