At SDCC, the winners of the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Award were announced. We are so thrilled to congratulate the winners of the Retailer Award, Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse! Blackbird is owned by David Craig & Candice Falkner-Craig and we reached out to them and to ask a few questions about their big win and what makes their store tick. The answers Candice provided and the passion the staff shows for creating a welcoming space for new and old comics readers is inspiring. Read the interview below and you can also check out a video tour of Blackbird and their website:
What was your reaction to learning you won the 2024 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer award?
Honestly, we were a bit taken aback. Not prepared. You know, we were sitting at a table of stellar shops and industry giants. We did not expect to win this year, but of course your heart is always hopeful! With that said… we were ecstatic! I remember hearing BLACKBIRD and feeling this joy and kind of run-walking-jumping to the stage because of the amount of kinetic energy that I built up in that instant. I thought, I’m gonna burst. And I remember turning back and looking at David and thinking, How is he so calm and cool right now? But really he wasn’t. He was taking it in as he walked. When we spoke afterward, he told me about how it was a feeling of vindication for all the time spent, the work, and the sacrifices. He was walking slowly and enjoying the moment. You know, the Eisners are like the Oscars for our industry and this award wasn’t given out for buying an ad in a newspaper or a popularity vote. It’s merit-based. It’s absolutely given to shops that champion everything about this medium and the community that loves this medium. And THAT makes it even more meaningful.
What does this award mean for your store, your staff, your customers, and yourself?
For our shop it’s recognition for the hard work that we’ve done. For the staff it’s confirmation that they are part of an “organism” that is headed in the right direction and that they can share in the pride of being an Eisner winning store. For our customers (who are The Flock), they are all characters, along with us, in the story of Blackbird. Collectively, it was a win for them as well.
Do you want to credit any current staff, a recent decision, a peer or anything else that raised your store’s profile and led to this award?
We made the decision several years ago to change the shop’s look to better fit who we are and our goal to be an oasis to the reading community. With that, we shifted to a palette that was accented with wood, brick, warm lighting, and plants. It sounds, smells, and looks good at Blackbird. It’s like walking into a second home, you know, but with a LOT of friends waiting for you. That change has worked for us and matches our shop’s culture and vibe. As far as peers go, we’ve made such amazing and inspiring retailer friends through the years. For example, Katie Pryde of Books With Pictures (an Eisner winning shop!) held a really cool book fair – and then shared insights and tips at a retailer summit that we attended. We then held our first book fair this year and it was a grand success that brought a lot of new eyes to our store. Being able to see Katie generate that idea and see it to fruition was inspiring. Eitan Manhoff of Cape and Cowl (last year’s Eisner Winner) has a gorgeous shop and his hard work is evident in all he does. Eitan is currently showing us the Eisner-ropes! There are so many wonderful retailers who have wisdom and ideas to share, and who genuinely care about this industry’s success and growth, too many to name here.
I always mention our two “shop kids” Eryn Newnum and Karli Jordan. Eryn, our shop manager, is our book curator, inventory specialist, and provides staff direction. Eryn’s work ethic and passion for literature is evident in everything they do. Karli Jordan has been with us the longest and is a “hybrid” who can move from book side to cafe effortlessly. Karli, like Eryn, is self-directed and she handles a lot of minutiae that could fall by the boards without her watchful eye. Eryn and Karli’s attributes combined with their consistent and genuine engagement with our customers has helped to build our readership.
What inspires you to go above and beyond as a retailer?
We are inspired because comics are lit – in both senses of the word. Comics are literature and deserve to be recognized as such. We go above and beyond because we want everyone to experience the joy of finding a comic or graphic novel that speaks to them. It might be a comic book series that reminds you that you are not alone in your feelings, or a trade paperback that feels empowering and hopeful, or a graphic novel that educates you about a topic in a more meaningful and memorable way, or a zine that acts as a muse for you to create something new. That passion to spread this medium to everyone inspires and drives us. And, of course, the Eisners are another example. It’s something to strive for; a benchmark to meet and then surpass!
What’s something unique about Blackbird that you think is smart for other retailers to attempt at their own stores?
I almost hate answering this because I feel it’s gonna sound vague or esoteric, but there isn’t really a specific “thing” that I can put my finger on. We have multiple facets to our shop, any of which might make it different. For example, we serve coffee (because I am a coffee FREAK, I know coffee, and have been consuming it since I was 12!) and we sell vinyl (because David is a musician and audiophile – we listen to vinyl at our home). We sell hippie stuff ’cause we are Gen X hippies. The thing that makes Blackbird “unique” is that it developed organically from a seed that formed in our discussions over 30 years ago and we took that seed out of its dusty little packet six years ago and watered the hell out of it with stuff we genuinely dig. You have to be about the things for which you are legitimately passionate. Otherwise, it’s disingenuous. It becomes transactional. And no one likes that vibe. Expand your tribe with a genuine vibe.
What should customers expect from Blackbird in the future that might return you to the stage again?
BLACKBIRD: The Musical… Thoughts?
