A PSA 10 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card is on the auction block and has already set a new record for the grade, sitting at $66,200 with the auction not set to conclude until mid-week. The SP Jeter has become the future Hall of Famer’s most popular—and pricey-- rookie card and ranks is among the most valuable cards of a modern era in high-grade. There … [Read more...]
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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...]
Notes: Taking the Card Shop Plunge; Dow Jones vs. Card Market; Kirk Gibson Fundraiser
A lot of people dream about opening a card shop. Lifelong collector Aaron Bertram of Traverse City, MI decided to stop thinking about it and start doing it. On Friday, the former sales manager at a local auto dealership is opening the doors to The Vault Sports Cards and Collectibles. It’ll be mostly sports cards, but he’ll also try to appeal to gamers and … [Read more...]
Card Shop Q&A: American Legends is 25 Years Old and Counting
George H.W. Bush was president. Tiger Woods was playing in his first PGA Tour event--at age 16. Joe Gibbs and Marv Levy were your opposing Super Bowl coaches. It was 1992 and a young collector named Mark Rubin decided to open his own sports card and memorabilia shop. The name has changed since then, but Mark and his wife Donna are still buying and … [Read more...]
Card Shop Q&A: Dugout Dreams Finds Success with Old and New
In the latest of an ongoing series of Q&A sessions with sports card shop owners, we catch up with Sean O'Rourke of Dugout Dreams at 45 Padanaram Road in Danbury, CT. Tell us a little about the history of your store. I have been here since 1996 over 21 years at a brick and mortar location. We’re on a main road in a small strip mall with ten other … [Read more...]
Brady Bunch Had Nothing on Joss Family
I think it's safe to say no hobby shop owner has more children than Don Joss of DJ's Sports Cards in Renton, WA. Joss and his wife Amy began adopting children--some with strong special needs--after having kids of their own. They now have 15 mouths to feed, with two more coming in the months ahead. One of the hobby's longest tenured business owners, Joss holds … [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...]
‘Power Of Base’ Helps Needy Kids At Christmas
For a card shop in Hamilton, Ontario, it’s all about that base. And converting those base cards into Christmas gifts for children is no trouble. Matt and Chuck Durka have operated Breakaway Sports Cards, a 1,000-square foot shop in Hamilton since February 2013. A large amount of their business is done through online group breaks on Breakers.TV where they rip … [Read more...]
Long-Running PA Shop Selling Out
One of the nation’s oldest hobby shops is closing. Shaffer’s Trading Cards in Lewisburg, PA is selling off its inventory as owner Bill Shaffer looks to spend more time with his family. Shaffer began buying and selling at area flea markets in the mid-1970s and opened his store in 1988. Sets, packs, singles, supplies, non-sport cards, autographs, memorabilia and … [Read more...]
KY Shop Owner Calling It Quits After 29 Years
Another long-time sports card shop is shutting its doors. Steve’s Sports Cards, a fixture in Bowling Green, KY since 1986, will be around until the end of April, but owner Steve Kessinger then plans to close for good. Kessinger’s shop was the second full-time sports card store in the Commonwealth and he was also one of the organizers behind the first known card show ever … [Read more...]
