Comic Shop Book Event

Join us for this very special evening at Flying Colors.

With the release of COMIC SHOP: The Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture, we're inviting some of the key players from the early days of comic shops in and around the Bay Area. This is going to be a fun evening of lively conversation and a look behind the history of comic shops, especially in the greater Bay Area.

Guests include: Author Dan Gearino, writer/publisher/business executive/talent agent Mike Friedrich, comics retailing pioneers Bud Plant and Dick "BigGuy" Swan (Comics & Comix), Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz), and Brian Hibbs (Comix Experience, San Francisco).

The Geek Speak Video Show will be shooting a live interview with author Dan Gearino and the attending guests.

Beverages and appetizers will be available.

About COMIC SHOP:
The early 1970s saw the birth of the modern comic book shop. What's the story behind the fall of comics at your local newsstand and the rise of market for comic book specialty shops? COMIC SHOP is the story of dynamic entrepreneurs, and the deals that led to a resurgence for comics in the U.S. and Canada. In this way, The growth of comic shops created new spaces for quirky ideas to gain an audience and helped transform small-press series, from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Bone, into media giants.

COMIC SHOP is the first book to trace this history, from the origins of comic shops to the present day, when the rise of digital platforms has the industry at a crossroads even as sales are robust. Author Dan Gearino traveled to see comic shops around the country. Along the way he interviewed those who shaped comics retailing from the early days, to the shop owners who continue to push the industry in new directions.

Dan Gearino is a lifelong comics reader with tastes that swing from the classic Legion of Super-Heroes to the work of Michel Rabagliati. As a business reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, he has won national recognition for his work.

November 18, 2017 is the 3rd Annual Local Comic Shop Day!

For updates and the latest info about Local Comic Shop Day, please follow LCSD on Facebook and Twitter.

Local Comic Shop Day is Nov 28

Local Comic Shop Day™
is Saturday November 28, 2015

Local Comic Shop Day™ is a new event conceived, implemented and sponsored by ComicsPRO comic book specialty retailers!

Almost 400 comic book specialty shops will take part in the first LCSD event... and comics fans, you are invited!

Please visit LocalComicShopDay.com for a complete list of LCSD exclusive items and a store locator. 

Follow Local Comic Shop Day on Facebook and Twitter for news as it happens!

Local Comic Shop Day™ Powers Forward!

Registration Hits 200 Stores, 
Official Logo Revealed 

ComicsPRO, the comic specialty retailer trade association announces two big developments for Local Comic Shop Day™, the new event designed to call attention to locally owned independent comic book specialty stores, celebrating their unique and vital role in being the primary fire-starters of pop culture.  

“I’m pleased to report that registration for LCSD has eclipsed 200 stores,” said ComicsPRO Executive Director Marco Davanzo (Alakazam Comics, Irvine CA). “With publisher announcements due soon to complement the recent Oni Press confirmation of their participation, LCSD wants to invite all locally owned storefront retailers to join us for this event.”

In addition, ComicsPRO has revealed the official logo for Local Comic Shop Day™ designed by Andrew Neal, a former retailer who sold his shop to go into freelance design work. 

“We wanted a logo that spoke to the towering strength of the small businesses that make up locally owned comics retail,” said ComicsPRO President Pete Dolan (Main Street Comics, Middletown NY). “Andrew Neal comes from comics retail and the vitality he put into this design will serve LCSD very well.”

“I looked at the challenge both as a graphic designer and as a former comic retailer,” said Andrew Neal. “I used the building shapes to evoke the idea of a brick and mortar storefront, and the four and nine panel window grids to evoke the idea of comic pages. I am excited to know that the logo will be in use in comic shops across the world this fall!"

Local Comic Shop Day™ will be Saturday, November 28, two days after Thanksgiving and coinciding with the day American Express has labeled “Small Business Saturday.” All locally owned storefront comic shops are invited to participate.

