Posted in: Comics | Tagged: coronavirus, coronavirus comics, Diamond Comic Distributors, distributor wars

Diamond Issues Survey to Comic Stores Regarding Coronavirus Effects

Published Sat, 28 Mar 2020 10:00:24 -0500

Last updated Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:20:31 -0500

Direct Market distributor Diamond Comic Distributors is conducting a coronavirus impact survey, on comic book retailers still reading their e-mails. In case it missed your retailer, here's what Diamond are saying – and asking of comic book stores this weekend.

We continue working with our publishing partners on programs to support the retailers in this difficult time. We have spoken to many of you in the past two weeks, but anecdotal reports do not give us the information we all need to craft the best plans.

To that end, we have built a survey that can be found on our Retailer Services Website. We'd appreciate your taking the time to complete it as soon as possible, as we have more meetings planned for next week and this information, combined with the feedback you've been providing, will be invaluable.

As all our businesses continue to be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic and government efforts to contain it, please consult our Coronavirus Resources page for regularly updated information that we hope will help you better weather this situation and emerge successfully when we are all able to return to operations.

We hope that these measures will help keep you, and your business, healthy. We thank you for your trust and encourage you to keep sharing your future ideas and suggestions as we forge ahead.

The Diamond Comic Distributors survey asks the following questions, asking comic book retailers if they are;

currently experiencing a "shelter in place" order or similar closure at your business address?
currently open normally at your business address?
currently able to accept deliveries at your business address?
currently open for walk-in customers?
currently allowing curbside pickup?
currently delivering to local customers?
currently offering gift card sales to customers who can't visit your store in person?

As well as understanding the impact of different products being held back, or allowed to be distributed.

Approximately what percentage of your total sales volume do comics and trade paperbacks represent?
Approximately what percentage of your total sales volume do collectibles (action figures, statues, etc.) represent?
Approximately what percentage of your total sales volume do tabletop games (board, card, miniature games) represent?

As well as some preparedness for the current situation.

Have you contacted your landlord for assistance with the March or April rent payments for your business?
Has your landlord agreed to assist you with the rent payments for your business?
Have you completed an application for any small business assistance programs?
What types of assistance would you find most helpful when product shipments are able to resume?

Expect to find out a lot about what is actually happening on Monday.

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