813 Services & Solutions
03/06/2006

Ian Feller started his career as a retail store manager before moving into publishing where he was first the editor of Comic Book Collector magazine, then launched and served as managing editor of COMBO magazine, then took the reins as promotions manager for Wizard Entertainment, where he was responsible for bringing in revenue through the creation of mail-away #1/2 comics. He then moved on to CrossGen Entertainment where handled all of CrossGen's advertising and convention planning, before launching his consulting firm of 813 Services & Solutions.

In this interview, Ian lets us know what his company is all about.

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WHAT KIND OF SERVICE DO YOU PROVIDE?
813 Services & Solutions, Inc. (www.813sands.com) is a multi purpose media consulting firm that specializes in providing business solutions for new and existing publishers. We aim to provide new and existing publishers with a proven valuable resource with the capability of handling any of their business needs.

HOW DO THOSE SERVICES BENEFIT THOSE THAT HIRE YOU?
We offer business solutions that help publishers handle the aspects they may not have time to focus on or the experience to take care of. These include consulting, editorial and writing, public and media relations, marketing, advertising, promotions, convention preparation and web site creation. We also offer a score of solutions, including creator representation, custom comics packaging, intellectual property acquisition, intellectual property management for film, TV and video games and even some overseas print brokering. All valuable resources for cash strapped, time pressured publishers of comics, magazines or licensors looking to enter the comics market. And all at a price that fits into any budget.

WHO ARE YOU DIRECTLY TARGETING?
Our target is anyone who is currently publishing or thinking about getting into the publishing business. Publishing is a very difficult field to enter, the competition is stiff and the learning curve can be expensive. We aim to help both new and existing publishers run their businesses more effectively. We provide knowledge and expertise that would take new publishers many years to acquire and we provide existing publishers with a cost effective way to outsource high priced responsibilities for a very reasonable price.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS DOING THIS?
813 Services & Solutions was founded in late 2003.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR COMPANY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
I see us growing our current client list, increasing our creator list and expanding into other areas that are useful to the publishing market. We?re currently considering expanding into travel sales and possibly even publishing. We want to be the go-to place for anything a publisher may need.
WHO ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPANY?
Currently the company is basically a one man show. I handle the day-to-day operations, but I work with outside sources on areas I?m not such an expert on. For instance, web development. I?m partnered with a fantastic developer who oversees all the web based projects that come our way.

WHO ARE YOU WORKING WITH OR HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST?
Desperado Publishing, Superverse (publisher of Zoom Suit), Across the Pond Studios, MegaCon, Platinum Studios, Beckett Comics, CBG, Gemstone Publishing, and more. If you?re interested, you can see my entire resume and client list on my web site: www.813sands.com.

WHAT MAKES YOU QUALIFIED TO HANG OUT YOUR SHINGLE AND OFFER TO HELP?
I?ve been working in the comics field in some capacity for about 15 years now and have learned a lot in that time. I?ve worked with and for publishers, I?ve served as an editor and ran a comic book store. I?ve handled promotions, advertising, marketing, public and media relations. I?ve dealt with distributors and licensees, met with film studios and set up online e-commerce. I?ve written articles and dealt with creators. I like to think that all this experience is valuable and that there are companies out there that can benefit from my trials and tribulations. I?ve spent a lot of time in this business developing friendships and contacts, learning through experience and repetition. This type of knowledge and experience cannot be achieved overnight, yet each month Previews features more brand new publishers or publishers still in their infancy releasing titles into the market. It?s those publishers that can benefit the most from my experiences. Before they realize that they?ve missed something extremely important in their initial plans and there is no time to go back and accomplish them, I want to be there to help. To make sure they have the best chance possible to succeed.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE COMICS MARKET IS DOING RIGHT NOW?
It depends on what sector of the comics market you are referring to. The big 2 continue to dominate the market and have been slowly choking out the smaller companies with their crossovers and event series. So for Marvel and DC, the industry is doing great right now. For the rest of the publishers, the industry is a very difficult place to be. With so few retailer dollars left after all the event books have been purchased, it?s tough for a smaller company to make a mark. Unless of course, they are prepared for this and have planned to keep their costs down and not expect exorbitant sales. A small company can still succeed right now, it just takes careful planning and preparation.

HOW BRIGHT IS THE FUTURE FOR THE COMICS WORLD?
I think this domination by the big 2 is actually hurting the overall comics market. These event comics are aimed at the ?in-the-know? comics reader. They are not geared for someone that is unfamiliar with these characters and the continuity of the universes. This narrows the audience. If publishers don?t make strides to attract new readers, especially younger readers, eventually the industry will grow old and die. Since Marvel and DC are content to publish for their core audience, someone has to find a way to attract these new readers. And there are a bunch of wonderful smaller publishers that are attempting to do just that.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR SUCCESSES?
The buzz that the April releasing title Zoom Suit has generated has been fantastic. Here is a new title from an unknown publisher that decided to produce one great title and push it hard. The reviews have been great and I expect that orders for the series will be high; high by indy standards at least. I think that John Taddeo?s initial plan for the series was very solid and I?m glad that I could help him spread the word.

ANY SURPRISING FAILURES?
Not really surprising. The comics industry is a tough place to make a living. I?ve worked with publishers that have paid for my advice and knowledge, but when I laid out a plan to help them succeed, I?ve been met with resistance. I expect that the resistance was financially based, but if you don?t have some money to invest in your project, it?s going to be hard to gain the exposure you need to make a mark.

THANKS, IAN!

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