First of all, I wanted to thank all the manufacturers for not canceling my accounts after the 2021 Mikey Awards. I don't really have such concerns, but one never knows how good of a sense of humor people have these days. Fortunately, my annual piece seems to have gone over well and I'm taking notes to be ready for the 2022 edition. In just a few days, I'll be … [Read more...] about What’s Hot: Ahead of Topps Conference, Box Sales Roll On
Hobby Shop Talk
Shop Talk: 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball Arrival, Donruss Elite Basketball in Stock, More 2021-22 Hoops
Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. ------ This week offered up a big baseball card release 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball hit our shelves bright and early Wednesday morning.The shop had four or five missed calls from the night before and early that morning before we even opened the door from collectors all … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball Arrival, Donruss Elite Basketball in Stock, More 2021-22 Hoops
Shop Talk: Ali, Jordan and All-Around Iconic Week
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. We had a really fun week in terms of new releases, which as anyone in the hobby knows, is not always the case. Some weeks are hit, some weeks are miss. Some weeks there's nothing at all. Early in the week we got a product from Sportscards.com called … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Ali, Jordan and All-Around Iconic Week
Shop Talk: Frozen PA Tundra, NFL Arrivals and an ‘Average” Week
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. ----- The weather is blistering cold here in Central Pennsylvania this time of year. I think I'm still trying to scrape ice off of my car from last week. I did my best Nancy Kerrigan and ice skated through the parking lot at least a few mornings while heading for … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Frozen PA Tundra, NFL Arrivals and an ‘Average” Week
Shop Talk: Baseball Hall of Fame Snubs, Ongoing Basketball Delays, Hot Seller
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. —– This past week started on the heels of the recent announcement of the results of the Baseball Writers Association of America's voting for the Hall of Fame inductees for 2022. Along with a few players voted in earlier by the Golden Days and Early Baseball Era … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Baseball Hall of Fame Snubs, Ongoing Basketball Delays, Hot Seller
Shop Talk: Serving Up the Goods–and Bending an Ear– During NFL Playoff Time
The people that walk in our doors each day and our interactions with them are an interesting aspect of the daily life at a real life brick and mortar sports card shop. Our interactions with our customers, some novice, some casual, some die hard and some flat out rabid, make our little shop's world go 'round. As I've said numerous times before, it is probably my favorite part of … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Serving Up the Goods–and Bending an Ear– During NFL Playoff Time
Shop Talk: Let’s Talk About Flex, BGS and UPS
It's always fun when we get new, innovative products in the shop to sample and sell. I'm not saying we get samples often (because we don't) but we did get a great one this week when our long time friend and business guru Daryl McKay sent us a new venture he's involved in. The new basketball game called FLEX NBA made its way to Sports Zone Toys & Comics. Think of all your … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Let’s Talk About Flex, BGS and UPS
Shop Talk: Big Ben’s Last Ride at Heinz Field, New Products, Great Local Card Show
As my wife and in-laws and I were watching football last Sunday afternoon it was becoming more and more apparent that Monday night's game in Pittsburgh would be longtime quarterback and future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger's last go-round in his home stadium of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. We made a pretty last minute decision to make the trek across the state to see Big Ben … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Big Ben’s Last Ride at Heinz Field, New Products, Great Local Card Show
Shop Talk: PSA 10 Packs are Hot, Sad Boxes, New Boxes
The last week of 2021 found us still very busy in the shop and online. The post holiday drop off hadn't hit quite yet. Apparently people were still spending their Christmas money and looking to add to their collections. It was great to have our guy Kyle back in the helping most of the week. He was home for winter break and decided to give us a much needed hand. He will be with … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: PSA 10 Packs are Hot, Sad Boxes, New Boxes
2021 Mikey Awards: The Hobby’s Best, Worst, Strangest
I've been writing my favorite piece of the year for the past two nights/mornings and it has made me reflect on perhaps the most interesting year I've ever had in my 29 years of owning my shop, Mike's Stadium Sportscards. It was perhaps the best of times and now it's time to hope that it doesn't quickly turn into the worst of times. I can't really control the entire … [Read more...] about 2021 Mikey Awards: The Hobby’s Best, Worst, Strangest