Diamond Comics’ Outside Sales Manages Dave Hawksworth died earlier this year , and the comics is honoring his memory with an annual Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award.
The award will award $5000 for business improvements to the lucky winner. the winner will be selected by a panel of Diamond and industry professionals and the winner will be presented at the Diamond Retailer Appreciation Event Lunch at San Diego Comic-Con.
Hawesworth was a traveling sales rep who won many friends during his long service to the industry.
An Ohio native, and a longtime resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hawksworth joined Diamond in 1996, following the company’s acquisition of Capital City Distribution. Dave served as an Outside Sale Manager, visiting thousands of comic book shops during his 20-plus years at Diamond, befriending each retailer and helping them to grow their business. Now, an annual award in his name will honor that legacy, financially helping comic shop owners to make improvements to their stores.
“Dave loved discussing the industry with our customers, and was a big champion of the independent retailer.” said Roger Fletcher, Diamond’s VP- Sales and Marketing. “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.”
To apply for the award, brick and mortar retailers should submit a statement completing the sentence:
“If I received a $5,000 award to improve my business, I would…”
by June 15th by mailing it to Diamond’s Retailer Marketing Manager, Andrea Purcell at Diamond’s Home Office or emailed to her at [email protected].
In addition to an essay, retailers can provide pictures, videos, or any other media that would showcase how they would improve their store.
