Remote Retailer Spotlight: Community Engagement

With comic shops closed temporarily across the country, fans are missing the fun of weekly visits to their local comic shops. But many comic book retailers are coming up with cool new ways to stay engaged with their customers during quarantine. From online book clubs to trivia nights, comic fans can still count on their local comic shops for fun ways to spend their time.

Check out a few of the CBLDF retailer stores that are finding new ways to engage with their customers during the crisis. You might just find your new favorite comic! To find more local comic shops who are still operating, head over to our Retailer Spotlight.

Big Planet Comics

Washington, D.C.

Big Planet Comics has served the larger D.C. area since 1986. Despite being closed to the public, they’ve been busy connecting with their customers in the meantime! They’ve been hosting live sales of classic comics on their Instagram and keeping their customers up to date with new staff picks available for order. Big Planet has also started a new online book club!

Each book up for discussion is chosen by fans of the shop. The books selected are available for 25% off and free shipping to anyone who wants to join in the book club fun. Hosted by a Big Planet staff member on Facebook Live, everyone is able to hop in the comments for discussion. Last meeting, comics writer John Layman joined in to discuss his own book!

Check out the Big Planet’s website here: https://www.bigplanetcomics.com/

Comix Experience

San Francisco, California

Comix Experience has proudly served up comics and graphic novels to the Bay Area since 1989. Comix Experience is famous for their graphic novel book clubs. Hosted monthly, the book clubs include live-streamed book club meetings and social events featuring the creators of the book being discussed. Quarantine hasn’t slowed things down; the monthly book clubs are now being streamed live for comic fans. Comic fans can join the Graphic Novel Book Club for Adults or the Club for Kids. They’ve also just added the Graphic Novel Book Club Classics which aims to cover some of the most well-loved graphic novels from the history of comics. With these different options, comic fans of all stripes can join and enjoy new comic reads and rousing discussion!

Check out Comix Experience’s website here: https://www.comixexperience.com/

Vault of Midnight Comics

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Vault of Midnight Comics is an Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer award winning chain of shops in Michigan. During the crisis, Vault has continued to keep comic fans well read by offering curbside pick-up and mail-order services. They’re also making sure their customers stay entertained during quarantine. Friday, May 8th, Vault is hosting a live trivia night on their Facebook and Instagram pages! With no sign-up required, anyone can tune in and play some nerdy trivia with the staff at Vault!

Check out Vault’s website here: https://www.vaultofmidnight.com/

CBLDF is providing resources for retailers throughout this crisis at https://cbldf.org/coronavirus

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