ComicsPRO is expanding its role in organizing San Diego Comic-Con programming for retailers, with plans for Retailer Day on Friday, July 24. The organization hopes to be able to provide a continental breakfast and boxed lunch to attendees. It is currently seeking sponsors and presenters for the event. The space will be 31ABC, a large room on the second floor of the convention center.
Retailer programming at the show has been in a state of flux since 2020. Prior to that time, Diamond Comic Distributors hosted a retailer lunch with presentations by its suppliers, and ComicsPRO hosted a breakfast get-together in a cramped room with limited programming. When distribution fragmented during the Covid pandemic, it was no longer a simple matter for a single company to host retailer programming by publishers and distributors. The decision by ComicsPRO to expand its role provides a path to an event where all distributors and publishers can engage with retailers at the show.
ComicsPRO is expanding its role more generally to fill the gap left by the collapse of Diamond and the end of its role as a central hub for the comics industry (see “ICv2 Interview: ComicsPRO President Joe Murray“).