2008 Comic-Con International - San Diego Retailer Programming

 

Retailers! Don’t forget to get your 2 free Comic-Con passes from Diamond Comic Distributors!

 

We're planning a great program for Comic-Con International: San Diego. Please come check it out!

 

10:00 – 11:00 Retail Relevance!
Comic book shops have always been the gold mine of popular culture--- even more so today. So how do you keep your store the center of excitement--- the place to be and be seen? Join the discussion with publisher Dan Vado (Slave Labor Graphics) and retail comic divas Nancy McCann (Comics Unlimited, Westminster CA) and Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City UT) for the inside track of what to look for, how to look for it and why you should stock it! Room 22

11:00 –12:00 Full Coverage: Making the Most of Media Coverage of Comics
Join ComicsPRO President Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA), newspaper writer and comic retailer Matt Price (The Oklahoman, Speeding Bullet Comics) and Diamond Comic Distributors Elissa Lynch (Free Comic Book Day Coordinator) as they present the ways to improve your relationships with the media to get better coverage for your store. Caution: There may be some role-playing involved! Room 22

12-12:30 ComicsPRO Update & Cookie Break!
Hey, retailers! Find out all the latest news about your trade and advocacy group from board members Joe Field, Chris Powell and Amanda Fisher. What plans are in store for ComicsPRO members, what benefits you can reap by joining and what a difference we all can make when we pitch in to improve the state of comics' retail. All that and cookies, too? It's a no-brainer! Room 21

12:30-2:00 Showing of the Spirit
The Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for Retailing Excellence is the industry's "hall of fame" for progressive retailers. "Spirit" facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz CA) shows the video presentations for this year's award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, their display techniques and the other notable features of their stores. Lots of lessons for retailers here! Room 22

2:00-3:00 Atom! & Portlyn Pack 'Em In!
Using the power of event marketing to push the limits of your shop! When Portlyn and Atom! Freeman bought Brave New World Comics in Santa Clarita, CA it resembled most comics shops in most suburbs. Today it's a vibrant, family-friendly center of the pop culture and comics community of Los Angeles County. Find out how you can use the same techniques they have carefully stolen from smarter retailers to make your comics shop a Brave New World of Fun! Program will focus on community outreach, fun and profitable events and the spectacular disasters that can overtake even the most well thought-out event. Room 22

3:00-4:15 Remembering Rory: The Rory Root Tribute
When Comic Relief owner Rory Root passed away in May, a huge void was left in the comics world. Please join Rory's friend and colleague Joe Field and many other friends of Rory as we pay tribute to a man who helped everyone in the world of comics --- from publishers to creators to aspiring artists to retailers. Rory left a lasting legacy, so we hope you can join us for stories, anecdotes, maybe some laughs and some tears along with memories of perhaps Comicdom's most ardent supporter and best friend. Room 22

4:30-6:00 So You Want To Be A Comic Book Retailer?
This is where the dream takes flight! You have questions--- our panel of experts has answers. Join host Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff (Concord CA), retailer Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz CA), Annette Price (Speeding Bullet Comics, Norman, OK), Jay Bardyla (Happy Harbor Comics, Edmonton, Alberta) as well as Dave Hawksworth (Diamond Comic Distributors outside sales team), as we all discuss your future as a retailer of comics and graphic novels. Room 32AB