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Diamond Invites Retailers to Apply for Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award of $5,000

Published Mon, 26 Feb 2018 10:00:04 -0600

Dave Hawksworth, employee of Diamond Comic Distributors since 1996 and longtime Diamond Outside Sales Manager, died on January 9th.

After Dave passed, I was contacted by a number of retailers, some of whom have a cantankerous relationship with the distributor, but only had good things to say about Dave. His popularity amongst retailers was unparalleled.

And now Diamond has announced an annual Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award in his memory. The winner of the award grants the retailer $5,000 towards improvements to their business.

"Dave loved discussing the industry with our customers, and was a big champion of the independent retailer." said Diamond VP- Sales and Marketing Roger Fletcher. "His enthusiastic nature for the world of comics retailing made him a true superhero at his job. It's only fitting that an award that promotes improving comic book shops and making them better, be named in his honor."

Comic shop owners interested in applying for the award should submit a statement completing the sentence:

"If I received a $5,000 award to improve my business, I would…"

Supplemental material might include a fuller explanation, pictures, videos, or any other media that would showcase how they would improve their store. All entry materials are due to Diamond by June 15th, and should be sent to Diamond Retailer Marketing Manager Andrea Purcell at Diamond's Home Office.

A panel of Diamond and industry professionals will review the entries and select a winner, announced at the Diamond Retailer Appreciation Event Lunch at San Diego Comic-Con.

Good luck, one and all. And it's a fitting tribute to exactly the kind of thing Dave used to champion and support in the comics industry.

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