Where do you go from here? How will Sandawe evolve?
We have validated the concept and convinced the skeptics. We’ve showed that it’s possible to assemble a community of comic book enthusiasts (over 10,000 members, which may seem small to Anglo-Saxons but is a lot for a purely French niche), involving them in financing projects. We’ve also showed that these projects result in quality books: twenty are already circulating in bookstores, we’ve already done our first Spanish-language version and derivative products are beginning to emerge. We are recognized as a totally professional publishing house. We can begin to plan for the future.
The next step is to take advantage of our specialist community and allow the initiators of cartoon book projects to finance them independently of a publishing contract – which already happens on generalist crowdfunding platforms like Ulule and Kiss-Kiss-Bank-Bank (European equivalents of Kickstarter). We recently tested this concept of “free projects” and will be developing the platform soon. In this case, projects are considered in a broader sense: in addition to albums, we are being offered digital comics, a mural of Brussels made by an Italian designer, works of art inspired by comics etc. During the test period, we even funded a television show dedicated to comics, “Kaboom!”We know that authors who have acquired funding through general crowdfunding platforms have been disappointed by the subsequent production and distribution of their work. We will give them access to our services and to our specialized service providers. It will be possible to offer a menu of options: PDF versions, editorial support, prepress proofing, printing, press releases, etc. In some cases, project initiators will also receive marketing and distribution services via our partners.
In the medium term, we’re planning an international English version.
Finally, as the market for comics is very crowded and because bookshops only stock albums for a few weeks or even a few days (booksellers receive so many books that they’re constantly forced to change displays), we will create an online store to sell titles direct to the public, allowing fans to get books which are no longer in bookstores.
But I still insist on the importance for us to be physically present in bookstores. We consider booksellers as indispensable; we will support them to the best of our ability so that they can resist the pressure of online bookstores.