Diamond Comic Distributors and Alliance Game Distributors have released details on their 2005 Retailer Summits, the first of which is scheduled for Baltimore, Maryland on Monday, September 19th and Tuesday, September 20th, with the second planned for Fort Wayne, Indiana on Monday, October 22nd and Tuesday October 23rd.  These two key trade shows for comic and game retailers will feature exhibits and presentations by over 65 publishers and provide retailers a chance to interact directly with their suppliers, distributors and perhaps most importantly, each other. 

The Summits will offer a number of Retailing Workshops covering such topics as 'Profitably Expanding Your Product Lines,' 'Attracting New & Different Customers,' and 'Creating or Improving Your Store's Website.'  In addition  retailers will receive a number of free publisher giveaways, which can be sold to help underwrite the tax-deductible costs of attending or given away to valued customers.  Retailers will also receive up to $100 credit (if two or more people per store attend), which can be used in the Alliance Warehouse Sale or on items from Diamond's Super Summit Sale Price List.  With the Baltimore Summit just a month away, the time to register is now to ensure that you will receive a full complement of publisher giveaways from Summit Sponsors and Exhibitors -- and retailers can register quickly and easily online at the Diamond and Alliance Websites.

Retailers will also be able to learn about the most important upcoming releases from key suppliers who sponsor the Summits' free meal sessions.  Unlike comic conventions with numerous publisher presentations scheduled at the same time, the Summits allow retailers to hear from all the key comic, game, manga, and merchandise companies.  Retailers will also be able to bid on rare items to aid a number of great causes including the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, A.C.T.O.R. (A Commitment to Our Roots) Comic Fund, and Literacy Volunteers of America. 

Attendees at the Baltimore Summit will be able to catch  an Orioles' Game at Camden Yards and will receive free admission to the Baltimore Comic-Con, which is being held immediately before the Summit on Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th; while retailers who attend either the Baltimore or Fort Wayne Summits will have a chance to play for valuable prizes in a number of gaming tournaments.