LCSD information is online at LocalComicShopDay.com.

Retailer registration is now online HERE!

For more information, contact ComicsPRO Executive Director Marco Davanzo at Marco@ComicsPRO.org.

ComicsPRO San Diego Comic-Con Programming Schedule

San Diego Comic-Con Retailer Day Schedule

 9:30 - 10:15 Fresh Start - Room 19

Your day at Comic-Con gets off to a friendly and professional start with ComicsPRO, the retailer trade association. Retailers, publishers, and distributors are welcome to kick off their convention day with colleagues, coffee, bagels, and conversation. Bring your business card!

 

10:15 - 10:35 Local Comic Shop Day - Room 18

ComicsPRO introduces Local Comic Shop Day!  What is it? When is it? And why is it?   LCSD is a day to celebrate comics and  the local comic shops that are the backbone of the comics industry.  Be here for the launch of this new event that puts the spotlight on local comic shops!

 

10:35  - 11:10  Back to Back Issues - Room 18

Join us as we explore an old category that is gaining massive new momentum in many comic shops.  How should retailers sell their back issues?   How much back issue business is your store doing online versus in the store?   Are you slabbing your books?   How does the exponential growth in number of titles affect your back issue strategy?   Join ComicsPRO to discuss these issues.

 

11:10 - 11:45  Categorically Expanding - Room 18

Looking beyond comics and graphic novels, there's potential gold in other merchandise categories. ComicsPRO has discount agreements set up with many companies such as Ata-Boy, BCW, USAopoly, ICUP, Monogram, Asgard Press, and Poster Emporium.   Come learn about these member benefits and let's discuss how to diversify your sales. 

 

2:30 - 4:00 Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award Video Parade - Room 18

The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is the industry's "Hall of Fame" for progressive retailers. Spirit Award facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, CA) presents the videos for this year's award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store's display techniques, and other unique features every attending retailer can learn from. Hey, retailers! Come here to steal some great ideas!

 

4:00 - 5:00 So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer? (open to the public) - Room 28DE

 The comics business is growing and that means a growing demand for more comic books.  You've got questions and these veteran retailers have the answers!  ComicsPRO director and panel host Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA) is joined by retailer Christina Blanch (Aw Yeah Comics, Muncie IN), retailer Ryan Haggerty (Ryan's Comics, Murrieta CA), retailer Peter Birkemoe (The Beguiling, Toronto, Canada), retailer Terry Stevens (Star Port, Lynchburg, VA), and Diamond Comic Distributors VP Chris Powell.

ComicsPRO Annual Meeting Set for February 19-21 2015 in Portland Oregon

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2014

Marco Davanzo
Executive Director
ComicsPRO
714-446-8871
marco@comicspro.org

ComicsPRO Annual Meeting Set for Portland, Oregon
Retailers, Publishers and Suppliers to meet February 19-21 2015

ComicsPRO, the retailer trade association, brings its 9th Annual Meeting to Portland, Oregon February 19 – 21, 2015, bringing together comic book retailers and vendors to discuss major industry issues and to develop ways to improve the comic book specialty market. The venue for this year’s event is the Portland Hilton and Executive Tower.

"We're very excited to be headed to the Pacific Northwest for the next ComicsPRO Membership Meeting. Not only is Portland the base of operations for Dark Horse and Oni – two very supportive ComicsPRO sponsors— it is a city with an enormous breadth of creative talent and solid retail stores," said Thomas Gaul, President of the Board of ComicsPRO.

All comic book retailers with storefront locations are invited to the conference. Every attending retailer will be presented with a gift bag including graphic novels, toys, promotional items and comics. Publishers will create exclusive comics for ComicsPRO, many with very low print runs. To register as a retailer, please visit www.comicspro.org/register15.

