This document presents a research report comparing two comic book shops: Comics Mart and Lao Mao Comic Book House. Comics Mart is located in Kuala Lumpur and sells western comics, board games, and action figures. Lao Mao Comic Book House is located in Banting, Selangor and sells Asian comics and toys. Both shops offer comic book rentals and memberships. While Comics Mart has more competitors and a larger capital requirement to start, Lao Mao Comic Book House has been in business longer since 1993. The document analyzes the businesses' strategies, obstacles, differences, and similarities and recommends ways to improve like increasing shop space and using social media advertising.

1. ENGLISHII (ELG 30605)
RESEARCHREPORT PRESENTATION
Name of group members: Harwinder Singh Girn
Carlson Ko
Darryl Harvey Lawrence
Neville Geoffrey
Aaron Chong Yu Ho
COMIC SHOPS

2. HISTORY OF COMICBOOKS
 Started as 10 cent books.
 well-known hero came from the comic
strips was Popeye who appeared in 1929.
The Golden Age

3. The Silver Age The Marvel Age
 Appeared The Fantastic Four Comic
 - Known “The Worlds Greatest Comic Magazine”
 Spider-man were introduced
 - First appear in Amazing Fantasy

4. The Bronze Age
 Anti heroes introduced
 Created by Marvel in 1973 till 1974
 Known anti-heroes:
 - Wolverine
 - The Punisher

5.  Marvel Comics were sold in 1989
 - Sold to a businessman named Ron Perelman
 Change in Marketing Campaign strategy
 Use of cover gimmicks in comic. Example:
 - Holograms
 - Glow in the dark
 - Extend out into a poster
 - Others
The Gimmick Age

6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BOTH BUSINESSES
Comics Mart
• Location: Lot T-033A 3rd Floor, Mid Valley Megamall
• Founded by William Pang in 2004
• Change of ownership to Mr. Wong Khai Hong who bought
the shop in 2007
• Business hour: Daily from 10am to 10pm
• Products sold:
• - Comic books
• - Board games
• - Action figures

7. EXAMPLE OF PRODUCT
Action Figures
Comic Books
Board Games

8. NUMBER OF COMPETITORS
Meeples
BookXcess
Kinokuniya

9. LAO MAO COMIC BOOK HOUSE
 Location: 119, Jalan Bunga Pekan 2, Banting, 42700, Banting,
Selangor, 42700, Malaysia
 Founded by Lim Hock Chai in 1993
 Open Time:
 - Monday from 9 30am to 6 00pm
 - Tuesday to Saturday 9:30am to 9:30pm
 - Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm.
 Product: Comic Books, magazines and toys
 Vast collection of vintage books and magazines since 1994
 Most selling product: Comic
 The owner doesn’t really care about their competitors and there are
very few of competitors.

10. EXAMPLE OF PRODUCTS
Comic Books
Online game Cards

11. COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF BUSINESSES
STRATEGIES OF BOTH BUSINESSES
Comic Mart:
 Advertising
- Put up sign around the shop
- Display action figure
 Classes / Workshops
- Lesson for playing board games
- Painting miniatures
 Services
- rental of board games
- memberships
 Pricing
- discounts
Lao Mao Comic Store
 Advertising
- Use of social media like Facebook
- Business card
 Services
- Rental of comic books
- Membership
 Organizing events
- Encourage children to read

12. OBSTACLES FACEDBY NEWBUSINESSES
 Lack of publicity
 Lot of effort needed for promoting their shop
 Few customers
 The use of digital comics
 Location

13. TABLE OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOTHBUSINESSES

14. Comics Mart Differences Lao Mao Comic House
Mid Valley, Megamall,
Kuala Lumpur
Location A shop house in Banting,
Selangor
Mr. Wong Khai Hong Current Founder Mr. Lim Hock Chai
2004 Year business was
founded
1993
RM 500 000 Capital needed to start
this business
RM80 000
5 Number of employees
needed
2
7 Number of competitors 2
10.00a.m. to 10.00p.m.
daily
Business hour Monday – 9.30am to
6.00pm Tuesday to
Saturday- 9.30am to
9.30pm
Sunday -10.00am to 5.00pm
Western comic books,
board games, action
figures, miniatures
Types of products Asian Comic books, online
card games, toys
No Rental of products Yes

15. TABLE OF SIMILARITIES BETWEENBOTHBUSINESSES
Comics Mart Similarities Lao Mao Comic House
Comic books Main products Comic books
Yes Membership Yes
No branches Number of branches No more branches. Branches
have been closed down.
No Future plan No
Commercial Type of business Commercial
Passion Motives for starting business Passion

16. conclusion

17. RECOMMENDATION
 Comic Mart:
- Increase the space of the shop
- Move location of the shop
- Putting up posters
- Advertise through social media
 Loa Mao Comic Book House
- Maintain a tidy place
- Renovate the shop
- Extend the space of their shop

18. Interview video

19. THANK YOU!!