By Perry Inos Jr.
Director
(CNMI SBDC)
Glenn Keaton, proud owner of Green Flash Comics, arrived in the CNMI in 2002, where he was an instructor for the Northern Marianas College in Mathematics and Science. Glenn is a father of two wonderful children, Jack and Sara, and a humble husband to Susan Keaton. Growing to love the CNMI for “Saipan’s beautiful lush greenery, lovely tropical climate, clear air, and cleansing rain,” the Keatons have made the CNMI their home.
Glenn has been a comic enthusiast since the age of 12, growing to love the favorites such as Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man, and the X-men. He noticed the trend of the transition from comic to movie and observed a growing market as more comic enthusiasts & collectors came about. Attending a comic convention in Dubai, he stated, “there were thousands who attended a much larger attendance than I expected, especially for a region that had no comic book stores.” Glenn saw a demand in Dubai and the CNMI. Glenn stated, “He would like to establish a reputation as a business in the CNMI, then utilize Gold Key Services, referred to by the CNMI SBDC, to expand operations to Dubai, what more then to bridge English literacy than Comics.”
Glenn Keaton’s experience as a comic collector and pursuing comics at many different comic retail stores throughout the years became his hobby. Now, “I would like to start my own business and have comic collectors & children purchase comics from Green Flash Comics,” stated Glenn.
Glenn says that “the CNMI Small Business Development Center helped with creating a definite plan for getting the business that needs to be considered. The CNMI SBDC outlined the process, starting with setting me up with writing a business plan that clearly described and set down costs and budgets, schedules and strategies, objectives and goals, etc.”
Glenn admitted that “the start-up process is a bit harrowing, and often scary; mainly because this is the first time for me to have my own retail business.” There was many processes to follow, getting “the business from an idea to a reality and I utilized my own personal funds to properly start up the business at a planned rate of preparation and growth.”
The biggest challenge for Glenn was finding the best location to fit his target market. “There were lots of spaces on Saipan for rent, but picking only one could be disastrous when they didn’t fit my budget needs.” The most memorable triumph for Glenn was “committing to my dream and turning the idea into a reality.”
The short-term goal for Green Flash Comics is to gain control in its market and to be known in the community by its marketing campaign. Green Flash Comics’ long term goals are to “contribute to literacy campaign in the CNMI by working with the local library, expanding their business to meet local needs, being affordable, and giving local artists an outlet for their talents, and then eventually expand to Dubai.”
Lastly, the advice Glenn Keaton of Green Flash Comics give to others in starting a business is “to contact CNMI SBDC. They will get you started in the right direction and give you a realistic outlook to your plans.”
Green Flash is open on weekdays and weekends from 10am – 6pm, located in Garapan, Saipan Across TSL Plaza 2nd Floor. For inquiries contact Green Flash Comics at or via email at gkeaton2007@gmail.com.
For more information on how the CNMI SBDC can help you, call (670)664-3018 or visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com.
