Tomatovision TV
Your Pop Culture Superhighway
What is the Nexus Entertainment Group?
About Us:
The Nexus Entertainment Group was started as a way to help Pop Culture Dealers, both retail and online to understand the new world of Pop Culture. Our services include IT consulting, mobility, website design, and social media marketing. These technologies are now part of any business who wants to succeed in this now a very hi-tech world. Well, you might say "That may be true for other business is not true for me" "I sell comics, toys, and movie posters and I don't use or need this".
While that may have been true several years ago let's see where we are today. I wasn't so long ago when having a website to sell collectibles seemed a waste. But now it's common for fans to ask you at a convention or over the phone "Do you have a website?" Of course, you do. You know that many times your website has been come to the gateway for finding and keeping fans. But now something new has been added namely mobile and social media. These two new ways of reaching fans have turned the pop culture upside down and can make a product POP!! by going viral with a Facebook post, tweet, or Instagram photo.
Just take a look at how movies are being marketed today not with just TV advertising but with a Facebook page that can get tens of thousands of "likes" within a few hours. That's why major studios like; Marvel, WB, and Disney all use social media to promote upcoming films. But that's not the whole picture they also have mobile apps that can run on any mobile device that can keep fans up to date on what's going on and sell to them anytime and anywhere, these fans can, in turn, tell all their friends about what they are doing and invite along. That's why social media and mobile has become a key factor in the way major media companies promote their films.
You might say "That's all well and good for them, but I am not a multi-billion dollar studio and I don't have that type of money to spend on social media network for my business" Granted you don't but you don't need a big budget to be successful on social media or mobility. You just need to understand how it works and a few hours a day to create a buzz about your business. "Ok that might be true, but to be honest I can barely keep my website up to date let alone take the time to learn social media and mobility that seems ‘to change every other day" This is true and this is where we can help. Our IT services can help you with everything from setting up a website, creating social media and mobile apps that will work your website to create a truly integrated system that will make it easy for your fans and potential customers to get updates about your products and then share that with their friends.
"Wait a minute, I have heard this before from other social media companies that said that they could help, but they didn't know my business, most couldn't tell the difference between a comic or a manga, So what makes you so different"
Good question, so let me tell you a little bit about us first on the Pop Culture side. We started out in 1984 in Chicago as a dealer at local comic conventions. Then in 1985, we opened our first store called It’s A Small world Too/Hep Cat Comics this store did more than just comics we sold vintage toys, manga, Role-playing games, and Doctor Who. We were also the first shop to show anime and classic TV shows on a large screen in our store. This attracted not only fans but many comic artists to our store. In 1987 we held the first party for an Underground artist like Kim Dietch, Jay Lynch, Dan Clouse, and Skip Williamson, this party was to create artwork for the STRIPAIDS book. We did for a friend I met in the U.K. who was an artist and writer, now what was his name, oh yeah Alan Moore.
Then in 1988, we teamed up with Doctor Who magazine editor John Freeman to produce the Brit TV Convention. This convention was the first and only convention to feature Dalek creator Terry Nation and Cyberman creator Gerry Davis at the same convention. From that, we started a new company called Brit TV Entertainment that worked with British and PBS stations to promote British television across the U.S. that lead to publishing a newsletter called Brit TV and working with Doctor Who, Starburst, and Starlog magazines writing about pop culture.
In 1992 we were part of the design team for the Doctor Who arcade game from Midway/Bally Games and promoting the game a the Chicago Doctor Who convention. Since then our focus has been on technology but we have been asked to create episode guides for a various British TV show from companies like the BBC and ITV and we were researchers on several pop culture books including The Avengers TV show, Batmania in the Netherlands, and The Prisoner/Dangerman.
Now the technology side Our company Wirehead Technology started in 2001 was one of the first companies` to see mobility as something that could be used for business. Our first project was to create a mobile training program for CompUSA in Chicago for Palm Pilots.
We then refined our system into what we called MERP [Mobile Enterprise Resource Planning] this system would bring in all the elements for business mobility consulting, system integration and training.
