New Superstore Launched Just 25 miles From Wal-Mart Headquarters

Cartoon entrepreneur Rick London who built a cartoon empire from scratch in a metal warehouse in rural Mississippi outside of his hometown of Hattiesburg likes to look back and laugh at “the good old days”. That was March of 1997.

Even now that his Londons Times Superstore www.londonstimessuperstore.com launched last month he still chuckles and looks back at the “good old simple days”.

His store boasts over 65,000 unique image gift and collectible products. To his knowledge more than any other Internet cartoon gift collectible shop.

He waxes nostalgic about the old days:

“Nobody wanted an unemployed 43 year old humor writer with a cartoon vision as a neighbor. I was lucky a friend with a generous soul loaned me her vacant run-down warehouse where I slept on the concrete floor for almost two years in a sleeping bag, bought a $100 used computer, a book called 'Internet For Dummies', had about $300, a phone line, and dial-up Internet that was down half the time. I couldn't draw but could write well. I had to learn to use the Internet to recruit illustrators to render my cartoon ideas. I had to learn to construct a website. I had to start from scratch. I am not complaining. I wouldn't trade that experience, as harsh as it was, for the world. I can take on challenges now without worrying or complaining.

Ten years later London lives in a renovated high-rise apartment in Hot Springs, Ar overlooking the beautiful Ouchata Mountains. He writes cartoons he says “when I feel compelled to” and studies business at Western Governor's University online.

“I love learning”, he says. I used to hate it in my youth. I was a terrible college student; didn't even know why I was there. Now its a challenge and of great value to me. Much of what I learn in pragmatic works in business.”

And something is obviously working. London started his Londons Times Cartoons website with one artist and about thirty black and white cartoons. He couldn't afford his own domain so posted them on one of those free web hosts with more pop-up ads than cartoons. He now owns one of the largest inventories of cartoons on the Internet, about 6000 that he wrote and his team of illustrators drew. The website is in the Netcraft.com top 100,000 top ranked websites on the Internet and Alexa.com's Alexa system ranks his site in their top 200k most popular. It is at www.londonstimes.us.

In September, London launched Londons Times Superstore which he says, to his knowledge, is the largest cartoon gift and collectible store offering more products than any other cartoon site on the Internet (about 65,000 products of 23 different products in about 20 different categories from sports, pets, relationships, lawyers, medicine, science, movie stars and rock stars, and much more.

Ironically London operates his store “right down the road” from Wal-mart headquarters in Bentonville, Ar.

He says, “There must be something in the water here. In my mind, it has to be “the biggest and the best or why even do it?” I wonder if Sam Walton was thinking the same thing?”

Of course London does not compare his online cartoon store to Wal-Mart.

“First of all we don't even compete. We are a very niche business whereas they have products that appeal to nearly everyone. We sell offbeat funny Far-side like image cartoon products like mousepads, t shirts, clocks, Christmas ornaments, sweatshirts, caps, key chains, and the like.” “But I do think Wal-Mart's philosophy is based on sound principals; that is, quality products, affordable prices, no arrogance; in other words, the customer is right; and we offer a 100% 30 day guarantee if the customer is not satisfied, affordable prices (we could sell our products for a lot more than we do) but we like Wal-Mart's model of a lower mark-up and more turnover. That is not for every merchant but why fix it if it ain't broken.”

London also last week opened SmartEcards for the “High IQ”. He says “Yeah, I know it sounds a little Euridite, but there simply wasn't any ecards out there that didn't insult smart people's intelligence. I'm not saying I'm smart but I do know a lot of smart people who appreciate this type of service. (It is free for 30 days and then just 8.50 a year and no obligation).

http://www.londonstimes.us/ecards/ecards.html

London says, "I try to follow the market and what it needs and wants. The news reported Wal-Mart's sales were down .05% this shopping season but their Internet sales were up 43%. I think this is more than just a trend and until I see a change, I think an appropriate Internet store, with secure checkout, live customer service, and same day or 24 hour shipping is what the public wants. Who has time to drive across town, wait in long lines, spend at least $20 in gas, and "get a good deal". It makes no sense anymore. Most my shopping is on the Internet and I have a sneaking suspicion others are feeling the same way."

Contact: Alexa Ferotina
501-442-0099 sales@londonstimes.us

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