It’s all subjective, of course, but the contest to name “America’s Best Card Shop” has its final four. A few months ago, Loupe, Topps, Blowout Cards, All Sports Marketing and PSA launched the contest that offers a cash prize and other perks to the shop that wins. The determining factor isn’t just about who has the most cards. According to Loupe, “entrants … [Read more...] about 4 Finalists Named in “America’s Best Card Shop” Contest
hobby shop owners
Hit Seekers Opens Doors to Cincinnati Area Shop
A big crowd turned out Saturday for the opening of a sports card shop just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Hit Seekers, which has been breaking online for about two years, held its grand opening in Fort Mitchell, KY. View this post on … [Read more...] about Hit Seekers Opens Doors to Cincinnati Area Shop
Shops Deal with COVID Closures
Mark Fugate, owner of a Cincinnati area card and memorabilia shop, didn’t wait to close his Sports Gallery. Days before the state of Ohio ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses, Fugate locked the doors on his store. “Nobody wants to close,” he said. “It’s very tough. But baseballs and bobbleheads are not essential at this point in time.” The Sports … [Read more...] about Shops Deal with COVID Closures
Cheers: Maryland Shop’s Card Bar Now a 36-Foot Haven After Outgrowing Old Digs
During this summer's National Sports Collectors Convention, Rick Limpert visited with collector/dealer Mel Lundgren, who brings a mini version of his hobby shop's "card bar" to the show. It's a place to sit, open packs, go through cards and talk about sports, the hobby or anything else. The concept is actually the signature feature of the Maryland store he opened in August of … [Read more...] about Cheers: Maryland Shop’s Card Bar Now a 36-Foot Haven After Outgrowing Old Digs
Shop Owner Hopes to Help Customers Avoid Fakes
About a year ago, Chris Tinder took over The Sportsroom, a hobby shop in Beaverton, OR, buying the store and everything in it. Like every store owner, he answers questions from area residents who have items to sell. Sometimes the news that the autographed item they bought online and want to sell is likely a forgery. In fact, long before he became a business … [Read more...] about Shop Owner Hopes to Help Customers Avoid Fakes
Hobby Shop Owner with MD in Running for eBay’s Small Business of the Year Award
A hobby shop owner from Blaine, MN is in the running for eBay's Small Business of the Year award. Todd Hallada owns 2Bros Sports, one of eBay's largest sports collectibles sellers and also owns a brick-and-mortar shop, located just north of Minneapolis. Hallada and his brother Tom were born with muscular dystrophy but that hasn't stopped either of them. At age 16, … [Read more...] about Hobby Shop Owner with MD in Running for eBay’s Small Business of the Year Award
Minnesota Shop Heads Into 31st Year
You won't find many sports card shops that launched in the 1980s still in operation today. The Ballpark in Apple Valley, MN is one of them--and not because they carry all of the "latest products." Owner Calvin Havercamp has done it his way--with a heavy emphasis on vintage cards and memorabilia. The shop opened on July 5, 1988 and sold plenty of … [Read more...] about Minnesota Shop Heads Into 31st Year
Autograph Signings a Long-Running Hit for Philly Area Shop
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 … [Read more...] about Autograph Signings a Long-Running Hit for Philly Area Shop
‘Sweet Old Lady’s’ Card Shop Kept Alive By Her Children
She was known as the sweet old lady who ran the baseball card shop in a small West Virginia town that hugs the Ohio River. But Shirley Ann DeQuasie did more than sell cards and supplies for 29 years in Ravenswood. Her store, S&S Baseball Cards & Collectibles, was a gathering place for friends. Shirley would bring homemade “dessert things” to her shop, … [Read more...] about ‘Sweet Old Lady’s’ Card Shop Kept Alive By Her Children
Card Shop Q&A with ‘The Rookie’
There may not be as many sports card shops as there were in the "boom" period of the late 1980s and early 90s but as a recent Facebook thread revealed, there are still plenty of successful stores and collectors who spend time in them. As part of our ongoing series of Q&A sessions with card shops around the country, we connected with Tony Kirby of The Rookie, a … [Read more...] about Card Shop Q&A with ‘The Rookie’