Saturday, June 18, 2022, Chicago Sports Spectacular, Rosemont, IL
I think we were all dragging by Saturday. It had been a long week with set up on Wednesday and two very long days on Thursday and Friday.
I think I mentioned this in my March blog, the folks that now run the Sports Spectacular provide doughnuts and coffee for all of the dealers which is much appreciated. I partook in the coffee all three days but doughnuts just on Friday and Saturday.
Once again, I spent the morning rearranging my display cases to fill all of the empty spots. My pal Mike Slinkman came by a few times to show me some cards while I was filling the cases. Thanks for your patience Mike! In the new space, I was able to place out more 1970's football cards.
On the buying front, I looked at quite a few cards on Saturday, more willing to buy, but everything was a tad too high. I don't buy anything unless I feel I can make a profit on it down the road. Most of the cards I looked at on Saturday were extremely low grade. I can sell cards that are creased, water logged and have paper loss but I do not sell them for much and need to purchase them dirt cheap. One group I regret not offering more money was a binder of 1954 Dan Dee cards. Tough cards to find in any shape. This group was in brutal shape but just based on the scarcity, I should have offered more. As a result, I did not end up buying anything on Saturday.
I did get a chance to walk around because sales were slow. There was nice number of vintage dealers in the room. Far more than I realized because customers all week were complaining that there were not more vintage dealers. I thought there was a pretty good selection.
PWCC was set up by the concession stand. I was glad they were far from us because they have been terrible neighbors at the National. Other auction houses I saw were Pristine and Memory Lane. I was surprised there were not more auction houses. I saw the Beckett booth. I wanted to stop but they were very busy.
No PSA or SGC. A couple of the newer grading companies were there but I am not comfortable grading cards with these newbies.
Seemed like most of the dealers were busy. There were a few dealers with absolute junk and I don't understand how they make a buck. I saw one artist selling paintings that depicted pennants. There were quite a few autograph dealers. Some supply guys. Overall, I thought it was a nice selection.
Saturday was my slowest day for sales but I still had a few and was happy to take home some cash. Overall, sales were a little more than half of my March show which is actually better than I expected. I think I may continue setting up at this summer show. I hope to set up at their November show. The folks that run the show kept asking for dealers to turn in their contracts for the November show, claiming it will sell out.
I am not so sure the November show will sell out because they are upping their table fee from $375 to $450. Kevin and PJ want to come back. Dave is on the fence. I would like to set up at the November show. We need to figure this out and get our contract in.
It is kind of grueling doing these three-day shows. I am still wiped out.
I had a really nice Father's Day on Sunday. My mom and dad picked me and my son up and we went to the flea market in Wilmot, Wisconsin, to walk around.
No rest for the weary! I am back at it on Saturday, June 25, for the Madison show at the Sheraton. Then Sunday I am setting up for the first time at the Roma Lodge in Racine, WI. It will be a binder weekend after a week of display cases in Rosemont. I need to price a ton of cards to get those display cases ready for the National. I am finishing up my 1979 Topps football binder for this weekend. I might bring out a few display cases to the Roma Lodge where I have a lot of table space. It will be a game-time decision.
Overall, I did enjoy myself in Rosemont. The show was better than expected. Far more dealers than I expected. Attendance was better as well. I am looking forward to the November show.
Reminder, my Oak Creek Show is coming up July 2. I am up to 83 dealers. I do have space for a few more tables. If you are interested in setting up, you would have to bring your own table because the venue does not have enough to go around. Contact me soon if you want to set up.
Below are a few photos I snapped on Saturday at the Sports Spectacular.
I think we were all dragging by Saturday. It had been a long week with set up on Wednesday and two very long days on Thursday and Friday.
I think I mentioned this in my March blog, the folks that now run the Sports Spectacular provide doughnuts and coffee for all of the dealers which is much appreciated. I partook in the coffee all three days but doughnuts just on Friday and Saturday.
Once again, I spent the morning rearranging my display cases to fill all of the empty spots. My pal Mike Slinkman came by a few times to show me some cards while I was filling the cases. Thanks for your patience Mike! In the new space, I was able to place out more 1970's football cards.
On the buying front, I looked at quite a few cards on Saturday, more willing to buy, but everything was a tad too high. I don't buy anything unless I feel I can make a profit on it down the road. Most of the cards I looked at on Saturday were extremely low grade. I can sell cards that are creased, water logged and have paper loss but I do not sell them for much and need to purchase them dirt cheap. One group I regret not offering more money was a binder of 1954 Dan Dee cards. Tough cards to find in any shape. This group was in brutal shape but just based on the scarcity, I should have offered more. As a result, I did not end up buying anything on Saturday.
I did get a chance to walk around because sales were slow. There was nice number of vintage dealers in the room. Far more than I realized because customers all week were complaining that there were not more vintage dealers. I thought there was a pretty good selection.
PWCC was set up by the concession stand. I was glad they were far from us because they have been terrible neighbors at the National. Other auction houses I saw were Pristine and Memory Lane. I was surprised there were not more auction houses. I saw the Beckett booth. I wanted to stop but they were very busy.
No PSA or SGC. A couple of the newer grading companies were there but I am not comfortable grading cards with these newbies.
Seemed like most of the dealers were busy. There were a few dealers with absolute junk and I don't understand how they make a buck. I saw one artist selling paintings that depicted pennants. There were quite a few autograph dealers. Some supply guys. Overall, I thought it was a nice selection.
Saturday was my slowest day for sales but I still had a few and was happy to take home some cash. Overall, sales were a little more than half of my March show which is actually better than I expected. I think I may continue setting up at this summer show. I hope to set up at their November show. The folks that run the show kept asking for dealers to turn in their contracts for the November show, claiming it will sell out.
I am not so sure the November show will sell out because they are upping their table fee from $375 to $450. Kevin and PJ want to come back. Dave is on the fence. I would like to set up at the November show. We need to figure this out and get our contract in.
It is kind of grueling doing these three-day shows. I am still wiped out.
I had a really nice Father's Day on Sunday. My mom and dad picked me and my son up and we went to the flea market in Wilmot, Wisconsin, to walk around.
No rest for the weary! I am back at it on Saturday, June 25, for the Madison show at the Sheraton. Then Sunday I am setting up for the first time at the Roma Lodge in Racine, WI. It will be a binder weekend after a week of display cases in Rosemont. I need to price a ton of cards to get those display cases ready for the National. I am finishing up my 1979 Topps football binder for this weekend. I might bring out a few display cases to the Roma Lodge where I have a lot of table space. It will be a game-time decision.
Overall, I did enjoy myself in Rosemont. The show was better than expected. Far more dealers than I expected. Attendance was better as well. I am looking forward to the November show.
Reminder, my Oak Creek Show is coming up July 2. I am up to 83 dealers. I do have space for a few more tables. If you are interested in setting up, you would have to bring your own table because the venue does not have enough to go around. Contact me soon if you want to set up.
Below are a few photos I snapped on Saturday at the Sports Spectacular.
Pictured above is JD's booth. I am surprised he was able to get away on Thursday where he spent an hour or so at my booth purchasing a pile of cards. A real nice guy. He operates a show in Columbus, OH. It is tough to find a better vintage dealer than JD.
Pictured above, left to right, Kevin, PJ, Tony and Dave. We'll see you at the Oak Creek show on July 2nd!
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