Amanda Emmert, the Executive Director of ComicsPRO, responds to criticism against ComicsPRO offering Marvel's Formic Wars: Burning Earth #1 early to members of the organization (see "ComicsPRO Retailers Get Early Release").

ComicsPRO represents stores of all sizes in all markets, and it is often the retailers in smaller markets who benefit the most.  Many retailers say they don't need or want member benefits--that's up to them.  Some join ComicsPRO just to work on outreach and benefits programs for others, some work with publishers, and some just take advantage of group rates.  Every retailer is different and that's not a bad thing.  But we've saved retailers hundreds up to thousands of dollars per year by joining together to negotiate rates that benefit us all.

None of that should be seen as a bad thing, or as a slight to those retailers who aren't interested in working with us.  We certainly would never intend it to be seen that way.

ComicsPRO helps many entrepreneurs open new comic book stores, helps new retailers run their businesses more efficiently so they can grow and get stronger, promotes FCBD and 24-Hour Comics Day in hundreds of markets across the country every year, provides feedback and support to publishers as they develop new promotions for all retailers--not just our members--and hosts a gathering where retailers, publishers and distributors sit down in a business setting to work together on ways to improve our industry.

We are a mainly volunteer-run organization and we welcome comic book retailers of all sizes to help us.  We are also reliant on member dues to fund what we do, so we do our very best to make sure that if you do take the time to investigate our member benefits, you do save money beyond the cost of dues.  We cannot be compared directly to charities like CBLDF because we don't have the same fundraising avenues that CBLDF does. As a trade association for comic book retailers we don't directly appeal for funds to fans, publishers and distributors, though we are working on establishing programs to bring retailers and fans together through the Org.

If Joe seemed cavalier or somehow defensive when he wrote in response, it's most likely after our coming under fire for doing nothing other than volunteering every week in order to improve the industry as a whole and yes, to provide incentive for members to join and support our efforts. But I know that he does not mean to put off non-members and that our organization does welcome all retailers to work with us.

We are all getting too good at the one-off insults and slams online, which aren't useful, are rarely true, and don't help improve our industry at all.

Rather than continue any shots across ICv2, which seems to me like a waste of a good resource for retailers, I would love to talk directly with any retailers who have questions or concerns.  We do value the opinions of non-members, and we like to encourage you to play an active role in where this organization goes--by joining and directing our course.  Please feel free to contact directly using the information on our Website.

Thank you very much for your time.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.