Selling on eBay doesn't always mean you'll actually sell your item. A lot of factors go into whether there's a bidder or buyer at the other end of your little cyber offering. However, a look at eBay's top sellers of autographed baseball memorabilia over the last 30 days revealed that whatever the formula for success is, these guys have found it. Combined, they sold over … [Read more...]
Summit Survey Shows Sports Card Market Optimism
@2012 The Industry Summit, March 18-21, Las Vegas (http://www.regonline.com/2012summit) Product diversification, online marketing and enhanced corporate partnerships have sports-focused collectible retailers viewing 2012 as potentially their best year in a decade. An Industry Summit survey of independent retailers serving the sports and entertainment collectible and … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Bringing National Hockey Card Day to U.S. Shops
Upper Deck's National Hockey Card Day is no longer a Canadian exclusive. The program aimed primarily at bringing new collectors into the market, began in 2009 and has been successful for retailers north of the border. Now, the company is extending it to the U.S. Scheduled to take place on February 11, the day before the NHL's 'Hockey Day in America' promotion, customers who … [Read more...]
Q&A With a Hobby Distributor
In preparation for the 2012 Industry Summit, host Kevin Isaacson is conducting periodic “5 Questions’’ segments with leaders from all segments of the sports collectible, entertainment and gaming industries. This week’s Q&A is with Lloyd Kee, principal of GTS Distribution, a wholesaler of sports collectible and gaming products. GTS employees more than 50 full-time … [Read more...]
Shops, Card Makers Look for Common Ground
Sports card shop owners are asking manufacturers to keep them better informed, slow down the flood of redemption cards and help them compete with major retailers like Target and Walmart who are selling cards too. 150 store owners are meeting at the Industry Summit in Las Vegas, developing a list of their most pressing concerns and objectives for the rest of 2011 and … [Read more...]
Blog: Panini Sees New Basktball Card Market in Africa
More than any other sport, the NBA has made tremendous efforts to grow its popularity outside North America and basketball cards are part of that mix. According to SLAM magazine, the league has set up its first office in South Africa. It’s located in Johannesburg. Amadou Gallo Fall, former Director of Player Personnel and Vice President of International Affairs for the … [Read more...]
Panini Promises to Back Card Shops
Panini America executives stunned more than 100 hobby retailers at The Industry Summit in Las Vegas by announcing sweeping, comprehensive changes to the company’s distribution network. “These are things we’ve wanted to do for 10 years,’’ said Mike Anderson, Panini VP. “We are no longer turning a blind eye to the problem that has been killing margins for hobby … [Read more...]
Survey: Kids Less Than 10% of Hobby Shop Business
The vast majority of brick-and-mortar sports card shops--88 percent--report that those under the age of 17 comprise less than ten percent of their current customer base. The somewhat startling statistic was revealed in an online survey conducted in conjunction with the upcoming Industry Summit trade event in Las Vegas. Other survey results gave Panini America (formerly … [Read more...]