Sunday, December 19, 2021, Root River Center, Franklin, WI
This show has been running for a while but this was my first opportunity to set up. I'm always hesitant to set up more than twice a month in the same town. For years, I've been setting up at my Oak Creek show and the Gonzaga show in the Milwaukee area. I just felt a third Milwaukee show would kill my sales.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Gonzaga/Buenavista show might be done -- I hope not, but that was the word on Sunday morning at Root River. I just might start setting up at Root River regularly.
Root River is pretty easy to get to, just exit the highway at Rawson and the venue is a few miles west. I thought the room that housed the show was really nice. It has a bar, dance floor, disco lights and stage.
Maybe 30 tables in there. All eight-footers which is nice. I reserved two but PJ tossed me an extra table, which was much appreciated. I was able to place out all of my binders with some space left over to throw down some flyers for my Oak Creek show.
While this was my first Root River show, I have been setting up in the Milwaukee area for the past 20 years so I knew most of the dealers and customers. I felt right at home at Root River.
Eric, pictured above, told me I had my buddy Larry Larsen's tables. I texted Larry while at the show to let him know I stole his spot. I'll gladly relinquish it to Larry when he is back doing shows! Get well soon buddy!
There were a couple of no-show dealers which is the bane of my existence. I told PJ I could relate. I'll say it again as I've said it before, guys who reserve a table and don't show up just suck!
Folks trickled into the show all day long at a steady clip. I had a lot of little sales that did not add up to much at the end of the day but I do appreciate everyone who purchased cards from me. Thanks guys!
Jerome was the big winner with the largest purchase. He picked up a bunch of 1954 Topps. Then my other buddy Larry purchased some 1960 Topps. A few other regular customers bought some cards.
On the buying front, I ended up buying a box of modern football from Randy. I have wanted to purchase some 2021 football all season long but the prices for boxes have been too high. Randy, set up across from me next to Eric, had some reasonably priced stuff. When he informed me at the end of the day that he had not made one sale, I immediately purchased a box. I was hoping for a Justin Fields rookie but no such luck.
Now Randy's set up appears tough to me. He roams the Walmarts, Targets and Meyers to purchase blaster boxes and hanger boxes and resells them. Randy's approach to selling cards is not new but has been taken to new levels during the Pandemic as those Walmart boxes were selling for double on eBay and at shows early on.
Looks like the prices have leveled off and guys like Randy are going to have a tough time making sales down the road. Randy said he thinks if he saves some of this stuff it will increase in value over time. I am a little skeptical but impressed at how well Randy knows his stuff. I am a vintage dealer and have very little knowledge about modern cards. I like to buy some boxes here and there and rip a little but I do it for fun, not in the hopes of getting that big hit and making some money at it.
Randy, on the other hand, has detailed knowledge on each modern product and seems to have a sixth sense when determining which product will sell. I really think he is going to have to start ripping some of this stuff and sell some singles to increase sales at future shows. That is just my opinion and, like I said, I do not really have a whole lot of knowledge when it comes to modern cards, but when you set up all day and do not make a sale, that is a for sure sign that you need to make some adjustments.
I think Randy's selling model may become more popular when Fanatics takes over the modern card market and does away with wholesaling, but for now, I think this method of selling cards is on the downside, albeit temporarily.
The highlight of my day came when my main man Stan, pictured below, brought me a cake! It was my birthday on Dec. 18th and I requested cake in last week's blogs. Stan happily obliged. Thanks Stan! The cake was awesome! A bunch of guys wished me happy birthday. Thank you!
I find it so awesome that so many people read my blog. Robin, who purchased some hockey cards, thought my idea of a 1972 Topps booth was a good one. I am getting good feedback on that idea.
Although sales were low at my first Root River show, I am confident that they will pick up the more I attend the show. My sales are often low at my first time setting up at a show. I need to get the word out that I will be set up at this show. I'll be at the next one on January 23. I'm planning to bring showcases for that one. Come see me at Root River on January 23!!!
In the meantime, my last show of 2021 is coming up this Sunday, December 26, at the Orland Park Civic Center in Orland Park, IL. I'm bringing showcases to Orland and am expecting another monster show.
Reminder, my Oak Creek show is scheduled for January 15, NOT January 1. Dealer tables are sold out, as usual, and that should be a monster show as well. Hope to see everyone in Orland on Sunday. Merry Christmas!