In 2001 we wrote a white called “The Handheld Application Guidebook and spoke at the first DCI Wireless convention on the subject of mobile application development for business.
In 2002 we created a wireless/mobile system for Hyat Elementary School in Chicago that was used in a case study about how to use Wi-fi in education and was part of a report by Channel two news in Chicago “Schools Without Wires”
In 2008 and 2009 we wrote a three-part article for Enterprise Magazine Quarterly“ How to Create a MERP Network” a step by step instruction on how our MERP system works.
In 2010 we taught a call a Chicago IIT called Making Mobile Simple on the same panel was Luke Sheppard from Facebook.
In 2012 Wirehead Technology was one of the first companies profiled by IBM Social Media Boot Camp as a way for small business to effectively use Social Media in business.
As you can see we have been more than just part of the Pop Culture/ Technology business we have been in the forefront as innovators. We can bring that same vision and skill to your business. So invite you to take a look at our services then give us a call if you have any questions. We are here to help.
For More Info Call: 312-483-4598
Independent Comic Book Publishers Distribution Proposal
Objectives:
The objective of this proposal is to create an Independent Comic book Distribution company that will work with Independent Comic book publishers, artists, and writers to get their comics into comic book retail outlets. The other objective of this proposal is to introduce comic book retailers to Independent Comic book publishers and the comics they produce but are not carried by the major Comic Book Distributors and create an Independent Comic Book service that Comic book retailers can use to purchase comics books from Independent Comic Book Publishers.
The Problem:
Comic Book Independent Publishers Independent Comic Publishers problems are they spend most of their time creating their comic that means they are working with artists or writers of their comic if they are not a writer or artists. They are also working with a printer make sure that their book will be printed on time to meet their deadline to have their comic book out on the market on time to meet demand. Some independent comics publishers have turned to "Just in Time or On-Demand" publishing to cut the cost of their comics. This method creates two versions of the book a printed and digital version. The digital version of the comic can be sold online at their website or digital comic stores like Drive-Thru or Comixology. That still leaves the printed version of the comic that is either sold on the website or at a comic book expo. This way of selling to fans have been part of the independent comic publisher because many independent comic publishers did not have enough comics to be listed on the major comics book distributors for sale to comic book retailers.
The only way that the independent comic book publishers could get their comics into comic retail stores is to go to comic book retailers and sell their comics directly to comic book retailers. Either on a consignment deal which means the comic book retailer who not directly buy the comic book but, give the independent comic book publisher limited shelve space and take a percentage on the sale of the comic. The second way is the independent comic publishers and the comic retailer would make a deal to sell the comics to the retailers at a set price. Then it would be left up to the comic retailer to sell and promote the comics in his location. This method does have some advantages the independent comic publisher now had a place that his comics can be sold on regular bases and the comic book retailer has a new comic to sell to his customers.
Independent Comic book Marketing:
Marketing an independent comic book has presented a challenge for the Independent comic book publisher, once the comic is done the publisher must create an audience for their book. This can be done in several ways.
Comic Book Expos:
This method of promoting comics has been done by all of the major comic book companies i.e. DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, etc. and by the major comic book distributor Diamond Distributors. These expos are used to introduce new comics to customers and talk directly with comic customers about their books and let the customers interact with the artist and writers of the comics. This is a great way to build up a fan base for the comic and gauge the market for their book. An expo is also the place where the independent comic book publisher can meet with comic book retailers and discuss placing their comics in the comic book retailers store. At the expo independent comic book, publishers can also show the comic book retailer the popularity of their book and why the comics book retailer should carry and promote their comic book in their retail location. These comic book expos are a good way to promote a new comic book but there is a downside, namely time and money. There are hundreds of comic book expos around the country and the cost of being an exhibitor at these expos can be expensive such as the cost of transporting products, hotel, and food. Then there is scheduling, how many expos can you do in a year and if this is the right expo to sell and promote your book. These costs must be adding to the cost of publishing the book. Finally, will these expos bring in the revenue need to keep your company afloat?
