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Joe Field on ComicsPro Offering Health Insurance
posted July 4, 2006
 

For Immediate Release
July 3, 2006

Contact: Joe Field, ComicsPRO President
[email protected]
Chris Powell, ComicsPRO Board member
[email protected]


ComicsPRO Announces Affordable Health Insurance
New plan adds to slate of member benefits

The Comics Professional Retail Organization--- or ComicsPRO, as it is known--- has announced that Assurant Health is now working with the retailer trade group to provide affordable health insurance for ComicsPRO members, their families, and their employees.

"One of our goals for 2006 was to find a health insurance partner to work with our membership. I'm very pleased to say we've chosen Assurant Health to be that partner," said Chris Powell, ComicsPRO board member and General Manager of Lone Star Comics in Dallas, Texas.

"Part of the challenge when it comes to health insurance is the diversity of ComicsPRO’s membership. We have members in many different states, both with and without families. Some members have multiple stores, while others have no additional staff. With this plan, ComicsPRO members can enjoy savings of up to 60% on health insurance premiums, although savings vary by location, type of insurance, and other factors."

Assurant offers a broad range of insurance products, such as Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, PPOs and a number of other options. They’ve been in the insurance business since 1892 and have offices across the United States, so the ComicsPRO board is confident they’ll be able to meet the varying needs of our membership."

"The special savings are available only to ComicsPRO members, so now more than ever we encourage every comic book specialty market storefront retailer to join ComicsPRO," said the organization’s president, Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in Concord, California.

Other member benefits offered by ComicsPRO include:

* A preferential group rate for credit card processing from Paymentech. "ComicsPRO members taking advantage of the processing deal report savings so substantial that in some cases, membership dues are paid for in the savings on credit card fees in just a month or two," said Powell.

* The ComicsPRO on-line Delphi forum connects member retailers to one another. At the forum, retailers can also download a customizable copy of an employee handbook for use in their stores.

* Also for use in training retail employees, this year members should have received a packet about the new US currency, including the new $10 bills and how to spot counterfeit money.

* ComicsPRO is also compiling a list of media contacts. Prior to Free Comic Book Day this year, ComicsPRO sent out press releases to the local media of each member.

* ComicsPRO is also involved in the retailer programming being presented at Comic-Con in San Diego. A detailed retailer programming schedule will be released soon.


"The ComicsPRO Board will continue to explore other offerings and programs as they become available, in the hopes we can offer even more choices for our members’ business needs in the future," said Field.

ComicsPRO is open to all storefront retailers willing to invest their money, time, skills, and industry experience. The goals of the organization are to:
* Promote the progress and development of comic book retailers
* Help develop better marketing and daily business practices for comic book retailers
* Improve the condition of the comic book industry by educating the general public
* Provide a voice of advocacy for independent comic book retailers.

For more information and downloadable membership applications, visit ComicsPRO.org or contact any of the following ComicsPRO board members:

Joe Field, Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, Concord CA
[email protected]

Gary Dills, Phoenix Comics, Herndon VA
[email protected]

Michael Drivas, Big Brain Comics, Minneapolis MN
[email protected]

Amanda Fisher, Muse Comics, Missoula MT
[email protected]

Brian Hibbs, Comix Experience, San Francisco CA
[email protected]

Chris Powell, Lone Star Comics, Dallas TX
[email protected]