I think we’ve pretty much got every sport covered in this edition of What’s Hot and when three of the four sports are actually still in season, I guess that’s a good thing for shop owners. Nothing builds interest in hobby circles like watching a guy in person or on TV and then having the chance to collect his stuff.
So, here we go with the top 5 sellers. I’d love to hear what’s hot where you live so please don’t hesitate to contact me via the info at the bottom of the page.
1) 2016 Topps Finest MLB – I think Topps might be onto something solid here. You take one of your most popular releases, you take it away from distributors to sell to shops and breakers when the orders do not come in where you hoped they would have, you let the 250 stores that are direct maintain their orders and you take the remaining product and offer it to the public at full SRP plus shipping. Yup that’s what happened it and it made me wish that I ordered more than three cases direct.
Fine, I guess this would not work with EVERY release, but with only 24 boxes available, I had to put a two boxes per person cap on it and not only are my Finest regulars digging it, but those who want to own what not everyone else can have right away are coming in to buy it.
2) 2015/16 Panini National Treasures NBA – Apparently only ordering three cases of a release and wishing I had brought in more does not just extend to partially recalled MLB releases. NT NBA arrived right at 10AM one morning and all three cases were dead and shredded by the time rush hour started.
In that time, the 1/1 autographed logoman of Kawhi Leonard was pulled, one of the RPA Karl Anthony Towns cards had emerged and as if that was not enough, one of the Towns Notable Nicknames cards also popped out of a pack. Since that day, cases have bumped up about $500 on the wholesale level, two of those three cards have new owners and the Cavaliers have pounced on top of the Raptors.
3) 2016 Bowman MLB – While Yoan Moncada, Kenta Maeda, Alex Bregman and others might be monsters someday, they are apparently massive enough to push the most recent Bowman offering through the roof. Regular boxes are flirting with the $100 level and jumbo boxes are kicking it in the $200 range with loads of people getting in line to party with the latest offering of potential prospects.
Every once in a while, you have to admit your own failings and somehow I did not directly order this release. Yeah, one of the most reliable order forms slipped through my fingers like a football went through Cam Newton’s in the Super Bowl (Yes, I will always be looking to drop that reference into pieces. I’m from Denver and you’re stuck with me). Suffice to say, I won’t make that mistake again this year until it could possibly cost me dearly with a release that nobody wants. Then I will have stocked up on it like some guy did in 1991 with Fleer MLB.
4) 15/16 O-Pee-Chee Platinum NHL – Sure Connor McDavid hasn’t played a meaningful game since April 9, the Red Wings and Dylan Larkin were out in round one and Max Domi got as close to playing in the playoffs as I was, but puckheads at my store are well into their fourth case of the closest thing to Topps Chrome NHL that we will see for the foreseeable future.
Boxes officially offer one autograph but I’ve seen many with two along with loads of rookies and oodles (Yeah, I said “oodles”) of cool colored parallels.
Side note, it is cool that a product is moving this well without costing over $100, offering a half dozen autos or relics or the promise of a 1/1 logo shield card to get everyone’s juices flowing.
5) 2016 Score Regular & Jumbo NFL – Here’s the perfect mix of early season NFL designed to appease both basic collectors and the type of shredders that like four hits in a box. Granted it does not hurt to have a local team take a quarterback in the first round to inspire sales (welcome, Paxton Lynch!).
If sales of Score and other NFL releases that hit to this point, 2016 NFL sales might exceed 2015. Seriously, even with QBs that do not have the flash of Winston or Mariota, every Leaf and Panini release to this point has completely sold out and the restocks have enjoyed the same fate.
Mike Fruitman owns Mike’s Stadium Sportscards in Aurora, CO. Normally, his column focuses on what products are selling best in hobby shops. He’s got thousands of cards for sale on COMC.com under the ID cardmn5150. Enjoy new arrivals and big hits from Mike’s on Twitter. Mike’s is always looking for more friends on Facebook and you can email him at [email protected].
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