Five Years Ago...
Yes, it was five years ago today when I launched the hopeful web store that I dubbed "Fast Food Anime." I was frustrated working for others, and seeing people making a living from their hobby at 2003's AnimeIowa, I surmised that I should also be able to. I could work from home, manage my own hours, and watch as much anime as I want.
While plans shift and morph over time, often through unintended circumstance, my path still generally follows the original strategy. (Though I admit that I don't get to watch as much anime as I'd planned.) Fast Food Anime has become the largest anime-based retailer in the Chicago area, acting as an anchor store at conventions across the Midwest, Plains and Ohio Valley regions. The stock has grown from 12-feet-worth of shelves in my parents' basement to filling a true warehouse and office. Fast Food Anime employs me on a full-time basis, and has a consistent flow of immensely helpful volunteers.
In our very first convention appearance (No Brand Con 2004), we impressed with our innovative approach to merchandising and customer service. While the wood boards were a time-intensive setup project, they allowed us to display DVDs in an organized way. Our snack selection was meager at best, with only three types of Pocky and a handful of gummies and two soda types that weren't ramune. However, we still brought snacks to satiate the ravenous otaku despite the facility's strict snack ban, by the now-infamous "Midnight Snack Runs." And shockingly, the use of price tags was met with surprise and joy by attendees. With the rampant success during our first appearance at No Brand Con, we soon signed on for a small batch of conventions. In fact, we signed up for Anime Detour while we were at No Brand Con, which was two weeks before the show! At JAFAX, we expanded our selection to include merchandise - key chains, wall scrolls, plushies and other small items.
At Tekkoshocon in 2005, manga joined the selection. We attended Anime Central for the first time, occupying a booth directly in front of the floodgates of a room entrance! Our increasing selection required more transportation capacity than my car, so the infamous U-Haul trailer was added to our trips. Sugoi Con saw the then-rookie Cinci Steve join the ranks of Fast Food Anime volunteers. And Kunicon St. Louis was the fateful weekend where Fast Food Anime and Otaku -no- Yen first crossed paths -- the amazingly talented Roku would later design the long-time unnamed Fast Food Anime mascot girl.
2006 was our first year of significant expansion. More conventions, more product, and more milestones. Fast Food Anime products were first introduced with the red lanyard and shot glass. And our storage area began to get more than a little cramped.
Last year was our year of significant technological innovation and tightening efficiency. Daigacon saw our introduction of the laptop register system, tightening up our inventory management. We swapped the hassle of the wood display boards for pre-loaded cardboard boxes at Anime Detour, cutting our setup time in half. Anime Central was the first convention with the inset-table booth design, differenciating us from other retailers. Youmacon, on November 3, saw the replacement of our original green web site with the launch of the current red web site. This site was created from scratch and makes extensive use of the PHP programming language. 2007 was also the year when Becky finally received a name, Becky was unveiled in four cute chibis, and the Otaku Antics script was written.
This year, 2008, has seen more tightening and innovation as well as expansion and rise of Fast Food Anime's standing in the industry. The new PHP-based register program replaced the old program at Anime Detour. My first panel, "Scriptwriting: From the Stage to the Page," debuted at Tsubasacon. New Guy D-Rek joined the volunteer ranks of convention travels later in the year, starting at AnimeIowa. And we finally bought a van, also breaking that in at AnimeIowa.
2009 will be exciting, as we see more growth for the company. Otaku Antics, the manga-style book parodying the industry, illustrated by Becky's original designer - Shannon Townsend of Otaku -no- Yen, launches next year... My panel will begin to make the convention rounds... And hopefully I can host No Brand Con's next Man Auction.
Over the past five years, I have met an uncountable number of people that have changed my life. Every person I come into contact with, no matter the depth of our relationship, influences me. I owe so much to my friends, industry bretheren, customers and peeps.
So, to everyone... Thank you.
Thank you for seeing what we can offer, and getting on board. Thank you for your continual support. Thank you for believing in our vision for cheaper anime with efficient and pleasant service. I hope that Fast Food Anime can continue to provide all of these for years to come, and work further toward the goal of innovating the anime industry. We will offer more services for your enjoyment, and work with other amazing talents to create projects and products of which otaku everywhere will want to be a part.
