It's been an interesting month and specifically the last few days around the shop and within the hobby (but when is it not?). The good news - My shop has partnered with Denver Card Shows for the first large show to hit the Mile High City in well over a decade. As you may have read on SC Daily, we are hosting a 200+ table gathering at the National Western Complex in … [Read more...] about Mike’s Hot List: Not Just a Baseball, Football, Basketball Card World
Search Results for: Mike Fruitman
2020 Mikey Awards: Sports Card Hobby Rolls with the Punches
Before I get to some of the follies the sports card and collectible industry enjoyed in 2020, I want to share my hopes that you, your families and your friends all did as well as possible in all ways in the past year. It is rare to find someone who wasn't directly affected either by COVID-19 or by the many implications from it. Sadly a few times this year, I heard … [Read more...] about 2020 Mikey Awards: Sports Card Hobby Rolls with the Punches
2019 Mikey Awards: Hot Stuff, Cool Stuff, Weird Stuff, Good Stuff
Hello fellow card maniacs, We survived another year in the hobby and man was it one to remember. We experienced Acunamania, Lukamania, Lamarmania and sadly the absence of any real hockeymania, but the NHL season isn't over yet fortunately. We also experienced Zionmania, but perhaps he should play a regular season game before we start voting him into the … [Read more...] about 2019 Mikey Awards: Hot Stuff, Cool Stuff, Weird Stuff, Good Stuff
2018 Mikey Awards: Highs, Lows and Oh No’s
Hello Card Peeps, I'm back once again with the annual Mikey Awards. I hope you enjoy and get a chuckle from my highlights and occasional lowlights from the trading card industry in 2018. These are intended to mostly make you laugh or think and if you are a manufacturer who does not have a great sense of humor, please consider stopping at this point. … [Read more...] about 2018 Mikey Awards: Highs, Lows and Oh No’s
Holiday Hotness: Mike’s Top 5 Selling Current Products
For a guy who hasn't had a soda in seven years, never drank coffee and stays away from other stimulants aside from running into mosh pits to break up fights at concerts, I'm actually making it through the holiday season like a trained professional. Since the last time we talked, my shop celebrated its 26th birthday, Panini Black Friday was a raging success and was only … [Read more...] about Holiday Hotness: Mike’s Top 5 Selling Current Products
What’s Hot: Mike’s Summer Travelogue and Top 5 Selling Products
Hello fellow card maniacs, I literally just gone done watching the MLB All-Star game and couldn’t help but think how many of them start as pitching duels only to end up finishing like the Home Run Derby from the night before. Just so you know, it's not only chicks who dig the long ball, but sports card store owners happen to enjoy it as well. Wait, is long ball … [Read more...] about What’s Hot: Mike’s Summer Travelogue and Top 5 Selling Products
2017 Mikey Awards
I’m finally sitting down to write my favorite piece of the year, the Mikey Awards. It’s my chance to offer up my own personal sentiments over what I thought worked, failed epically, made this season a winner, worked in spite of things, got hobby egg on its face and basically helped hobby shops in 2017. Looking back, this is going to be remembered as one of the … [Read more...] about 2017 Mikey Awards
Fruitman: ‘Tis the Season for Cardboard Promos
When I first opened in December 1992, I was not around long enough to fully enjoy my first holiday season in retail. Heck, I was happy to stay open each day and run to the bank each morning with whatever I had sold the day before. Over the next few decades I came to look forward to the holiday season since it’s a chance to have the inside track on what each of my … [Read more...] about Fruitman: ‘Tis the Season for Cardboard Promos
What’s Hot: Mike Has Definitive Answers (and Some Concerns)
Hello boys and girls. As always, it is an interesting time in the hobby. While hobby shop owners like myself should be elated over the return of football and the inevitable buzz and sales that go with it. Then again, that would this hobby be without a little controversy? Recently Panini announced the start of First Off The Line program where anyone with a … [Read more...] about What’s Hot: Mike Has Definitive Answers (and Some Concerns)
Mike: 2017 Baseball Cards Remain En Fuego
As many of you know, I live in Colorado which is home among other things, to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The reason I bring this up is because in 2001, Pollstar kinda gave up and instead of putting it up to a vote about what is the Best Outdoor Concert Venue, they just renamed the award after Red Rocks and gave other places a chance to get recognized. As I sat down to … [Read more...] about Mike: 2017 Baseball Cards Remain En Fuego