Diamond Announces a “Pop Up A Spinner Rack” Program
Since its debut in March, retailer reaction has been strong to Diamond’s 44 Pocket Comic Spinner Rack (JAN188004), which wholesales for $299, with free delivery in the continental United States. Several hundred units have already been sold and feedback has been positive about the unit’s compact footprint and quality construction.
Now, Diamond and Premier publishers, along with Diamond Select Toys are encouraging comic retailers to “pop up a spinner rack” in other “complementary businesses” in their area by offering incentives to retailers who purchase a spinner rack for placement in other businesses.
Retailers qualify by reaching a signed agreement with another business to allow them to place and maintain a spinner rack of comics in their stores for a minimum of six months. Agreements can be reached on a buy-sell or consignment basis with quantities, margin splits, payment terms, and other details being at the discretion of the parties.
For every rack purchased and rack agreement sent over to Diamond, publishers will be providing the following limited edition variants and free goods to offset the costs:
- Marvel: A 1 in 1000 Variant Comic TBD at time of redemption
- DC: MAY178593 DARK NIGHTS METAL #1 B&W MIDNIGHT RELEASE VAR B plus a second limited edition comic TBD at time of redemption
- Image: Retailer’s choice of 50 in-stock Image Firsts, plus a 2017 Retailer Appreciation Variant (while supplies last).
- Dark Horse: JUL168360 V LEGEND OF ZELDA ART & ARTIFACTS HC & JAN080090 V HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS
- IDW: SEP170487 TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS II #1 INCV
- Dynamite: A high perceived retail value item TBD at time of redemption
- Boom: CGC Books & assorted Limited Edition Incentives TBD at time of redemption
- Diamond Select Toys: Retailer’s choice of one in-stock Gallery PVC Figure
Diamond Comic Distributors has released the stats of May and Marvel Comics was the month’s top publisher with a 42.64% dollar share and a 38.35% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 25.71% dollar share and a 37.87% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 10.83% dollar share and a 9.67% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.65% dollar share and a 3.07% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.54% dollar share and a 1.63% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 1.96% dollar share and a 1.58% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.64% dollar share and a 1.30% unit share.
Compared to the previous month, comics, graphic novels, and toys were all up showing healthy growth. Compared to last year, comics are up 6.23% in dollars and graphic novels and comics are up 1.84% in dollars. We could be seeing a course correction in a sluggish year. In a year to year comparison, comics are up 0.22% in dollars but down 9.8% in units. Graphic Novels, toys, and comics/graphic novels are all down.
It’s new comic book day! What’s everyone getting? What are you excite for? Sound off in the comments below. While you wait for comic shops to open, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
Marvel held the top spot for units share and dollar share for the month of March as Diamond Comic Distributors has released that month’s data. It wasn’t all Marvel as DC Comics held five of the top ten comics sold with Dark Nights: Metal #6 coming in first.
DC Entertainment had five titles among March’s top ten comics. Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten. Image Comics’ Oblivion Song by Kirkman and De Felici #1 ranked #9. Among the premier publishers and their top-selling books, BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #25, kicking off the “Shattered Grid” storyline, ranked #70; Dark Horse Comics’ Neil Gaiman’s American Gods: My Ainsel #1 ranked #114; Dynamite Entertainment’s The Shadow/Batman #6, the final chapter of their coproduction with DC Entertainment, ranked #121; and the milestone G.I. Joe #250 from IDW Publishing ranked #149 for the month.
Every summer, the city of San Diego becomes a destination for comics and pop culture fans as they flock to Comic-Con. The event attracts attendees from all over the world and tickets have become quite difficult to acquire. Then there’s the pricey cost of accommodations and airfare on top of the tickets… Well, Diamond Comic Distributors is looking to solve all those problems for two lucky pop culture fans!
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced the annual Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award. Named after Dave Hawksworth, Diamond’s late Outside Sales Manager, the award grants $5,000 to a local comic shop owner to be used for improvements to their business.
Diamond Comic Distributors has released their reported dollar and unit sales for January 2018. The month was split with Marvel taking the top dollars and DC Entertainment taking top units. This was the opposite of December which saw DC taking the top dollar and Marvel being first in units.
Marvel was January’s top publisher in dollars with a 34.30% retailer dollar share (up 0.50) and a 36.69% unit share (down 2.12). DC Entertainment was the month’s top publisher in units shipped with a 38.94% unit share (up 1.29) and a 33.80% retailer dollar share (down 0.74). Image Comics was third with a 9.48% dollar share (up 0.79) and an 8.23% unit share (up 1.03). In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.42% dollar share (up 0.50) and a 3.51% unit share (up 0.59), followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.50% dollar share (down 0.19) and a 1.27% unit share (down 0.79).