This show has been running for a while but this was my first opportunity to set up. I'm always hesitant to set up more than twice a month in the same town. For years, I've been setting up at my Oak Creek show and the Gonzaga show in the Milwaukee area. I just felt a third Milwaukee show would kill my sales.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Gonzaga/Buenavista show might be done -- I hope not, but that was the word on Sunday morning at Root River. I just might start setting up at Root River regularly.
Root River is pretty easy to get to, just exit the highway at Rawson and the venue is a few miles west. I thought the room that housed the show was really nice. It has a bar, dance floor, disco lights and stage.
Maybe 30 tables in there. All eight-footers which is nice. I reserved two but PJ tossed me an extra table, which was much appreciated. I was able to place out all of my binders with some space left over to throw down some flyers for my Oak Creek show.
While this was my first Root River show, I have been setting up in the Milwaukee area for the past 20 years so I knew most of the dealers and customers. I felt right at home at Root River.
Eric, pictured above, told me I had my buddy Larry Larsen's tables. I texted Larry while at the show to let him know I stole his spot. I'll gladly relinquish it to Larry when he is back doing shows! Get well soon buddy!
There were a couple of no-show dealers which is the bane of my existence. I told PJ I could relate. I'll say it again as I've said it before, guys who reserve a table and don't show up just suck!
Folks trickled into the show all day long at a steady clip. I had a lot of little sales that did not add up to much at the end of the day but I do appreciate everyone who purchased cards from me. Thanks guys!
Jerome was the big winner with the largest purchase. He picked up a bunch of 1954 Topps. Then my other buddy Larry purchased some 1960 Topps. A few other regular customers bought some cards.
On the buying front, I ended up buying a box of modern football from Randy. I have wanted to purchase some 2021 football all season long but the prices for boxes have been too high. Randy, set up across from me next to Eric, had some reasonably priced stuff. When he informed me at the end of the day that he had not made one sale, I immediately purchased a box. I was hoping for a Justin Fields rookie but no such luck.
Now Randy's set up appears tough to me. He roams the Walmarts, Targets and Meyers to purchase blaster boxes and hanger boxes and resells them. Randy's approach to selling cards is not new but has been taken to new levels during the Pandemic as those Walmart boxes were selling for double on eBay and at shows early on.
Looks like the prices have leveled off and guys like Randy are going to have a tough time making sales down the road. Randy said he thinks if he saves some of this stuff it will increase in value over time. I am a little skeptical but impressed at how well Randy knows his stuff. I am a vintage dealer and have very little knowledge about modern cards. I like to buy some boxes here and there and rip a little but I do it for fun, not in the hopes of getting that big hit and making some money at it.
Randy, on the other hand, has detailed knowledge on each modern product and seems to have a sixth sense when determining which product will sell. I really think he is going to have to start ripping some of this stuff and sell some singles to increase sales at future shows. That is just my opinion and, like I said, I do not really have a whole lot of knowledge when it comes to modern cards, but when you set up all day and do not make a sale, that is a for sure sign that you need to make some adjustments.
I think Randy's selling model may become more popular when Fanatics takes over the modern card market and does away with wholesaling, but for now, I think this method of selling cards is on the downside, albeit temporarily.
The highlight of my day came when my main man Stan, pictured below, brought me a cake! It was my birthday on Dec. 18th and I requested cake in last week's blogs. Stan happily obliged. Thanks Stan! The cake was awesome! A bunch of guys wished me happy birthday. Thank you!
I find it so awesome that so many people read my blog. Robin, who purchased some hockey cards, thought my idea of a 1972 Topps booth was a good one. I am getting good feedback on that idea.
Although sales were low at my first Root River show, I am confident that they will pick up the more I attend the show. My sales are often low at my first time setting up at a show. I need to get the word out that I will be set up at this show. I'll be at the next one on January 23. I'm planning to bring showcases for that one. Come see me at Root River on January 23!!!
In the meantime, my last show of 2021 is coming up this Sunday, December 26, at the Orland Park Civic Center in Orland Park, IL. I'm bringing showcases to Orland and am expecting another monster show.
Reminder, my Oak Creek show is scheduled for January 15, NOT January 1. Dealer tables are sold out, as usual, and that should be a monster show as well. Hope to see everyone in Orland on Sunday. Merry Christmas!
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