Save The Comic Cave in Springfield, MO

Hello.   My name is John Oliver.  I'm a customer and friend of Josh Roberts, the owner of the Comic Cave.   Josh has crafted his shop over the last 6 years into the finest comic and toy shop in Southwest Missouri.  He is constantly helping charity organizations in the area with donations, giving people fantastic deals to help them fill in holes in their collections, and passing the love of comics and art onto a new generation.  He recently hosted CaveCon with Cullen Bunn and gave Springfield, MO it's largest true comic convention in a long time.  

        The part of the comic business that few seem to realize is that when someone doesn't pick up their orders, it can kill a brick and mortar store.   Inevitably, people special order products, subscribe to comics, and ask him to order in items and then never pick them up.  They assume he can just "sell them elsewhere."   The problem with that mentality is that comics are a "new, hot items sell best" business.   When someone doesn't pick up their books over 3-4 months, Josh can't resell them for full price.  They usually end up in a dollar bin or discounted so he will take a loss, if they sell at all.    Below is a photo of special orders being "held" for customers.  Many will pick them up..however, most of these items have been held for 3 months or longer.   The photo below represents around $6,000 of items (retail value.)   
      The next set of photos are 9 subscribers who just decided to stop coming in.   Between just these 9, Josh is now stuck with over $4,000 worth of comics, some even 7-8 months old.  

      Josh is struggling to clear debt and be able to order new inventory for his shop.   He's not one to complain to his customers, or his friends.   He's having trouble keeping his brick and mortar store open due to these situations and the high cost of giving Springfield it's proper comic convention this year.    I hear people complain about Amazon and that "other" chain store that carries comics in town.   The Comic Cave has become a place to meet writers and artists, talk to other comic book fans, hang out and chat with Josh, and just be a fan for a while.  It's a haven for many to escape the relentless day to day they face.   If things don't change quickly, Josh will be forced to begin liquidating his store and, eventually, close this location permanently.   If each subscriber gave just $5, Josh could make up the ground he needs and we'd more than meet our goal.   However, Josh has been generous enough to offer incentives for you to help him keep The Comic Cave open and thriving!  :)
$5 donation = eternal gratitude and thank you from the Comic Cave

$10 donation = gratitude and  2 Random Back Issues

$20 donation =  your name on a "Thank You" banner that will hang proudly in the store

$30 donation (30 available) =  You get to make an "Pick of the Week" to be displayed each week for one year (52 weeks)

$50 donation=  a  10% bump to your current discount for 1 year + Thank You Wall

$75 donation= 50 (!) random back issue comics ($2.99 or above)

$100 donation (10 available) = Buy one, get one back issues for 6 months

$150 donation (10 available) =   $150 worth of back issue comics, any comics in the store, your choice (excluding consignment items)

$250  donation= 100 (!) random back issue comics ($2.99 or above cover price), a 10% bump on subscription discount,  your Name on Thank you wall,  AND Buy one, get one back issues for 6 months)

$500 donation  (1 available) = “King  or (Queen) of Comics” for 1 year.   Josh and Scott will greet you upon each visit with a “All Hail the King  or(Queen)!  Esteem boost galore!  Thrill your friends!  :)

Many creators who have donated has asked their perks to be randomly given to others.  We will announce the winners of those after the campaign.  

Cullen Bunn has also graciously donated 10 (!) signed, random trades and comics to 5 random backers who pledge $100 or more (10 items per winner, 50 items total) 

In addition, ANY donation will entitle you to attend  a Private Sale/Customer Appreciation Party – Date TBD.

      If you love The Comic Cave and Josh as much as I do...then please consider backing this Go Fund Me.    Keep the magic alive in Springfield, MO for years to come!  

                                                                                                                                   John

***I’ve been asked by GoFundMe to clarify where this money is going. This will be used to help Josh clear the near $40,000 in open debt he has accrued after venue and associated costs with CaveCon and the back debt with Diamond Comic Distributors.  As the campaign hits milestones before we end on December 31, I will present Josh with a personal check after withdrawing funds, per GoFundMe rules for Business Campaigns. I’ll update with a video of me presenting each check.  -John