I don’t even know how to start.
Anyway, I’m not going to be too specific about numbers because they seem to change daily depending on the mood of Donald Trump and/or Elon Musk and I’d like what I write to be true at least until I finish writing it. Also I’m not going to be saying “administration” or “executive branch” or whatever; subtlety is for sapphic yuri where the protagonists are useless (affectionate) lesbians not a global crisis that is literally killing people.
So without further ado, here’s what’s up at Outsider.
Prices and Stuff
We’re not going to increase prices until we absolutely have to. Everything is still sold at MSRP (with a few exceptions) and until things get to the point when, say, Penguin Random House is like “hey this graphic novel is going to cost $5 more now” we’re not going to change prices on books / comics with marked prices.
Just to cover all my bases: we reserve the right to not do this if hyperinflation occurs and the USD is devalued to hell.
Selections
This is the thing that’s hitting us right now and immediately.
First, everything that we’ve been importing directly is now going to just… not be imported until everyone responsible for these unreasonable tariffs are gone forever. Because even if tomorrow Trump says “loljk no tariffs on China Xi is my BFF now!” there’s nothing stopping him from going “actually no I want a 8000% tariff” as soon as something we order get on a plane or boat.
This hits indie zines/comics/TTRPGs and gaming accessories the most. All the cool games and comics and zines we get direct from creators outside the US? We’re not going to be doing that anymore. Dice that costs less than $8 a set? The loose dice in the fishbowl? Yeah that’s not happening anymore either because the reason why they’re so cheap is because we import them direct from factories in China.
(I did do a big dice order late 2024 in anticipation of some more reasonable kind of trade war so we do have a decent inventory but like, yeah, once they’re gone they’re gone.)
With stuff we don’t import ourselves but get from US-based suppliers or importers there’s going to be a small buffer before things affect us but that buffer is disappearing quick. For example, we’re probably not going to be carrying UltraPro items anymore beyond what we’ve already ordered.
And don’t get me started on board games. You know, the entire industry that’s on fire right now?
I’m working on an order right now and with the way things are going it may be the final board game order we’ll be making as a store.
Oh and enamel pins. That’s another thing that the US is *completely incapable of making*.
And garments. Yes, almost every clothing item we sell is printed in the US but… the garments themselves, the fabric, none of the manufacturing of that is in the US anymore.
There isn’t a single item we sell at Outsider that isn’t part of an industry that’s being completely destroyed by these tariffs Trump imposed on a whim. A big part of it is that I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single industry that’s not being completely destroyed by Trump right now. But like, I don’t know enough about industries other than these ones.
But anyway, the point is that we’re not going to be able to stock a lot of things now / in the future for one or more of three reasons:
- I don’t think you (or anyone for that matter) will pay $300 for a copy of Wingspan.
- The thing will simply just not exist anymore.
- I’m not going to order something if I don’t know whether the quoted price will triple overnight.
And this *really sucks* because variety, just like diversity, is awesome. And so much of this variety comes from amazing artists all around the world, from like, literally down the block to across the oceans. And the artists, ultimately are the ones who are going to suffer the most.
Long Term Plans
As some of you may know The Times have been real bad for us, which means that I have been exploring options for Outsider to continue existing and what that may look like. Part of that is figuring out what *the actual point of Outsider existing* is. Like, exactly what good does it serve in These Times? (This isn’t a self-pitying boohoo what are we even doing thing. This is more a trying to figure out what our values are and what roles we can play in These Times and so we can focus on that.)
What I’m trying to say is honestly I’ve been thinking about what Outsider looks like long term and what it is beyond “exchange goods for money which then will be exchanged for cat food to feed the cats”, and there are definitely plans and ideas in motion behind the scenes that I can’t share right now but like, yeah, things are going to happen.
What I can and will say is that unless something physically stops it from happening (like a tornado or world war 3) we will be here until August. Because we’re committed to a lease until October, for one. No idea what will happen after that, but like, that’s as far as I can commit myself to right now.
What You Can Do to Help?
Look, nothing we sell is essential in the sense that we don’t sell food, water, shelter, etc. Literally the only item that’s essential to survival that we sell would be clothing and there are cheaper alternatives to a $30 hand screen-printed t-shirt if you need clothing.
But at the same time, art is essential to survival.
So if you’re like, hey, I want to bring joy to myself and I still have money left after buying eggs, please come in and see if anything speaks to you and maybe buy it.
(If it literally does speak to you, please let me know so I can burn it. Inventory items infected with brain-seducing demons is no joke.)
Especially if the thing is like, not something that says “Marvel” or “DC” or “Hasbro” on it. Grab yourself a Silver Sprocket comic, a zine from Push//Pull Press, a pin from a local artist, help support the folks who are trying to bring joy into this forsaken world. (Though like if you *do* want Magic cards or a DC hardcover or whatever there’s no shame in that. Wonderful folks work on those products too!)
And if you can, come to our Goblin Art Market on the 20th! Or Cutie Fest at Cal Anderson on the same day! Or the craft market Slightly Furry is hosting on the 26th! *Support Artists Directly!!!*
Also, like, don’t panic buy, but if you have extra money and there’s something you’ve been meaning to get, now’s the time I guess? I don’t know if Wingspan will actually cost $300 in three months but like, I also don’t not know? Board games, tarot decks, dice, all the stuff that require special manufacturing tech that only China can do right now? Yeah.
The Silver Lining
Thinking about tariffs and dealing with the business end of things sure is distracting me from the existential terror of existing as a trans woman of color right now.
All worth it though just so I can’t play women’s sports.
(That was a joke I can’t play sports to begin with. Look, stereotypes are harmful but *I own a comic book store*.)
TL;DR
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
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