Sammlerecke Comics und Romane (Inhaber Frieder Maier)

About us

Sammlerecke Comics und Romane was founded in 1988 and is a specialist retailer for comics, pulp magazines and collector literature. The company operates a new-releases shop, an online stock shop with around one million comics and more than 500,000 pulp magazines, as well as a subscription service for monthly new releases, DVDs and magazines. The product range includes current German and US comics, manga, pulp magazines, second-hand music magazines, film programmes and picture-collecting albums. Via purchasing trips within Germany and Austria, Sammlerecke acquires collections on site. Since 1997 the company has operated an online shop for comics and pulp magazines, and since 2003 additionally a stock shop. The main store in Esslingen comprises 2500 sqm of retail, warehouse and office space on four floors. It maintains branches in Nürtingen and Koblenz.

Site

Esslingen/Neckar

Processes

Subscription service for new comic releases, Mail-order business, Purchase of collections (purchasing trips), Online stock shop, Newsletter/topical mailings, Tabletop gaming area

Founded

1988

Industries

Comic and pulp magazine specialist retail, Book trade, Collector market

1. 01

   On-site purchase of collections

2. 02

   Warehousing and stock management

3. 03

   Cataloguing, resale via retail and online shops

4. 04

   Subscription and mail-order service

Locations

Esslingen/Neckar

DE

Main store with retail shop, warehouse and office

Nürtingen

DE

Branch with retail shop and tabletop gaming area

Koblenz

DE

Branch with retail shop and comic events

Inside the production

History

1. 1988

   Takeover of a private lending library in Nürtingen (35 sqm) and conversion into a comic and pulp magazine specialist store.

2. 1990

   First handwritten mail-order list, introduction of the subscription service.

3. 1991

   Range expansion through import of US comics.

4. 1992

   Uwe Lochmann becomes the first permanent employee.

5. 1993

   Move to larger premises on Kirchheimerstraße in Nürtingen.

6. 1995

   Leasing of a former church as an external warehouse.

7. 1996

   Opening of the branch in Koblenz.

8. 1997

   Online shop sammlerecke.de goes live.

9. 1998

   Relocation of the main store to Esslingen (2500 sqm).

10. 2000

    Introduction of proprietary IT for subscription and reservation management.

11. 2003

    Launch of the online stock shop, first purchasing trip through Germany and Austria.

12. 2004

    Range expanded to include music magazines, film programmes and picture-collecting albums.

13. 2005

    Set-up of a tabletop gaming area in Nürtingen.

14. 2006

    Visit by Disney artist Don Rosa in Esslingen.

15. 2007

    Recognition as a training company by the IHK, CoLa Prize for the Koblenz branch.

16. 2008

    Second visit by Don Rosa to all branches, visit by Howard Chaykin in Esslingen.

17. 2009

    The first two trained booksellers pass their examinations.