We just received the following press release. Diamond Comic Distributors and Bandai America are partnering up for North America distribution. Here’s the press release:
Diamond Appointed Master Distributor for Bandai America Products
Leading toy manufacturer signs with Diamond to distribute and market its products in the U.S.
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (August 11, 2015) — Diamond Comic Distributors has finalized negotiations with Bandai America Incorporated to become a Master Distributor for the leading toy manufacturer. The deal makes Diamond the preferred distributor on behalf of Bandai America to select retailers throughout the United States.
Bandai America is home to some of the most powerful entertainment toy brands, including Power Rangers, Big Hero 6™, GODZILLA™, and SprüKits®, as well as extremely successful Japanese hobby and collector lines.
“We have a long standing strategic partnership with Diamond,” said Michael Ciminera, Bandai America’s Vice President of Sales. “We fully believe in their ability to distribute and market Bandai products far and wide into the U.S. market.”
“We’re gratified by the trust Bandai America has placed in us to be their Master Distributor,” said Diamond’s Director of Vendor Development, Eric Burkhardt. “We look forward to partnering with them to grow Bandai America’s diverse and successful product lines to U.S. toy , hobby and specialty retailers.”
Diamond will support Bandai America launches through its monthly PREVIEWS catalog, innovative programs to its retailer partners, and other unique marketing and distribution services.
New retailers interested in purchasing Bandai America merchandise from Diamond are encouraged to contact Diamond’s New Accounts Department at newaccounts@diamondcomics.com or via phone at 443-318-8001. To find Bandai America toys and collectibles, visit your local comic book shop. To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com.
Bandai Is Partnering With Diamond Distributors - Press Release
This is great news if they mean you can get FiguArts/MonsterArts through Diamond now. That could take down the price(hopefully)and they'd be much easier to find. If they're talking about the Bandai shelf warmers that you find in TRU on any given day than it's not that great of news.
Awesome, another brand of products that Diamond can solicit with a release date that they gave no intention of delivering anywhere near. Even better if it's Walmart-tier junk offered at a markup that completely shuts out the small retailer that actually does the math.
Bandai America is carrying some of the Bandai Japan stuff now (Bandai America to Release Banpresto and Gashapon Items in the US - The Toyark - News), but Figuarts, Monsterarts and most other collector level figures aren't included in that. This may be an early move to change that though, who knows.
Even if that became the case, many of those items would need US distribution rights because they conflict with other companies making stuff for the US. Star Wars, Marvel, Godzilla, etc. So, really, the only thing that would probably change is where retailers get it from, Diamond, Bluefin US, Japan wholesalers, etc.
Would be nice....but sounds like same old same old. I want to see Figuarts in America...but I want more to be answered. WHy is this partnership beneficial?
So they're just replacing Bluefin then right?
IDK I've never been a fan with how slow Diamond is. My LCS even switched to getting his action figures from Entertainment Earth
Diamond's total monopoly on comics distribution is what allows this situation and that's fiercely defended by both banks and manufacturers. Industries operating like that aren't being "killed" by anything; they're committing suicide.
Full Thread: Bandai teams with Diamond Distributors
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