Even among guests like Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Handerson and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, there was one name on the mind of longtime collectors, dealers and hobbyists at this weekend's Music City Sports Collectibles and Autograph Show in Franklin, TN: Rich Altman. A fixture at larger shows across the country for more than 30 years, Altman grew the … [Read more...] about Tennessee Show Draws Collectors, Hall of Famers While Remembering Founder
Prepare to Pivot: Leaf’s Gray Offers Message to Industry in Wake of New Trading Card Player
After a few days of generally positive vibes, the 2021 Industry Summit came to a close Wednesday with one trading card company chief addressing the elephant in the room. Leaf doesn’t have a major sports trading card license, but in light of the new deals Fanatics has reportedly made to essentially take control of the major contracts, company president Brian Gray is feeling … [Read more...] about Prepare to Pivot: Leaf’s Gray Offers Message to Industry in Wake of New Trading Card Player
Hobby Shop Owners Discuss Booming Business, Finding Help, Advertising, More
In the late winter and early spring of 2020, as COVID began to spread across North America, sports card shop owners were rightfully concerned. In the Denver suburbs, Mike Fruitman looked as his checkbook, started doing some math and thought about the number of months he might be able to keep his head above water if things got really bad. "I didn't know if we were going to … [Read more...] about Hobby Shop Owners Discuss Booming Business, Finding Help, Advertising, More
Hobby Shop Owners Get Tips for Avoiding Theft
No retail operation is immune to crime and that includes card stores and sports memorabilia dealers. That was the topic of one of the first sessions at the 2021 Industry Summit Monday morning. Three days of discussions opened in Las Vegas with a discussion led by Officer Randy Klenosky of the Las Vegas Police Department and Joe Davis, owner of J&J Sports Superstore in … [Read more...] about Hobby Shop Owners Get Tips for Avoiding Theft
Leaf’s Gray Says Card Companies Must Be Allies In Wake of Fanatics Deal
It will be up to the existing sports card companies to be creative, be allies and redefine themselves. That was just one of the themes expressed by one of the hobby's independent trading card makers in the wake of the bombshell news that Fanatics was working on deals to acquire the bulk of the licensed sports card manufacturing business. Leaf Trading Cards CEO Brian Gray, … [Read more...] about Leaf’s Gray Says Card Companies Must Be Allies In Wake of Fanatics Deal
Music City Show Brings More Stars to Nashville Area
A beautiful new modern mall called "The Factory" in Franklin, TN was the setting for the first ever 2019 Music City Sports Collectibles and Autograph Show, October 4-6. The show featured a wide assortment of sports collectibles from dealers traveling from New Jersey to Florida and many places in between, along with a sizeable number of autograph guests. Promoter Rich … [Read more...] about Music City Show Brings More Stars to Nashville Area
Collectable Aims to Offer Shares of High-End Sports Memorabilia
In 1602, when the Dutch East India Company issued the first shares of stock on items that were made tradeable on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, little did these capital investors know that their business model would be used centuries later by passengers on private jets, yacht enthusiasts, vacationers-- and now sports memorabilia collectors. Collectable's Jason Epstein says … [Read more...] about Collectable Aims to Offer Shares of High-End Sports Memorabilia
Real Breaks Grows With Family Friendly Approach
A few years ago, collectors Ryan Holland and Tom Kulczewski didn't even know each other. Now they're best friends, business partners and run one of the largest sports card case break websites by volume on the internet. Their philosophy behind Real Breaks? Keep it fun...and family friendly. Holland says their business is growing thanks to the hobby's overall … [Read more...] about Real Breaks Grows With Family Friendly Approach
Preserving Negro Leagues History Part of NSCC
Proving that the National Sports Collectors Convention can be as much about education as it is about buying, selling and trading sports cards and collectibles, a centennial celebration of the Negro Leagues launched at The National, thanks to the hard work of Seattle's Jay Caldwell. Caldwell is a collector who has a passion for preserving the history of the Negro … [Read more...] about Preserving Negro Leagues History Part of NSCC
Bel Air Cards Brings Sports Bar Concept to National Convention
Bel Air Sports Cards in Bel Air, Md. has successfully combined the sports bar and card shop concept at home in Maryland, so they thought they would take it on the road. That's why when you come by booths 257 and 259 on the floor of the National Sports Collectors Convention, the first thing you will see is a nicely constructed wood bar with colorful bar stools. It's the … [Read more...] about Bel Air Cards Brings Sports Bar Concept to National Convention