So it's been an interesting time at the shop (when is it not?) with new products arriving, nice collections coming in, finding restocks whenever possible and signing up 100 younger collectors into my new Kid's Club in about a month’s time. You may have heard “kids aren’t interested in collecting anymore.” I beg to differ. Starting in May, we invited kids to sign up for … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Overworked Shop Owner Stops Thief, Offers Top 5 Hottest Boxes
So I'm sitting here at 12:56 AM starting to put together my weekly (cough cough), fine...monthly What's Hot piece wishing I could do it more regularly, but grateful that my editor only kicks me in my backside occasionally because plain and simple, time is not on my side. I wish I had more of it, but realize that if I could just buy more time, I would probably just use it … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Better Question, What Isn’t?
Ever wonder what it's like to have your sports card store owner dream come true? No, I didn't buy a piano and find a Babe Ruth rookie and no, John Elway didn't suddenly develop a liking of my shop and decide to stop by every afternoon to visit and sign free autographs. I'm not sure it is, but it sure seems like it is the best time to ever own a sports card store IF you … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: It’s a Football Card World
I woke up Tuesday morning and took some packages to my favorite place to mail things: Sprouts Farmer's Market. The post office inside this grocery store chain is kind of like Fight Club with the shortest lines ever AND when I was done, I could pick up healthy snacks and things to enjoy for lunch back at the shop. When I was standing there, waiting to mail my … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Top 5 Sellers Heading Into National Hockey Card Day
It's been a fun month or so, fellow cardboard maniacs. Topps Series 1 kicked off the MLB season with style. Luka Doncic has proven that 6' 7" Slovenians can salvage an entire NBA season rookie crop. Something insane has happened to seemingly every post season NFL release. Don't forget the NHL and Elias Pettersson giving hope to a season that was … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Big Deals and Hot Cardboard
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...]
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...]