I'm sitting here at Casa De Fruitman just chilling out after sadly watching the Nuggets lose to the Jazz on the road. While winter may keep us all inside a little more, that means there is often some closet-cleaning going on and more proof that card shops aren’t just about new products. It was an interesting day at the shop as I shipped off my first pallet of cards … [Read more...]
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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...]
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...]
What’s Hot: Black Friday Buzz and the Latest Top 5
'Twas the Monday before Panini Black Friday and I'm sitting here wishing I could fast forward through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, most of Thanksgiving, minus the football and my mother's special turkey legs and jello mold to 10PM Thursday night when I pop my doors and kick off the holiday season in earnest with Panini Black Friday. My shop has seen success with … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: When Seasons Collide
We're entering one of my favorite times of the sports year. It is the harmonic convergence of all four sports at once which happens, well, once a year. Yup, regardless of which of the four biggies you follow, this is a special span. That extends to the sports card scene as well with some OMG releases having just hit and the next few weeks offering up some … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Hobby Hits Keep Coming
So as I am writing this, it is a fun time to own a card store in Colorado. The Broncos are 2-0, the Rockies are strong playoff contenders, most of the heralded 2018 NFL rookies have avoided major injuries and we are getting closer by the day to NBA and NHL getting going again. Heck, even my college team, the University of Colorado is 3-0. Granted, win #3 … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: National Baseball Card Day Packs ‘Em in…and The Top 5 List
I'm writing this around 9 AM the morning after 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day and I'm feeling like I did when I first went to Las Vegas right when I turned 21. I'm half-dazed, way more tired than usual and sitting here with a "did that just happen" feel. Thanks to Topps offering posters to hype NBCD with Series 2 cases, more promotional … [Read more...]
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...]
What’s Hot: Father’s Day, Finest Fill Collectors’ Bill
I got my gentle reminder to get off my cardboard selling backside and compile the June edition of What's Hot. While it hasn't been all roses in the past few weeks, the reported demise of 2018 MLB offerings is not exactly the truth. I will admit that I was enjoying the continued thanks to Shohei Ohtani. While at the time I am writing this, we are still waiting … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: It’s Bowman and, Well, Everything Else
It is time for another edition of What's Hot and I feel like answering that question by yelling "EVERYTHING!" at an uncomfortably high level. I am talking megaphone loud, arena time-out loud and just-got-new-speakers loud because there are many more than five releases that are not just hot, but on fire. Collectors are buying just about everything. As I said before, … [Read more...]
