The Diamond Retail Best Practices Awards

Each year, the Diamond Retail Best Practices Awards seek to showcase comic book specialty retailers that demonstrate “best practices” in their stores, thereby offering their customers and community a consistently appealing shopping experience.

All comic book and specialty hobby store retailers serviced by Diamond are invited to nominate their store for Diamond BPA consideration. Their retailer peers vote for the winners of each award.

2022 WINNERS

Best Community Involvement
Revenge of
Los Angeles, CA

Best Interior Signage -- TIE
Revenge Of
Los Angeles, CA
and
Treasure Chest Comics
Triangle, VA

Best Kids/ All-Ages Section
Nirvana Comics
Knoxville, TN

Best Toys/Collectibles Section
Revenge Of
Los Angeles, CA

2021 WINNERS

Best Back Issue Display
Generation X Comics
Bedford, TX

Best Community Involvement
Famous Faces and Funnies
West Melbourne, FL

Best In-Store Signage
Challengers Comics + Conversation
Chicago, IL

Best Store Layout
Acme Comics
Greensboro, NC

2019 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Manga Section - Comicopia - Boston, MA

Best Charity Fundraiser - Comicazi - Somerville, MA

Best Instagram Presence - Pulp 716 - Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY

Best Statues/Models Display - Torpedo Comics - Las Vegas, NV

Best Kids Section - Space Cadets Collection Collection - Oak Ridge North, TX

Best Free Comic Book Day Event - Dragon's Lair - Austin, TX

Best Online Ad Campaign - Packrat Comics - Hilliard, OH

Best Movie Themed Display - Comic Quest - Lake Forest, CA

Best Graphic Novel Section - Escapist Bookstore - Berkeley, CA

Best Library/School Program - The Dragon - Guelph, ONT., Canada

Best Television Ad - Packrat Comics - Hilliard, OH

Best Interior Signage - Treasure Chest Comics - Stafford, VA

2018 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Kids Section - DreamDaze Comics Fun & Games - Wilson, NC

Best Themed Display - All Star Comics Melbourne - Melbourne, Victoria, AUS

Best Holiday Sale - Comic Quest - Lake Forest, CA

Best Store Promo T-Shirt/Apparel - Treasure Chest Comics - Stafford, VA

Best New Comics Section - All About Books and Comics- Phoenix, AZ

Best Counter Display - AA Comics & Cards - Lebanon, PA

Best Twitter Presence - Big Bang Comics - Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland

Best Customer Loyalty Program - Pulp 716: Coffee & Comics - North Tonawanda, NY

Best Store Layout - Jesse James Comics - Glendale, AZ

Best Subscription/Pull & Hold Service - Space Cadets Collection Collection - Oak Ridge North, TX

Best Manga Section - Comicopia - Boston, MA

Best Midnight Release Event - Pittsburgh Comics - McMurray, PA

2017 BPA Winners

(View Photos & More)

Best Facebook Page - Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy - Austin, TX

Best Graphic Novel Section - Time Warp Comics & Games - Boulder, CO

Best Store within Store Concept - Gods & Monsters - Orlando, FL

Best Library/School Program - Happy Harbor - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Best Store Sign - AA Comics and Cards - Lebanon, PA

Most Creative Store Sale - Comic Quest, Lake Forest, CA

Best T-Shirt Display - Haywood Comics, Asheville, NC

Best Staff Morale Booster - Jesse James Comics, Glendale, AZ

Best Website - Challengers Comics + Conversation, Chicago IL

Best Store Promotional Materials - Comics, Etc., Queensland, Australia

Best Board Game Section - Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy, Austin, TX

Best Store Anniversary Event - Comikaze and Toys, Goodyear, AZ

2016 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Movie/Themed Boutique -
Gods & Monsters, Orlando, FL

Best FCBD -
Yancy Street Comics - Port Richey, FL

Best Small Business Cross Promotion -
Jesse James Comics - Glendale, AZ

Best Kids Section -
All Star Comics – Melbourne, Australia

Best Community Involvement -
Charlie’s Comic Books – Tucson, AZ

Best Exterior Signage -
Astro-Zombies – Albuquerque, NM

Best Halloween ComicFest -
Level Up Entertainment – Mays Landing, NJ

Best Back Issues Section -
All About Books & Comics – Phoenix, AZ

Best Relocation -
All About Books & Comics – Phoenix, AZ

Best Toys Section -
Comikaze and Toys – Goodyear, AZ

Best Window Display -
Challengers Comics + Conversation – Chicago, IL

Best Staff Motivational Program -
Pulp 716: Coffee and Comics – Lockport, NY

Best Interior Signage -
1st Edition Comics – Peachtree City, GA

Best New Comics Section -
Space Cadets Collection Collection –
Oak Ridge North, TX

