NEW YORK 10/17/2024 — Image Comics’ Fall 2024 Image Select Retailer Award winner is: Peebles Comics & Games in Scotland. The winner was announced last night, Wednesday, October 16 at the Lunar Distribution retailer event during New York Comic Con.
“Customer service, for both our in-store and online customers, has always been our number one priority," said Simon Mott, co-owner of Peebles. "As such, winning an award based solely on our customer feedback and strength of community is truly humbling, and affirms that we must be doing something right! Indeed, we cannot WAIT to share the news with them tomorrow, and look forward to sharing some Image goodies with them as soon as possible. To our friends at Image Comics—thank you!"
The store raked in the highest number of nominations from customers. One customer, Jenny, raved: "The owners are fantastic. Clare [Mott] is excellent in her recommendations of graphic novels, comics and board games and tailors them to your needs/age range. She is really friendly and has an excellent knowledge and enthusiasm for her products. They frequently run community events (eg: games nights, etc.) and I see them at school fayres, etc. It is a favourite shop in our household."
The Image Select Retailer Award is a new initiative from Image to galvanize recognition of members of the Comic Book Direct Market retail community that are going above and beyond to serve their customers, expand readership, and grow a healthier marketplace. The previous winner of the award was Hall of Justice Comics in Parker, Colorado.
Comic shops were nominated by fans via a form submission and based on on criteria such as:
- exemplary customer service
- thoughtful and exciting hand-selling recommendations
- efforts fostering a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
- easy-to-browse shelving
- attractive and innovative displays
- forward-thinking customer marketing and out-of-box consumer outreach
- community engagement
- robust inventory of & support for Image Comics and other creator-owned/indie comics
The Image team read and tallied thousands of glowing testimonials about stores in order to select the winner. As the winner, Peebles Comics & Games in Scotland will receive:
- a commemorative medallion to display with pride
- a spotlight Q&A to be featured on Image Comics’ social media platforms and Website
- the store's choice of a gold foil exclusive variant, branded as an Image Select Retailer Award winner, with store logo (limited to 250 copies).
The Local Comic Shop is the sales backbone of the comic book industry, and sadly, the least appreciated when it comes to award recognition. The Image Select Retailer Award is a way to reward and spotlight stores that have done exemplary work expanding the audience, and evangelizing the medium to new readers. Image Comics feels that there is not enough being done to point out stores that are raising the bar, changing the marketplace, and building readership, and this award is meant as a fun way to help repair that oversight.
The next Image Select Retailer Appreciation Award nomination window will be announced soon via the official Image website, social media, and via Lunar Distribution communication, to retailers and the public for those interested in nominating their store.