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In a bid to enhance the efficiency of comic book distribution, Austin-based startup PanelFly has introduced what it claims to be the inaugural online wholesale marketplace that connects retailers directly with publishers.
“The comic book industry is experiencing significant changes, and we believe it’s essential to provide a smarter and more adaptable method for retailers to obtain their inventory,” stated Amir Bahari, founder and CEO. “Our goal is to empower both publishers and retailers, leading to improved profit margins, quicker fulfillment, and a wider variety of comics available to customers.”
Differentiating itself from conventional distributors, PanelFly serves as a digital platform and ordering mechanism. Publishers are responsible for managing their own shipping, either through external logistics providers or their own warehouses, depending on the scale of their orders. “Retailers often deal with multiple distributors, which can be quite challenging. They certainly do not want to engage with an additional hundred publishers directly,” Bahari elaborated, noting that they are collaborating with a comic shop that currently sources from 50 local brands and publishers that are not represented in traditional distribution.
The platform boasts an open pricing structure that eliminates any monthly fees for publishers or retailers. Publishers can utilize the service free of charge, aside from a 5% fee on sales that covers payment processing, while retailers can access the platform without any associated costs.
PanelFly’s marketplace is designed to accommodate a wide range of industry stakeholders, including independent publishers, major companies, self-publishers, and both local and online retailers, as well as larger retail chains. Publishers can upload their complete catalogs, complete with preview pages and necessary metadata, establish custom discount rates based on order volume, and access detailed sales analytics. Early participants in the platform include 10 Ton Press, Pakkins Presents, and Wise Acre Comics.
“We are revolutionizing the distribution landscape by fostering transparency, allowing publishers to retain control over their sales and shipping processes, and addressing quality concerns while simultaneously enabling them to grow their businesses,” Bahari remarked.
For retailers, the platform simplifies the ordering process by allowing them to make unified orders from diverse publishers, access automated inventory management tools, gain early insight into forthcoming releases, and manage consolidated orders from brands and publishers bypassing traditional distribution networks.
The process itself is straightforward, consisting of three key steps: retailers explore and place orders directly with publishers, publishers manage their inventory in real-time, and orders are fulfilled globally through automated processing and shipping solutions.
Bahari, who founded Elite Sweets, known for its protein donuts, and has a brief history in venture capital, is currently funding PanelFly through personal resources and intends to pursue external funding once the platform achieves a certain level of gross merchandise value.
This launch announcement follows a recent court decision permitting Alliance Entertainment to purchase the assets of Diamond Comic Distributors from bankruptcy protection, though the future operations of Diamond by Alliance remain uncertain.
Despite the prevailing challenges within the industry, Bahari maintains a positive outlook and aims to roll out new features shortly, including communication systems, alongside reviews and rating mechanisms. “However, these developments are merely the beginning of our broader plans,” he added.
Source
www.publishersweekly.com