Thursday, February 19th, retailers will meet with Platinum sponsors Dark Horse Comics and DC Entertainment. In the morning, Dark Horse Comics will present major creators including Mike Mignola, Brian Wood, Geof Darrow, Chuck Palahniuk, Eric Powell, and Matt Kindt, featuring highlights in their 2015 releases. In the afternoon and evening, retailers will shift to discussions with DC Entertainment’s top brass.

Another two dozen other comic industry vendors will join the meeting on Friday, February 20th and Saturday, February 21st for presentations, roundtables, and workshops. Roundtable sessions give each of the participating vendors face-to-face time with each attending retailer in a small group setting.

Meeting highlights include:

· An opening reception sponsored by Dark Horse Comics on Wednesday, February 18, 8-10 PM.
· Comic Book Legal Defense Fund reception and benefit auction, Friday February 20.
· Things From Another World store visit and lunch, sponsored by Dark Horse, Saturday, February 21.
· Comic book store tour sponsored by Oni Press, Saturday, February 21.
· Closing reception sponsored by Oni Press and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Saturday, February 21, 8:00 PM.
· Workshops with Q&A sessions led by industry professionals.
· Visits from comic artists and writers to discuss their upcoming work.

The ComicsPRO Annual Membership Meeting is the only annual retailer-driven event in the industry, often cited as the most important business-focused event of the year. ComicsPRO's current projects and plans will also be discussed.

For more information on attending the conference as a retailer or sponsoring the conference as a publisher or vendor, please contact Marco Davanzo, Executive Director of ComicsPRO at marco@comicspro.org. Information can also be found at www.comicspro.org/meet15.

ComicsPRO is a non-profit trade association dedicated to the health and progress of direct market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO allows retailers to speak with a unified voice on important industry issues, provides educational and mentoring opportunities to current and future retailers, and provides ways for members to reduce fixed costs.

ComicsPRO Programming for Comic-Con International: San Diego

ComicsPRO,  the trade association for comic book specialty retailers, is once again providing retailer-oriented programming at Comic-Con International: San Diego. These hours of programming are agreat waay to network with other retailers while learning some new tips & tricks to make our stores more appealing and profitable. All retailers are welcome! 

Friday July 25, 2014

9:30AM – 10:20AM
ComicsPRO Fresh Start: Get your day at Comic-Con off to a great start with ComicsPRO - the comics retailer trade association. Retailers, publishers, and distributors are welcome to kick off their convention day with colleagues, coffee, bagels, and conversation. Bring your business card!  Room 19

10:30AM -11:20AM
State of the Industry: 
 Comic book and graphic novel sales in direct market comic shops continue to grow. Join ComicsPRO board members as we discuss the year behind us and look forward to the year ahead.  Room 18

11:30AM – 12:15PM
 Promoting Your Store- What's Working, What's Not: Social media, ad media, email marketing, in store promotions such as Free Comic Book Day, etc.   Let's brainstorm together how we can better promote our stores and products so we can keep the strong sales momentum. Room 18

2:30PM – 4:00PM
Will Eisner "Spirit of Retailing" Award Video Viewing: 
Joe Ferrara  (Atlantis Fantasyworld, CA), a recipient of and facilitator for the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award presents a look at the videos for this year's award finalists. Great time to steal some in-store ideas! Room 18

4:00PM – 5:00PM
So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer? Please note: this panel is open to all convention attendees! A great opportunity for those interested in opening their own comic book specialty stores and a chance for the curious to get a peek behind the profession of comics retailing. Bring your best questions for our panel of veteran comic book specialty retailers, including ComicsPRO board members Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA) and Carr D’Angleo (Earth-2, Sherman Oaks & Northridge CA). Room 28DE

5:15PM – 6:15PM 
Celebration of 24 Hour Comic Day: 2014 is the 10th anniversary of 24 Hour Comic Day.   Please come by and celebrate with us!   We'll reminisce about past years while also discussing how to make October 4th, 2014 the best 24 Hour Comic Day ever.  Room 18