Someone Please Convince Me...

mintacular · #1 09-25-2009, 08:49 PM

Over the last few weeks I've become increasingly depressed/concerned about the future of our hobby (sports cards).

I grew up collecting big time during the late 80s when cards were huge. Since then, for multiple reasons (already discussed), the hobby has shrunk, and shrunk, and shrunk....But fortunately, since I've reentered the hobby in '2005, 80% of my purchases have been in vintage cards which I believe will always atleast hold water.

However, in terms of my future business (I would like to own a hobby shop), will today's generation ever except cardboard as an acceptable form of memorablia? With bobbleheads, auto helmets, etc. do you think cardboard can ever work for this generation?

Thanks for your thoughts. I realize this is a bit of a ramble but would like to see where it goes (if anywhere). -Pat "Mintacular"

Scott T · #2 09-25-2009, 09:02 PM

As a hobby, cards are a wonderful diversion. As an investment, I am not so sure. Vintage cards seem to hold their value more than modern stuff does and they also don't seem to flucuate on a day to day basis like their modern counterparts.

As far as opening up a shop, I would think it would be hard to make a go of it. (Maybe try an Ebay store first to test the waters?)

jcmtiger · #3 09-25-2009, 09:06 PM

You are right, vintage cards will hold their value.

I would not want to open a Baseball card/Memorabilia shop right now. I really think those days are gone. Shops will never thrive like they did in the 1970's and 1980's, just my opinion. Also if you want to deal in vintage, a hobby shop would not be the right choice.

Joe

mintacular · #4 09-25-2009, 09:22 PM

So you are saying owning a shop if selling vintage is not worth the overhead cost? And the other replier seems to suggest owning a retail sports mem. is impossible. I would argue it is possible but one really has to know their stuff.

ChiefBenderForever · #5 09-25-2009, 09:33 PM

It would be really tough, the new stuff you have to agree to buy the same amount of boxes of every issue they put out. Although now that Topps has exclusive rights it might not be so tough. Newer basketball does well as far as selling boxes or packs, especially exquisite. Hooking up with Mitchell & Ness and other authentic jerseys would be key as well but no matter what you do you can't compete with ebay prices.It would be very tough to keep a good flow of vintage inventory coming in.
It would be cool but very tough unless you can find cheap rent in a great location. The chain stores Shinders started again around here after the owner went to prison on drug charges and they went out business for several months. They sell tons of wax,supplies,comics, magazines, and lots of porn. Cards are an afterthought and just a bonus for them but they are making it work. Best of luck.

fkw · #6 09-25-2009, 10:34 PM

Card Shops and Card Shows are done! IMO

Why only sell to a 30-50 miles radius, when you can save all the overhead (utilities, rent, employees, etc.) and sell to the whole world on the internet.

Years ago many shop owners found out they can dump their store, move to Florida, sit on the beach with a laptop, open a site on the internet, and sell to the whole world. All with less bills, employees, and headaches.

I wish I could do this, I have the beach, but the internet is another story

3-2-count · #7 09-25-2009, 11:16 PM

Frank is dead on. The internet is now king.

drc · #8 09-26-2009, 01:34 AM

There are a number of quality antique stores in my area (Seattle) that have been in business for a long time. The key word here is variety of material, which could include sports cards and memorabilia. In fact, one store has a number of quality vintage baseball pieces.

BCauley · #9 09-26-2009, 07:28 AM

It's sad that it's come to card shops being almost extinct. I dread the day when/if it happens to card shows. To me, it wasn't just about going in to pick up some cards but it always seemed the owners just loved to talk about cards as well. That aspect I miss greatly.

However, I did stumble on a little old place called House of Cards in Silver Spring, MD for the first time two weeks ago. I'm pretty certain most of you know of the place.

Though I did just go to check it out as I'm new to the area and want to see what is around, I had to make a couple of "shiny" purchases as I collect a couple of modern players. And hey, when you find a card that has the autographs of both Bill Buckner and Mookie Wilson on it, how can you pass it up? Back to the vintage side, I'll be going back up there for a specific card I passed on at the time. I just hope it's still there.

mintacular · #10 09-26-2009, 09:33 AM

I spent $10 at my favorite hobby shop in PGH and here is what I picked up:
1) 86 Topps Warren Moon & Andre Reed RC
2) 2 screw down plaques
3) 1 '72-73 Topps Penguin Card
4) Emmitt Smith Starting Lineup

Where else could I have picked these up in one place as I did? I believe an online store is a very important arm to a successful B & M but not necessarily the end all/be all. Also, in PGH when the Steelers/Pens won championships, who wants to wait a week or more to win an eBay auction, and then wait for it to be shipped to you...

jobermeyer2 · #11 09-26-2009, 09:47 AM

DRC - my guess is the shop in Seattle you refer to is Gasoline Alley. If that's the case, while I agree they have a fine selection of vintage sports items, I'd be willing to bet that the majority of their sales are not from walk-ins - they come from print and internet advertising, as well as a network of buyers established over 30 years in the toy and sports memorabilia hobbies.