Online Marketing:
Another way of selling their comic book is online retailing via a website. For many Independent Comics book publishers setting up a website is one of the best ways to sell their comic book to fans. With a website, they can control how their comic book is marketed and promoted to their fans. A website can be more interactive and unlike a retail comic store is open 24/7 and reach a potentially worldwide audience. With a website an independent comic book publisher can introduce new comics, sale any warehoused inventory, take subscriptions, and promote any expo that the independent comic book publishers will be attending. Social Media Marketing: Social media has become one of the best ways an independent comic book publisher can promote and sell their comics. Using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Independent Comic book publishers can interact with fans to create a buzz about their books and sell directly to fans and have them promote the publisher's book directly to their friends. Social media is also a way for the independent comic book publishers to see how popular their books are with their online fans. Social media can also bring fans to their website to see what the independent comic book publishers have to offer. Social media can also be used at comic expos to create live video feeds from any panels that the independent comic book are a part of.
Digital Comics:
The new medium of Digital comics has become a new way for independent comic book publishers to sell their comics to fans. Digital comics works by sending a digital copy of their comics to the mobile device I.e. iPhones, smartphones, PC, or tablets of the fan. This copy can be read anytime and unlike printed comics does not has to be shipped lowering the printing and shipping cost for the independent comic book publishers. The digital comic is stored on the mobile device, PC or tablet. The comic will never get old and it can be read anytime. There are several ways the independent comic book publisher can create and sell a digital version of their comic. They can create a digital version via Adobe Flash, or PDF and sell it directly from their website. They can also sell through third-party digital distributors like Comixology or Drive-Thru Comics. These two distributors like a regular distributor will sell and do a limited promotion of the independent comic book publisher to their database of online customers. The independent comic book publisher can also link their website and social media sites to these digital distributors and let their fans download sample copies of their books that can be shared by fans on their social media friends and increase their reach with spending large amounts of money on marketing and promotion. The only downside to this method is that once someone downloads a comic that comic could be shared by untold numbers of people without paying for independent comic book publishers for the comic. This is similar to what happened when digital music was first downloaded and shared without the music artist getting paid for their songs. Digital comics are still a new way of selling comics, but it is growing in popularity and is being used by major comic book companies like DC, Marvel, Top Cow, etc. plus many causal comic book fans like the ease of having comic delivered to their mobile devices.
Direct Selling:
By far the hardest way for an independent comic book publisher to sell their books are to Comic book retailers. The reason is two-fold most independent comic book publishers don't sell enough comics to be listed in the major comic book distributors catalog. These means that most comic book retailers don't know that the comic book exists to promote it to his customers. The next reason is scheduling most small independent comic book publishers runs are so small and don't come on a regular schedule. This uneven publishing scheduling makes their books very unpopular with comic book retailers. Some independent comic book publishers and comic book retailers have found a way to get around this problem. Direct Sales with a twist. Many independent comic book publishers and comic book retailers have come together to promote each other outside of the normal comic book distribution system. This reason they are doing this. The independent comic book publisher works with the comic book retailer to promote the comic at his store by having signing events. At these events, the writer and or artist talks to the fan about the comic was created. During this event, fans can buy the comic from the comic retailer and have it signed by the creators. Then after the event the comic is available for sale at the comic book retailer. For the independent comic book publishers, this gives them an outlet to sell their books. Then at expos, both independent comic book publishers and comic book retailer can say to the comic fan that their book is available at their store and let the comic fan know about any upcoming events at the comic retailer featuring their comic.
The Problem:
Comic Book Retailers As a comic book retailer making sure you have the latest and most popular comics for your customer base is the way you stay in business. To do this you need a source of comics that is delivered to your retail location on regular bases. This it's not easy if you have to go to every comic book publishers like DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, etc. You need one place that you can order these comics and a way to pay them all at once instead of sending out checks to over five-plus major comic book companies.
You also need to know if the comics will be delivered to your retail location in a timely manner ever month. That is why comic book retailers turn to Comic book distributors to supply them with the latest comics on the market. While this makes it easier for comic book retailers to get mainstream comics. Comic book retailers find that trying to get many of the popular Independent comics much harder. Due to the fact that the major Comic Book Distributors will not carry a comic book that has a print run of usually 2500 or less per month. This leaves out many of the Independent Comic book publishers who's print runs are lower than the minimum required by the major Comic Book Distributors. Which leaves them and the Comic Book Retailers in a kind of catch-22. The Comic book retailers would like to purchase the Independent Comics but the can't get from the major Comic Book Distributors because their counts are to low.
