Like any business, hobby shops sometimes temporarily close their doors. Whether it’s for remodeling, a move, a vacation or a trip to a major convention, it’s not out of the ordinary. This moment in our history is decidedly different. Many shops have been forced to close indefinitely. In some areas, it could be several weeks or even months before local … [Read more...]
10 Reasons to Head to Your Local Sports Card Shop
These days, buying cards is largely limited to the internet and, when in your area, shows. But while there aren't nearly as many card shops as there were in the boom of the 1990s, many dealers are still doing business at brick and mortar buildings. And new ones even continue to spring up. Here are ten reasons why you should still head to your local card shop. 1. See and buy … [Read more...]
Owner of Small Oregon Shop Maintains Even Keel
Bill Clews opened his sports card shop in Salem, OR about the time the hobby was beginning its “correction phase”. He must have done something right. Twenty years later, the shop is still going strong. Clews opened “The New Hobby” in 1996 and despite a burglary that cost him $20,000 in inventory, he’s managed to thrive. The 70-year-old retired military recruiter … [Read more...]
Shop Owners: How To Save A Buck… Or $2,000
When I decided to attend this year's Industry Summmit--a gathering of shop owners, distributors, card makers and others in the hobby--I approached host Kevin Isaacson about hosting a session to discuss ways to improve each of our bottom lines. While I did not leave Hawaii with a great tan or the ability to do the hula, I was able to come back with some ideas that will bolster … [Read more...]
Notes: Correa an Autograph Hit; Willie and Me… and More
Carlos Correa already has an exclusive autograph and memorabilia deal with Topps and over the weekend, he made a lot of new friends—including some famous ones—during his appearance at TriStar’s Houston show. The company sold 500 autograph tickets for Correa and that didn’t come close to meeting the demand. The Houston Chronicle chatted with Correa, former quarterback Joe … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Things to Think About Before You Open a Shop
We recently received an email from Dave Henry who wrote: I want to start selling cards. I'm thinking about a store here in Rochester NY as we really don't have a true hobby shop anymore. Do you have some advice for an inexperienced seller/dealer? Dave, first of all I want to thank you for writing us and I’m glad you value my opinion. A few ideas are below but it’s far … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Boring Shops Somehow Keep Doors Open
Even if you haven’t bought anything in a card shop for a few years or the place where you live saw its last shop shut its doors 20 years ago, chances are when you visit a new city and have some time to kill that you check to see if there’s a store nearby. We’re collectors. We’re sort of geeky that way. Sadly, it’s become almost exciting when you actually find one. I … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Remembering H & H Hobbies
by Rich Klein Taking us back into the hobby's past has been a lot of work but it's been worth it to read all of the emails I have received from either active collectors or people who were loosely associated with collecting in the past. Recently, I received a very nice note from Stacy Milones who mentioned how as a teenage girl in the 1980s her dad took her to the National … [Read more...]