Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steve Morissette, owner of Montreal Comic Book Club, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

MONTREAL COMIC BOOK CLUB is an online comic book store located in Montreal, Quebec. We specialize in American comic books, and we sell all over the country; we are slowly penetrating the US market.

Our mission is to offer a great selection of new and used comic books, supported by the best possible customer service in the business. Every week we expand our catalog with fresh new comic books. We make sure to get our hands on the hottest comic books for collectors or speculators.

Our customers are kept informed via our newsletters and social media on relevant information about comic books. We do live shows every Tuesday, and that's a great way to keep in touch with our regular customers.

Tell us about yourself

I have always loved comic books, and I've been a big fan of Batman and TMNT since my childhood. Being a collector for a while, I eventually got into comic book speculation. That market moves extremely fast, and you have to have the right book at the right time to capitalize. I realized there was a business opportunity. Comic shop owners didn't want to spend time putting their inventory online.

As a customer, I wanted to have access to all the books fast and easily at any time, without going through several messages, waiting on stores to open, or digging in dusty boxes with an old inventory list not up to date.

I wanted to have my own website that would offer everything that I was looking for as a customer. Inventory is easily accessible, with great customer service and attention to detail.

I worked in retail, and I have a background in web and marketing, so I had all the skills to do so. I started my website in December 2020, and since then, my motivation has been to optimize my website on a weekly basis so my customers have the best shopping experience possible.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that I now have regular customers from all over the country. They are the ones for whom I work hard every day.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that I've encountered as a business owner in the first year of operations is facing all the challenges and difficulties on my own. I wanted to drop everything many times, but after a few bumps, I learned to become resilient and get support from my surroundings. My family and my girlfriend were there to support, encourage and believe in me. That's what really helped me to continue.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

My first tip to start a business would be to start slow. People want to play Bach right away, but you need to learn how to play the piano first.

My second tip for running a business is to surround yourself with people that have talents different from your own.

My third tip for growing a business is to grasp beyond your comfort zone. You will always get the same result if you take the same risk.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Starting a new business is really difficult, but you learn so much from experience. I can end with a quote from a Batman movie that I really like: "Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up."

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.montrealcomicbookclub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MontrealComicBookClub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montreal_comic_book_club/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.