ComicsPRO meeting: Graphitti Designs

LAS VEGAS — Bob Chapman, founder of Graphitti Designs, recapped his more than 25 years in the industry for ComicsPRO attendees, and asked ComicsPRO members to work with him to more effectively get his products in the marketplace.

Chapman was a screenprinter in the 1970s and early 1980s, and approached Comic Con in San Diego about printing an event shirt.  They hooked him up with a then largely unknown Dave Stevens, who created the artwork for the convention shirt.

“It was amazing that for a business that was so graphically oriented, that there was no merchandise,” Chapman said.  “We started off doing just T-shirts, but then we saw the opportunity to do a million other things.”

Chapman’s Graphitti Designs also produces action figures, books, limited edition statues and more.

“Our goal, as is yours, is to serve the needs of the customer,” Chapman said, encouraging retailers to contact Graphitti directly to help in stocking items.

Chapman told the assembled retailers how key he thought the existence of ComicsPRO could be in the industry.

“A retailer organization is so important,” he said. “It’s pivotal.”