I’m finally sitting down to write my favorite piece of the year, the Mikey Awards. It’s my chance to offer up my own personal sentiments over what I thought worked, failed epically, made this season a winner, worked in spite of things, got hobby egg on its face and basically helped hobby shops in 2017. Looking back, this is going to be remembered as one of the … [Read more...]
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What’s Hot: New Products Pump Up an Already Strong 2017
It’s just a few days before Christmas and pretty much from 10AM – 8PM each of the last few weeks it has been total non-stop action at the shop. It is fun enjoying this time of the year as the collecting hype has carried over from Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger infused MLB with some very collectible rookies, the 17/18 NBA rookie crop is finally starting to play … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Free Packs, Pricey Packs, Q and More
Hello fellow card maniacs. It’s been a month since we discussed matters of the hot. I mean, I did talk about some cool programs that hobby shops have been able to offer already like the free Topps Holiday packs, Upper Deck Winter packs as well as the Panini Black Friday packs. Still to come on 12/9 is National Hobby Shop Day and since I committed … [Read more...]
Fruitman: ‘Tis the Season for Cardboard Promos
When I first opened in December 1992, I was not around long enough to fully enjoy my first holiday season in retail. Heck, I was happy to stay open each day and run to the bank each morning with whatever I had sold the day before. Over the next few decades I came to look forward to the holiday season since it’s a chance to have the inside track on what each of my … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: The Case of the Missing Case
It’s not often that the sports card gods get together and descend on a single day with some cardboard for everyone, but Wednesday, October 25 was one such day. On a single morning and afternoon, 2017 Bowman Tek MLB, 2017 Topps Archives Active Player Signature Edition MLB, 2017 Panini National Treasures MLB, 17/18 Hoops NBA, 2017 Panini Prizm NFL and 16/17 Upper Deck The … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Top Products at the 3/4 Pole
I would like to start off by apologizing for mistakenly suggesting last time that the Industry Summit might be held in January 2018 instead of when it typically was. The dates aren’t actually finalized yet but I created some undue stress for one of my favorite hobby peeps and that’s the last thing anyone needs. I try to get things right when I share them on here and … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Mike Has Definitive Answers (and Some Concerns)
Hello boys and girls. As always, it is an interesting time in the hobby. While hobby shop owners like myself should be elated over the return of football and the inevitable buzz and sales that go with it. Then again, that would this hobby be without a little controversy? Recently Panini announced the start of First Off The Line program where anyone with a … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: If There’s a ‘C’ in the Title…
So I just got back from Miami and if case you were wondering, I was part tempted to rant on about my former homeland and the humidity levels that I found. I guess my pores are more used to the constant dry of Colorado instead of the sunshine state. But, since you did not click on this piece today to read about my swimming with dolphins, encountering a single bleeping … [Read more...]
Mike: 2017 Baseball Cards Remain En Fuego
As many of you know, I live in Colorado which is home among other things, to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The reason I bring this up is because in 2001, Pollstar kinda gave up and instead of putting it up to a vote about what is the Best Outdoor Concert Venue, they just renamed the award after Red Rocks and gave other places a chance to get recognized. As I sat down to … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Father’s Day Promotion a Mystery, MLB Releases on Fire
As I write this, I’m getting ready for this weekend's 2017 Panini Father’s Day promotion, the second most popular in-store event of the year next to Panini Black Friday. My collectors love this promotion so much that I stepped up and dropped almost what I paid for my 2016 Honda Crosstour to stock my store with Panini products. The deal, once again, is that … [Read more...]
