Man cannot live by bread alone. And card shop owners usually can’t live on selling cardboard alone. Unless they have a strong base of card-a-holics, most successful shops usually have some degree of diversification.
For Carl Henderson, the long-time owner of Carl’s Cards & Collectibles in Havertown, PA, bringing in autograph guests has proven to be the bread—and butter—for success. Henderson’s shop, Carl’s Cards & Collectibles, isn’t big, but often draws some large crowds for his regular autograph signings that draw both fans and die-hard collectors.
His shop is jammed with cards, autographed items, sports novelties and just about anything else you can think of, but not much of it could be called “high end”. He caters to local working fans and families.
The recent success of the Eagles has meant a big uptick in business, but he also brings in players from past championships—from the Hall of Famers to the role players. He’s hosted hundreds of autograph guests since the shop opened in 1995.
Carl’s is a family-run business, with his wife and daughter both actively involved.
Philly.com stopped in recently to do a story for their ‘We the People’ segment and Henderson offered his take on the best—and worst—autograph signers and more. Read the story and watch the video here.
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