When talking about sports items, we're talking about different categories - available/cheap, available/expensive, rare/cheap, rare/expensive. For the expensive items, a seller always wants to maximize his/her exposure; for cheap items time and costs become bigger issues. I think the "only" way to operate a successful storefront in this hobby today is to have it tied to a strong internet business - when you're not dealing with your in person customers, you're managing eBay auctions, your web store, etc. And, as many store owners discovered, you may find yourself making more money of the web and wondering why you pay those bills every month.

Jeff

bosoxphan · #12 09-26-2009, 12:03 PM

I really don't miss the card shop days. It was nice to sift through things on a boring day by i much prefer the liquid marketplace of the internet and ebay in particular. I don't miss paying 100% book value on items and being able to only sell them for 40 cents on the dollar. I think the transformation to an internet marketplace has helped the hobby far more than its hurt it.

mintacular · #13 09-26-2009, 12:42 PM

I hear you on the price thing, so many hobby shops are way overpriced. I went to a shop the other day to "kick the tires" and brought along a '69 set that I'm trying to fill in. Realized I might pay a couple extra bucks at a shop but figured it was worth buying a few commons as I wanted to see the place.

So the guy brings a monster box of '69s (unpriced). I ask how much they were going to be and he said it depends on condition/which ones I choose. So I start picking out a few cards I needed and for each one I pick he looks up on the computer and quotes me HBV or very close to it for each individual card, many of which were EX+/EXMT.

"World Series Game 3 card, $7." Once I pulled a few cards and realized where this was going, I stopped the charade, bought a couple screwdowns and my (5) commons, and got the hell out of there having spent $13 for $3 worth of stuff...

Tex · #14 09-26-2009, 01:12 PM

I agree with those who say card shops are endangered species. Most shops that I see around have some kind of sideshow business (scalping tix, clothing, etc.) just to stay alive.

Potomac Yank · #15 09-26-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintacular

Over the last few weeks I've become increasingly depressed/concerned about the future of our hobby (sports cards).

I grew up collecting big time during the late 80s when cards were huge. Since then, for multiple reasons (already discussed), the hobby has shrunk, and shrunk, and shrunk....But fortunately, since I've reentered the hobby in '2005, 80% of my purchases have been in vintage cards which I believe will always atleast hold water.

However, in terms of my future business (I would like to own a hobby shop), will today's generation ever except cardboard as an acceptable form of memorablia? With bobbleheads, auto helmets, etc. do you think cardboard can ever work for this generation?

Thanks for your thoughts. I realize this is a bit of a ramble but would like to see where it goes (if anywhere). -Pat "Mintacular"

*

Are you concerned about the hobby, or a potential business???

Not to worry about the hobby ..... It will be there after you, and I are gone.

drc · #16 09-26-2009, 01:50 PM

I agree with Jeff. I've before thought that they only realistic way to have a small brick and mortar sports memorabilia or Hollywood memorabilia or whatever store is if you are already successful online. Heck, maybe then you could add live in store auctions. It's possible (I said possible) having the multiple avenues to sell might prove good and even an advantage to just selling online.

Lastly, you start a business where you objectively think it will be successful beforehand and not because of your sentimental tastes or conceptions. Do you know why Amazon.com specializes in books? Because Jeff Bezos determined that books was the best product to sell in his business. Whether or not he personally loved books and reading was neither here nor there. If he had determined that selling oven mitts was the best product despte the fact that he hated cooking, Amazon would have specialized in oven mitts. If starting a baseball card store makes lots of money and you love baseball cards, that's great. But loving baseball cards and being sentimental about your local childhood store, won't make an unprofitable business model less unprofitable ... Now, if you already have a profitable online business selling sports cards, that would at least give you a buffer to test out a store for a short period to see how it works. If the store hears nothing but crickets, you at least know you can move your store inventory online. In fact, the store inventory may be stuff you would have sold online anyway if you hadn't started the business. Many small retail business owners are both a bust and stuck with inventory they can't unload except at a small fraction of what they paid-- and the loss on the inventory can tower over other costs, like the lease.

drc · #17 09-26-2009, 02:44 PM

My family favorite "failed business" story was my uncle who was an engineer for NASA. He decided he wanted to be his own man and go into business as an independent space industry consultant, and took out an ad for his services. The only response he got to the ad was a guy wondering if he was hiring. Luckily, my uncle was only out the cost of ad and was the first to laugh at story.