Comic Con Creator Reveals His Secret Marketing Strategy | Want us to scale your business? Apply: https://adoutreach.com/fo2x | Check Out more of Star Pics Here: https://www.instagram.com/starpicscards/

Hey everyone, Aleric here! Today on the Marketing Minds podcast, I'm thrilled to bring you my conversation with Gareb Shamus - a true pioneer in the pop culture world. Gareb is the creator of Wizard Magazine, founder of Comic Con, and now the mastermind behind Star Pics celebrity trading cards.

In this value-packed episode, Gareb shares incredible marketing insights from his decades of experience building cultural phenomena. We dive into how Comic Con became the massive success it is today through one powerful strategy: making fans part of the experience. You'll learn how cosplay at Comic Cons actually started as a marketing tactic for Wizard Magazine that unexpectedly created a global movement!

Gareb reveals his philosophy that empowering your fans to become advocates is the most effective marketing strategy. Rather than just creating experiences FOR your audience, he explains how to facilitate experiences that fans create for themselves and each other - which leads to authentic, viral growth.

We also explore his newest venture, Star Pics celebrity trading cards - a genius concept bringing authenticated celebrity autographs to the collectibles market. These premium cards feature stars like Mark Hamill, Megan Fox, and Paul Rudd with unique foil editions, professional grading, and tamper-proof encapsulation. Gareb walks us through the entire collector experience he's designed and how he's applying his proven marketing playbook to this new business.

If you're an entrepreneur or marketer looking to build a passionate community around your business, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom from someone who's created billion-dollar cultural movements. Gareb's insights on fan empowerment, organic marketing, and creating premium experiences are applicable to any industry.

#MarketingStrategy #ComicCon #EntrepreneurAdvice #CommunityBuilding #PopCulture #CelebrityCollectibles #MarketingPodcast #FanEngagement #BusinessGrowth

Aleric Heck helps Entrepreneurs & Business Owners use YouTube and Value-Drive Video to generate Leads & Sales through his Company AdOutreach. Copyright 2025 AdOutreachSubject to Terms & Conditions: https://www.adoutreach.com/terms-and-conditionsResults May Vary Disclaimer: http://adoutreach.com/disclaimerPrivacy Policy: http://adoutreach.com/privacy-policy

Chapters

00:00 The Birth of Comic-Con and Cosplay

06:00 Gareb's Journey: From Wizard Magazine to Comic-Con

12:00 The Evolution of Celebrity Engagement at Comic-Con

18:11 Marketing Lessons from Comic-Con's Success

24:12 Creating Memorable Experiences for Fans and Celebrities

29:23 Reconnecting Celebrities: The Magic of Fan Experiences

31:33 Introducing StarPix: A New Era of Celebrity Trading Cards

42:05 The Birth of StarPix: Merging Passion with Opportunity

46:17 Marketing Strategies: Engaging Fans in the StarPix Journey

49:15 Digital Integration: The Future of Collectibles with NFTs