Hello Everyone!
First up…
WE MISS YOU!
Now you may have read about the current state of the comic
market but just to bring everyone up to date here is the statement that Diamond
UK put out recently.
Take a read and I’ll give you my thoughts.
Dear Retailer
17/04/2020
We can today announce that we are making
plans to release the product that should have been released 6 weeks ago (25th March) for
Wednesday 13th May.
Wednesday 13th May.
We have taken into account and considered
as many factors as possible and fully understand that we cannot be sure what
the UK governments guidance is likely to be on 7th May when the
current lock down is reviewed.
However, we feel that we need to prepare
for what will hopefully be a re-start of some semblance of normality especially
based on the knowledge that NEW releases are hoping to be released by Diamond US and
publishers mid/end of May. This will hopefully enable us to catch up with
US/Worldwide releases as quickly as possible.
29/04/2020
Diamond Comic Distributors is working toward the distribution of new, weekly
product in mid- to late-May. We have had many exciting conversations with our
publishing and retailer partners and are pleased to take the next steps toward
that goal.
While we know that the pace and process of reopening stores will be different
throughout the country, we have set a target on-sale date of
Wednesday May 20th.
Wednesday May 20th.
As all of you are aware, however,
we find ourselves in a fluid situation and there are many factors including quarantine measures, what services retailers are able to offer and the volume of orders that have the potential to effect whether we are able to meet this date.
That said, we have heard your concerns and agree that taking these steps toward resuming distribution is a positive, important step in our collective move forward.
we find ourselves in a fluid situation and there are many factors including quarantine measures, what services retailers are able to offer and the volume of orders that have the potential to effect whether we are able to meet this date.
That said, we have heard your concerns and agree that taking these steps toward resuming distribution is a positive, important step in our collective move forward.
We are providing this target date to allow you as much time as possible to
communicate with your customers and gather the information you need to order
appropriately for your store and customer base.
Kind Regards
Diamond Comic Distributors UK
Ok well on the one hand
HOORAY!
NEW COMICS SOON!
HOORAY!
NEW COMICS SOON!
On the other hand...
we want to absolutely follow the Government’s lock down recommendation.
we want to absolutely follow the Government’s lock down recommendation.
In regard to your peace of mind and all of our safety the following measures are being implemented.
We will be fitting what are known as ‘Sneeze screens’ in
both stores at our 3 main counters.
All the staff will be wearing customized fabric face masks
in store which is in line with our European counterparts.
1 or 2 customer’s maximum will be allowed in store to
maintain responsible social distancing.
All counters shelves general surfaces will be wiped down and
as squeaky clean as possible.
Limited opening days (to be confirmed)
Limited opening hours with a tentative plan of
10am - 11am
for the vulnerable.
11am- 3pm
The BIG question as we take these baby steps back to trading
is just what will be the scale of business that we can expect in this very
unique trading environment.
Just in case you didn’t know the financially riskiest
product that we stock
(risky defined by time sensitive and non returnable )
Is the periodical COMIC.
(risky defined by time sensitive and non returnable )
Is the periodical COMIC.
If you have a standing order with us THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Your support and loyalty is the
back bone and bulk of each weeks new comic delivery.
To everyone who is reading this and comes in each week to
browse the shelves instead of committing to a standing order (for whatever
reason -I get it) this is the time to set up a standing order if you want to
guarantee getting the comics you want.
Why?
We have had to tweak our shelf copies of new releases down
to a lower level in anticipation of a drop in business.
So as I said PLEASE
this is the time to drop us a line at
orders@davescomics.co.uk
with your standing order requirements.
You can use the new release check boxes on the blog that
cover incoming comics for the week
and for the following week
The longer notice you give us the increased likelihood that
we can place advance reorders so that you receive your desired comics on
release week as opposed to the following week.
I say all this at this point in time because it is very
likely that if we reopen on Wednesday
13th and Wednesday 20th it will be against the Government’s
guidelines.
Consequently we will only
be open for Standing orders and pre-orders on those two days.
Hours to be
confirmed.
The weekly shipping
lists will be updated on the blog as soon as we get confirmation from Diamond.
I’ll update our
opening plans after we get the next Government lock down review on the 7th
May.
In closing I must thank every one of you who offered to
prepay for orders, buy vouchers or dropped us a line with concern and support-it
really meant so much to us all.
Stay safe!
Keep reading comics & we hope to see you at a social
distance soon
XXX
Stephen & Family Dave’s
