Well, that was one of the better Orland Park shows I have had in a while. Sales at the August 27, 2017, show were consistent. A father and son team bought quite a few vintage basketball cards. A regular customer purchased a nice amount of 1958 Topps baseball. As you recall, I purchased a 58 set at the National. I broke out some of the stars for the Orland Show.

​Rick purchased a number of Post Cereal cards from the 1960s. Chris purchased some Hostess Twinkie cards. A bunch of other guys dinked around my binders and purchased some cards.

​Then I am pretty sure a guy stole some cards out of my 1961 Topps football binder. He pulled out five cards and brought them over to me. He did not take the sleeve that has my price tag on two of the cards. So I went back into the binder to pull the sleeves and observed that a third sleeve, one marked $9, no longer had a card in it. I did not see the guy take the $9 card but I'm pretty sure he took it and placed it in his pocket or bag.

​Later, I told another dealer that I thought this guy stole from me. Without me describing the guy, the other dealer was able to give me a description and say that he goes after football cards. Now, I've seen this guy at the show before. Next month, if he comes by my table, I am going to watch him like a hawk. I hate thieves!

​Speaking of thieves, there is another guy that steals vintage cards that is known among the vintage dealers. I saw him in the room today. He was at Mike's table across from me when I needed a bathroom break. I had to hold it in until he left before I was going to vacate my table.

​The Orland show has had a history of thievery. If you ever set up at the Orland show, you really need to watch your stuff. Hopefully next month, I catch that prick with the football cards and there will be one less thief around.

​The sharks were also around at the Orland show. When I was loading in, there was a guy set up across from me with assorted vintage memorabilia and cards. He was crushed by the sharks. By the time I finished setting up, he had already sold out and gone home. I didn't even get a chance to see what he had.

​Though, there was no shortage of cards for me to purchase. I bought a bunch of stuff from Junior like 1972 Topps baseball high numbers, a 1959 Topps Rocky Colavito amongst other goodies. Another dealer gave me a great group of cards, pictured above, only problem was the condition was off the charts in the negative. The cards included a 1950 Bowman Jackie Robinson, a 1949 Bowman Stan Musial, a 1955 Duke Snider, a 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle All Star, and a 1962 Topps Sandy Koufax. There was also a group of 1944 Yankees stamps, which I had never seen before. The stamps, unlike the cards, are in really nice shape.

​Dealers started to pack at around 11:30 a.m. I followed suit around noon. I didn't get out of there till 2 p.m., which is still early. I'm skipping the next Orland show on September 10 but I'll be at the one on September 24. Even though my sales were up, they still weren't good enough for me to come back on the 10th. The Orland show is not what it used to be and is really a tough place to make a buck.

​A much better show, is my show at the Clarion Hotel, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. My sales at the Clarion are consistently good as well as my buys. The next Clarion show, Saturday, September 2, marks my three-year anniversary of promoting the show. Last year, I decided to throw an anniversary party and it was well received and well attended. So once again I will have an anniversary party where I am giving away free donuts, coffee, pizza, soda and packs of cards. As always, admission is free. I also have a full house of dealers so this should be another great show. Come on out!!

​Pictured below are the boxes where you may choose your two free packs at Saturday's Clarion show. I may purchase some more boxes before Saturday. I'll post the new boxes on my facebook page.

I am still feeling a bit of a hangover from the National. The week went by so fast and I am bummed I did not have more time to walk the floor. I was up bright and early for work on the Monday after the National, so I really did not have much time to reflect or recoup. Also, I had my show at the Clarion in Milwaukee up on the Saturday after the National and hustled all week to get the word out online.

I was much too tired all week to price cards, so I had nothing new on display at my Clarion show on August 5, 2017, even though I bought a ton of stuff at the National. Luckily, not a whole lot of my Clarion regulars were at the National so they were able to go through quite a few cards that were new from the July show. I spent a ton of time pricing stuff for the National, so my inventory is fairly fresh right now.

Wow, what a difference a year makes. The August Clarion show last year was a dud, no way to sugar coat it. So I went into promoter beast mode this year and spent quite a bit of money on doughnuts, coffee and cards to give away all summer long. Beast mode worked because I had great attendance all summer long, including the August show, pictured above. I have to say that it is really fun giving stuff away. I found that it made the customers happy, the dealers happy, and myself very happy. There was just a great atmosphere at the Clarion show all summer long when I started to give stuff away in June. Dennis told me he pulled a card containing a piece of Jackie Kennedy's dress in one of the packs I gave away at the August show. It is so great to hear that people are happy and saying good things about my Clarion show. 

The September 2 Clarion Show is shaping up to be my best show to date. September will mark the third anniversary of the show I started with Mark Smith back in September of 2014. I already have 11 dealers lined up for September. I can't fit many more into the room. We may have to bump the show into one of the bigger rooms at the hotel. Those that attended the June and July shows enjoyed the bigger Mitchell Room. It is kind of a tight squeeze in the Rembrandt Room, our regular location for the show. So it works out really well when I get a large dealer turn out and have extra fund to purchase the larger room.

Like last year's anniversary show, which was also a big hit and well attended, I am giving away free pizza at the September show this year. Last year I only purchased three pizzas based on the low turnout from the August 2016 show. Unlike the August 2016, the September 2016 show was well attended and the pizzas were gone within seconds. So I am going to double the number of pizzas this year and am willing and able to order even more, depending on need. This year, nobody is going to miss out on pizza. What do you guys like as pizza toppings? I am going to bring a cooler of soda as well.

I am also going to keep the free donuts and coffee going. Everyone seems to really like the donuts. I think I will add a box of munchkins as well because the donuts go pretty quick.

I picked up a box each of 2014 and 2015 Topps baseball cards at the last Gonzaga show. I plan on picking up a few more boxes of cards and will give out two packs to everyone who attends the September 2, 2017, Clarion Show located at 5311 S. Howell in Milwaukee from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I am also thinking ahead to the October show. I am really enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Clarion show lately. Any suggestions for the October show? I want to keep this party going with more free stuff and food. 

​I look forward to seeing everyone September 2!!