Diamond's 25th Anniversary Timeline
From the February 2007 Diamond Dialogue:
Presenting a timeline of Diamond's history, starting in 1973 when future Founder, President and CEO Steve Geppi purchased his first comic book pricing guide in 1973!
1973 While working as an USPS letter carrier, future Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi buys his first comic book price guide, and realized his long-standing hobby of collecting comics could become a profitable undertaking.
1974 Geppi leaves the USPS to open his first store, Geppi’s Comic World, which operated out of the basement of a TV repair shop.
1982 With the support of fellow retailers, Geppi founds Diamond Comic Distributors with one warehouse and 17 retail customers.
Diamond takes over operations of New Media Irjax’s Boston and TampaDistributionCenters.
1988 Diamond establishes a national presence with the acquisition of Bud Plant.
Diamond’s monthly Previews catalog begins to evolve from a simple title-listing to the “industry bible” it is today.
1990 Diamond acquires selected assets of Seattle based distributor Destiny Distribution and takes over the operations of Oregon’s Second Genesis.
1991 Diamond UK, Ltd. begins operations in the U.K., leading to the acquisition of England based distributor Pacific Distribution, Ltd.
1993 Diamond acquires England-based Titan Distributors Ltd., consolidates U.K. operations and becomes Diamond Comic Distributors (UK).
1994 Diamond acquires selected assets of New York-based distributor Comics Unlimited, Ltd.
1995 Reflecting significant changes in the comic industry, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics and Image Comics choose Diamond to be their exclusive sales agent to comic specialty retailers.
1996 Diamond acquires selected assets of a large competitor, Capital City Distribution.
1997 Marvel Comics signs an exclusive agreement with Diamond to service specialty market retailers.
Diamond introduces “One Call Does It All” centralized, personalized customer service.
2000 Alliance Games Distribution is purchased, and becomes Diamond sister company Alliance Game Distributors. Later this company is incorporated as a division of Diamond.
2001 Diamond and Alliance Game Distributors start a new industry tradition with the Retailer Summits.
Through Alliance Game Distributors, certain assets of west coast distributors Berkeley Distributors and Barchetta Distribution are acquired, giving Alliance a strong national presence.
Diamond acquires west coast-based Top Line, as a division of Diamond Comic Distributors focused on sports cards and collectibles.
2002 Diamond teams with retailers and publishers for the first Free Comic Book Day, designed to attract new customers to comic shops and expose them to what comics has to offer.
Diamond Book Distributors founded to service the growing demand for comics and graphic novels in the book trade.
2007 Now the world’s largest distributor of English-language comics and related pop culture merchandise, Diamond celebrates 25 years of servicing industry retailers and consumers.
