Calum Johnston Appointed to ComicsPRO Board

Retailer Organization Announces More Board Changes

ComicsPRO, the trade organization for comic book specialty retailers, is announcing changes to its board of directors. Calum Johnston, owner of Strange Adventures in Halifax, Nova Scotia has been selected to fill the spot vacated with the resignation of Chris Powell, general manager of the Lone Star Comics’ chain in the Dallas metroplex, effective immediately. Gary Dills, co-owner of The Laughing Ogre, with stores in Virginia and Ohio, has been named Vice-president of ComicsPRO, taking on the post left vacant with Powell’s departure.

"It’s great to welcome Calum Johnston to our board as the first ComicsPRO director from north of the border, " said Joe Field, ComicsPRO President and owner of Concord CA’s Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff. "I’ve known and admired Calum’s work as a retailer for many years and I’m sure he’ll bring new energy and a fresh perspective to the ComicsPRO board. This should also send a message to comic specialty retailers everywhere that ComicsPRO is serious about about representing the interests of all our retailing brethren."

"I'm very honoured to be asked to join the board," said Johnston. "The aims of the group are to help comic book retailers and I will do my best to help the board and the membership anyway I can."

Buying, selling and trading comics since high school, Calum knew at an early age that he wanted to be in the comic book business. After years working as a disc jockey, pressman, graphic designer, bartender among other jobs, in 1992 Calum took the plunge and started his own business, Strange Adventures, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with a second location added in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1995. Operating on the premise that "comics are good and people should read them", Calum and his staff at Strange Adventures have enjoyed some measure of success in sharing that philosophy. Calum received the prestigious Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for retailing excellence in 2001.

Outgoing board member Chris Powell served on the ComicsPRO Board of Directors for the last four years and was recently named President of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. He said in a statement "It’s become clear in the weeks since I ran for re-election that the stresses of running seven stores and a mail order business during ‘interesting’ economic times, plus being on the Boards of Directors of two non-profit organizations is just too much for me. I will remain an active member of ComicsPRO, available to help out on the mentoring forum and other projects. I love what this organization has done, and am very optimistic about what it will accomplish in the future."

ComicsPRO is the retailer trade and advocacy group comprising 140 members and 180 storefronts. The goals of ComicsPRO are to be the united voice of advocacy for direct market retailers, to provide educational and mentoring opportunities to current and future retailers, and to offer opportunities to reduce some of the mutual fixed costs retailers incur. Information and membership applications are available
HERE!

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