Jim Brown is now suing in an attempt to get his 1964 NFL Championship ring back. The Hall of Fame running back says the ring, currently up for bid at Lelands.com, was stolen from him in the 1960's, a fact the auction company disputes. Brown is asking for the auction to be halted as well as monetary damages for defamation. Oddly, it's the second time Lelands has sold the … [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...]
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...]
Industry Summit Attendance Grows
More than 250 industry professionals will attend the 2011 Industry Summit, an increase of more than 25 percent over last year’s inaugural event, according to organizers. Scheduled for Las Vegas later this month, 2011 Industry Summit will include representatives of more than 105 independent sports, gaming and entertainment collectible stores. “Our primary mission is … [Read more...]
Retailers Looking Forward to 2011 Football Cards
Benefitting from a rookie class that features 4 potential first-round QBs and two Heisman Trophy winners, this spring's football card options are positioned to be much more diverse - and competitive -- than in recent years. According to Kevin Isaacson of the Industry Summit, at least six companies are planning to issue NFL draft-focused football card products during the … [Read more...]
Blog: Card Industry Insiders Talk
Courtesy of Kevin Isaacson, promoter of the recent Industry Summit in Las Vegas are the top 15 quotes from the various speakers and conferences: “At a time when it would be easy to be negative, card stores have stepped up with optimism and a willingness to share ideas that need to be listened to, but more importantly, need to be implemented. Now the ball is … [Read more...]
Shaffer: Marketing to Kids an Industry Must
Victor Shaffer, who ran the company that began changing the sports trading card in the mid-1990s, has plenty of advice for card companies, dealers and others trying to earn the business of youngsters. Shaffer, EVP at Cartamundi USA and the one-time founder/CEO of the Press Pass trading card company, presented a 60-minute keynote address April 14 at The Industry Summit in Las … [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...]
80+ Hobby Shop Owners Will Attend Vegas Event
Paid registration for the first-ever Industry Summit will exceed budget by more than 20 percent, organizers say. More than 185 paid registrants will gather at The Orleans Hotel & Casino April 11-14 for the inaugural trade event, including key representatives of all trading card manufacturers, 12 leading wholesale distributors and more than 80 brick-and-mortar hobby … [Read more...]
’10 Key Questions’ to Kick off Industry Summit
Adam Martin, co-owner of Dave & Adam's Card World, has agreed to launch the "10 Key Questions'' segment at the 2010 Industry Summit set for Las Vegas. The Industry Summit is a new venture designed to bring manufacturers, distributors, retailers and service providers together to network and discuss issues in the sports collectibles industry. The "10 Key Questions'' … [Read more...]