Local Comic Store Rises Beyond Downtown Cheyenne

Phil Mitotes is no stranger to hard work and saving pennies. He and his business partner Megan have made a name for themselves in the pop-culture heart of Cheyenne. He says being connected the community is key for any small business.

The Loft Collectibles, Comics and Games in Cheyenne prides itself as a local small business that stays involved with the community in order to grow. We asked a Phil a few questions about what the journey of a small business owner entails, and here is what he had to say.

What are you able to do as a small business that chains cannot?
As a small business in relation to a chain, I don't think there is anything in particular that we can do that a chain cannot, it's just a matter of what a business would be willing to do.
We choose to be an active member of our community and give back as often as we can whether it being our kids' comic hour (a monthly event in which we invite local daycare's in and read to the children, encourage art, crafts and at the end give them the comic to take home free of charge) Free Comic Book Day, Halloween Comic Fest (an event in which we provide free comics to the public) Movie Premiere Nights, and our biggest event- Cheyenne Comic Con.
Megan and I feel that if people choose to shop with us, we have to give back and support this community. We pride ourselves with trying to know everyone that comes in, and we are always striving to be better every single day!

What is your favorite aspect of running the store?
Meeting people and getting to know them. We don't consider those who come into the shop just as customers, Megan and I feel like we are hosts and as any good host would do, we want everyone to feel welcomed and have a good time. Kids are especially fun. We always get a kick out of seeing their reactions when they first come in!

Who is your typical customer?
One thing we have learned with the shop is that we don't get a "typical" customer. Everyone is unique and are passionate about what interests them. So we try to know as much as we can about as many things as we can, our customers are our best resource of what is going on in pop culture, so we listen to them and learn from them everyday!

So like our customers, no one day is like any other, there is always something unique and interesting about each day. We see new people everyday that come in after having either seen a movie, a television show, or have heard about a comic, a particular character, a game, or something unique that we have and want to learn more about it. We tend to be a hub for social interactions!

What is the most surprising thing you learned about your customers and their shopping habits?

In the beginning, we could say the most surprising thing we learned about our customers was how incredibly diverse they were. The shop has shown consistently that the commonly held stereotypes associated with this industry couldn't be further from the reality. We have a customer base from all walks of life, so regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, occupation, etc, they are all bound together by each individuals love of entertainment and pop culture.

How did you find the money to open your business?

We didn't start the shop in a traditional sense, meaning we had to work up to where we are presently. We both worked multiple jobs and on top of that we both actually got tired of the bar nightlife and quit drinking, so naturally from cutting unnecessary spending we started to build up money.

We then took what we had a started small (a display case in a flea market) and worked our way up from there. We are extremely proud of the fact that we got to where we are at this point by self-funding. Every dollar spent with us goes back into improving ourselves and the community.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking of launching a small business, what would it be?

Love what you want to do. This may sound cliché, but it is true. The days are long and times will be rough, but at the end of the day if you love what you are doing, you don't notice it as much.

And a bonus piece of advice is, be flexible! There is no right or wrong way to do your business, its yours, so don't be afraid to try something new! I personally feel that fear is the enemy to success!

What is your favorite comic, figure, game or other item that you sell and why?

All of it! There is just so many cool things out there and learning about everything new that's coming out keeps it all fresh and exciting! Also helps fight off "old age" lol!

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