The Independent Comic Book Publishers can't get their comics into Comic Book Retailers because their counts are to low to get picked up by the major comic book distributors. This system has existed since the 1980s because there has been only one major comic book distributor. That has had a hold on comic book distribution. And has been able to control what comic book will go into every comic retailer in the U.S. This was not always the case. In the early '80s, there were a least 5 comic book distributors in the U.S. These distributors catered to comic book retailers and magazine stores. With an array of comics, magazines, and books. In the comic space, they also worked with both mainstream comics and independent comics. Since many of these distributors where small themselves they could work closely with independent comic book publishers with lower print runs. They would help smaller independent comic book publishes get their comics into comic book retailers to increase their sales which would keep both the Independent Comic book Distributor and publishers in the business. This relationship worked well for all three.
The Independent Comic book distributors would work with Independent Comic book publishers to make sure his books are listed in their catalog and getting their books out on time. The Independent Comic book distributor would then introduce the comic book retailer to new comics that would work in his store since in most cases. The Independent Comic Book Distributor was on first name bases with the comic book retailer and independent comic book publishers. Most importantly for the independent comic book publishers since the print run for his comic books were lower he could work closely with comic retailers to increase his numbers by coming into a comic retailer for a special in-store signing event. For example, in the '80s a small comic company called Image had a strange little comic title called Teen Age Mutant Turtles that were not listed with mainstream comic distributors but was listed with smaller distributors and with the help of comic shops around the country made. This comic a blockbuster comic. This was repeated several times during the Independent Comic book boom of the '80s and gave us Independent Comic book publishers like Dark Horse, Image, First, etc. Now, these comic companies are now considered mainstream comic companies now.
But this would not have happened if small independent comic book distributors, Independent comic book publishers, and Comic book retailers did not work together. This is what has been lost in the new world of comic book distribution.
The Solution:
Comic Book Retailers The solution for comic book retailers is a return to the old way of doing business with a new twist. The comic book retailers must come together with Independent comic book publishers and create a system of smaller independent comic book distributors. These Independent comic book distributors would work with independent comic book publishers who join the distributors as a co-op that would help them get their comics to market quickly by helping get a consistent print run. This print runs would be on an on-demand system that would print the number of books in a small run then increase the runs as the comic are sold to member comic book retailers. The Independent comic book distributors would also work with the comic book retailers by introducing them to independent comic book publishers and getting an ordering system that would make it easy for retailers to order the comics and making sure the comics would have a reliable delivery date.
This new Independent Comic book distributor will also work with the comic book retailer and independent comic book publisher on on-site signing to get the word out to their customers about a new comic they should be reading. On the independent comic book publisher side once a contract is signed with a retailer. The Independent comic book publishers should list on websites, comic book expos and social media where their books can be purchased. The Independent Comic book Distributors will also list on their website, comic book expos, and social media. All the comics shops that carry the comics they are distributing. This system is a return of an old system will work with the new forms of distributing print comics. While it could work for a new digital system. This system is mainly for the benefit of Comic book retailers and Independent Comic book publishers. For this system to work will need Independent Comic book publishers to work together as a co-op this would make them stronger by reducing the cost to print and marketing. At least seven comic shops would have to sign up for the service from the Independent Comic book Distributors. Most importantly is an Independent comic-book distributor to create a company that is totally committed to creating this company despite the influence that the major comic book distributor has over the comic book retailers. Funding the Independent Comic Book Distribution System Finally a Kickstarter or Go Fund Me campaign will need to fund the early days of the company until orders from the Independent Comic book publishers and comic book retailers start coming in.
This is only a proposal for a new Independent Comic book Distribution System. I welcome thoughts on how this system could be achieved please contact me with your thoughts.
