How to Become an Anime Distributor
- 1). Acquire a business license from the local government. Any business ran without a license is subject to all sorts of penalties.
- 2). If you already have a large sum of money, then you may not need any more start-up money. This is unlikely for most people. The best way to acquire a large sum of money is through banks and credit unions. Draw up a business plan detailing your ideas for your anime distribution company.
- 3). Start acquiring anime dvds and apparel from various companies. Right Stuf and Funimation aere two of the larger anime companies that will sell distributors at wholesale, which means at large quantities, but at a cheaper per item price. Having up-to-date knowledge of what is "hot" items, you can purchase what will sell and make more money. For instance, Naruto is more popular than Hayato, the Combat Butler, so buy more Naruto products.
- 4). Open an online store and possibly a retail store. An online store is essential for anime fans to see your products as a large percentage of anime fans are online. A retail store can draw some fans in, but if your area is not a metropolitan area, it might not be worth it unless there is a high anime fan population in the area.
- 5). Set up at anime and pop culture conventions when available. If the store is located on the East Coast of the U.S., setting up at Otakon in Baltimore, MD is a must. If the store is on the West Coast, setting up at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Ca is a must. These are the two biggest anime conventions in America.
- 6). Always keep an eye out for new products and shows that will have a large following. Keeping ahead of trends will help the business succeed.
Source...