2015 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Charity Fundraiser -
The Comic Store – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Best Graphic Novel Section -
Gosh! Comics – Soho, London

Best Manga Section -
Dragon’s Lair – Austin, Texas

Best Print Ad/Campaign -
Comic City – Canton, Michigan

Best Retail Relocation/Expansion -
Curious Comics - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Best Kids Section -
The Dragon - Guelph, Ontario

Best Halloween ComicFest Event -
Carol & John's Comics - Cleveland, OH

Most Creative Store Sale -
Tate's Comics - Lauderhill, FL

Best Apparel Section -
Generation X Comics - Bedford, TX

Best e-Newsletter -
KINGS Comics - Sydney, Australia

Best Collecting Supplies Display -
Watchtower Comics - Houston, TX

Best Statues/Models Display -
Toy Traders - Langley, British Columbia

2014 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Counter Display
Jesse James Comics – Glendale, AZ

Best Library/School Program or Event
KINGS Comics – Sydney, Australia

Best Movie/Themed Boutique
Brave New World - Newhall, CA

Best Customer Service
Jesse James Comics – Glendale, AZ

Best FCBD Event
Krypton Comics - Omaha, NE

Best Subscription / Pull & Hold Service
POPstore - Bologna, Parma, and Torino, Italy

Best Store Logo
Local Heroes Comics - Norfolk, VA

Best Window Display
eXpert Comics - Montreal and Ville LaSalle, Quebec in Canada

Best Twitter Presence - Challengers Comics + Conversation – Chicago, IL

Best Convention Booth - Coliseum of Comics - Orlando, FL

Best New Comics Section - Dragon’s Lair - Austin, TX

Best TV Ad - Jetpack Comics - Rochester, New Hampshire

Best Staff Motivational Program - MaximuM Comics – Las Vegas, NV

2013 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Graphic Novel Section - Challengers Comics + Conversation – Chicago, IL

Best FCBD Event - Strange Adventures - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Best Toys Section - Atomic Comics – Tacoma, WA

Best Table Display - BSI Comics - Metairie, LA

Best Marketing Use of Store Logo - Dragon’s Lair - Austin, TX

Best Facebook Page - Challengers Comics + Conversation – Chicago, IL

Best Cash-Wrap Area - MaximuM Comics – Las Vegas, NV

Best Interior Signage - Kings Comics – Sydney, Australia

Best Store Sign - Astro-Zombies - Albuquerque, NM

Best Local Business Cross Promotion - Atlantis Fantasyworld –Santa Cruz, CA

Best In-Store Gaming Area - Comic Quest – Evansville, IN

2012 BPA Winners
(View Photos & More)

Best Back Issue Section - All About Books & Comics - Phoenix, AZ

Best Counter Display - Heroes and Villains - Hampton, VA

Best Customer Loyalty Program - KINGS Comics - Sydney, Australia

Best Graphic Novel Section - KINGS Comics - Sydney, Australia

Best Kids Section - Happy Harbor Comics - Edmonton, Alberta

Best Movie/Themed Boutique - Krypton Comics - Omaha, NE

Best New Comics Section - Comic Central - Sanford, FL

Best Out-Of-Box Game Display - Lone Star Comics - Mesquite, TX

Best PREVIEWS Display - Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy - Austin, TX

Best Store Logo Usage - Up Up & Away! - Cincinnati, OH

Best Toys Section - Space Cadets Collection - Oak Ridge North, TX

Best T-Shirt Display - Generation X Comics - Bedford, TX

Best Website - Midtown Comics - New York, NY

Best Window Display - Level Up Entertainment - Mays Landing, NJ

Most Improved Retail Display - Heroes Only Comics & Games - Cheyenne, WY

The Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award — named after Dave Hawksworth, Diamond’s late Outside Sales Manager — grants $5,000 to a local comic shop owner to be used for improvements to their business.

Brick-&-mortar stores worldwide applied for the award with a statement completing the sentence: “If I received a $5,000 award to improve my business, I would…”

A panel of Diamond and industry professionals review the entries and select a winner.

2019 –
DragonVine,
Springfield, OR
(Inaugural Winner)

2019 –
Pensacola Pop Comics,
Pensacola, FL

2021 –
Packrat Comics,
Hilliard, OH (9/21)