Have a great day, everyone. And free Economy shipping for this week, on me, to celebrate. Spread the word! ^_^
- John
While plans shift and morph over time, often through unintended circumstance, my path still generally follows the original strategy. (Though I admit that I don't get to watch as much anime as I'd planned.) Fast Food Anime has become the largest anime-based retailer in the Chicago area, acting as an anchor store at conventions across the Midwest, Plains and Ohio Valley regions. The stock has grown from 12-feet-worth of shelves in my parents' basement to filling a true warehouse and office. Fast Food Anime employs me on a full-time basis, and has a consistent flow of immensely helpful volunteers.
In our very first convention appearance (No Brand Con 2004), we impressed with our innovative approach to merchandising and customer service. While the wood boards were a time-intensive setup project, they allowed us to display DVDs in an organized way. Our snack selection was meager at best, with only three types of Pocky and a handful of gummies and two soda types that weren't ramune. However, we still brought snacks to satiate the ravenous otaku despite the facility's strict snack ban, by the now-infamous "Midnight Snack Runs." And shockingly, the use of price tags was met with surprise and joy by attendees. With the rampant success during our first appearance at No Brand Con, we soon signed on for a small batch of conventions. In fact, we signed up for Anime Detour while we were at No Brand Con, which was two weeks before the show! At JAFAX, we expanded our selection to include merchandise - key chains, wall scrolls, plushies and other small items.
At Tekkoshocon in 2005, manga joined the selection. We attended Anime Central for the first time, occupying a booth directly in front of the floodgates of a room entrance! Our increasing selection required more transportation capacity than my car, so the infamous U-Haul trailer was added to our trips. Sugoi Con saw the then-rookie Cinci Steve join the ranks of Fast Food Anime volunteers. And Kunicon St. Louis was the fateful weekend where Fast Food Anime and Otaku -no- Yen first crossed paths -- the amazingly talented Roku would later design the long-time unnamed Fast Food Anime mascot girl.
2006 was our first year of significant expansion. More conventions, more product, and more milestones. Fast Food Anime products were first introduced with the red lanyard and shot glass. And our storage area began to get more than a little cramped.
Last year was our year of significant technological innovation and tightening efficiency. Daigacon saw our introduction of the laptop register system, tightening up our inventory management. We swapped the hassle of the wood display boards for pre-loaded cardboard boxes at Anime Detour, cutting our setup time in half. Anime Central was the first convention with the inset-table booth design, differenciating us from other retailers. Youmacon, on November 3, saw the replacement of our original green web site with the launch of the current red web site. This site was created from scratch and makes extensive use of the PHP programming language. 2007 was also the year when Becky finally received a name, Becky was unveiled in four cute chibis, and the Otaku Antics script was written.
This year, 2008, has seen more tightening and innovation as well as expansion and rise of Fast Food Anime's standing in the industry. The new PHP-based register program replaced the old program at Anime Detour. My first panel, "Scriptwriting: From the Stage to the Page," debuted at Tsubasacon. New Guy D-Rek joined the volunteer ranks of convention travels later in the year, starting at AnimeIowa. And we finally bought a van, also breaking that in at AnimeIowa.
2009 will be exciting, as we see more growth for the company. Otaku Antics, the manga-style book parodying the industry, illustrated by Becky's original designer - Shannon Townsend of Otaku -no- Yen, launches next year... My panel will begin to make the convention rounds... And hopefully I can host No Brand Con's next Man Auction.
Over the past five years, I have met an uncountable number of people that have changed my life. Every person I come into contact with, no matter the depth of our relationship, influences me. I owe so much to my friends, industry bretheren, customers and peeps.
So, to everyone... Thank you.
Thank you for seeing what we can offer, and getting on board. Thank you for your continual support. Thank you for believing in our vision for cheaper anime with efficient and pleasant service. I hope that Fast Food Anime can continue to provide all of these for years to come, and work further toward the goal of innovating the anime industry. We will offer more services for your enjoyment, and work with other amazing talents to create projects and products of which otaku everywhere will want to be a part.
Have a great day, everyone. And free Economy shipping for this week, on me, to celebrate. Spread the word! ^_^
- John