Contact
Howard Lee
Tel: 312-483-4598
email: tomatovisiontv@gmail.com
Web: http://tomatovisiontv.wix.com/tomatovision2#!nexus/c13cl
Social Media Services
Hello, Pop Culture Dealers,
Do you need help in getting your social network up and running but don't know where to go?
We can help let our new Social Media Managed Services will set up all of your social networks from Facebook to Pinterest. We can also help with writing a company newsletter and blogs and distributing it to all of your social networks. Our services can also link your website content to the social network that will drive more traffic to your website with focused, targeted email communications. Build and manage your email list: import existing customer lists, add names individually or capture contact information from website visitors. Don't have a website? we can build one for you that is optimized for social media.
Need to know more about how our services can work for your business then check out this article that
IBM Social Media Boot Camp published about our social media methods then visit our sister website Wirehead Technology to see how we can help you build your Social Media Network
Mobile Apps
Pop Culture Dealers
Do you want your business to POP! The WhosPoppin mobile app is different from most other apps because it's developed once and can run on any mobile device,tablet or PC. That in itself would make WhosPoppin one of the best mobile app for your business, but let look closer at the WhosPopin mobile app. most mobile apps will create a mobile version of your business website and allow your customers to visit your page but that's about it. But when WhosPopin develops your app you get links to all social media sites like, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube and Pinterest. Do you want to know more? visit our demo site at http://www.wireheadtec.com/MobileApp.html
Website Services
Pop Culture Dealers, are you still confused about how to use Web2.0 for your business
Our Web Strategy Services takes your website further we will create a system that will include mobility and social media as part of the solution that will allow iPhones, Androids, Smartphones, and other mobile devices access the products or services you have to offer. We have partnered the top web service vendors like Short Stack, and more as part of our Web Strategy Services to give you the best of the best in Web 2.0.visit us Today and see how our solution can help your business succeed. Don't have a website, that's all righ we can bulid that for you too at our Wirehead Technology sister site . So check us out Today!!!
Computer Services
Wirehead Technology Customized Computers
Small and Medium-size Business let Wirehead Technology build the computer system that you need to help your business grow. We can now offer Computers, Laptops, and Storage systems build just for your business. Check out our Computer System Configurator and build your computer system to your specification. Or call us today and let one of our IT consultants help you build the computer system that will fit all of your business needs. visit our Equus site and purchase any of Equus full line of PC, Laptops, Storage Systems, and tablets for your business. Visit us at http://www.wireheadtec.com/products/Equus.html
Facebook Development
Pop Culture Dealers,
We can now offer your business complete Facebook page development with ShortStack that can help your business get more out of Facebook. Now you can link your website into your Facebook page and reach your customers anywhere and they can share your product or services with their friends. Check out our Facebook pages all designed using ShortStack. Just think how powerful that can be for your business. To find out how to purchase our services for your business Sign Up for Your FREE ShortStack Account Today !!!
Nexus Entertainment Group Publishing
Nexus Entertainment Group Publishing
Welcomes you to the World of Dark Metropolis. Dark Metropolis is a trilogy of three books that takes you into the strange and terrifying city of Dark Metropolis where Olympian Gods and Gods of Darkness fight for control of Dark Metropolis and the losers are sent to the horror that is called the Battlefield of Ur forever. The three stories that comprise Dark Metropolis are; Planetsong tells the story of Celesta a dying planet who asks her sister Gaia to save her children. Gaia agrees, but ask Celesta that one of her children must help Gaia fight against the Gods of Darkness in Dark Metropolis. The second story Urban Legends tells the story of Kevin Mathers who disappeared 15 years ago from Dark Metropolis now he is back but he has brought evil with him that could tip the balance of power between the Olympian Gods and the Gods of Darkness. The third story is Medusa Rising, this story is told by Medusa herself that tells the real story about how Medusa was seduced by Poseidon and cursed by Athena to turn anyone who looks at her into stone. But now Medusa is free, but who side is she on? Can she be the key to a new power rising that will mean the end of both Olympian Gods and the Gods of Darkness?. To find out you have to enter the World of Dark Metropolis.
Dark Metropolis: Trilogy
