Saturday, January 7, 2017, Clarion Hotel, Milwaukee
As I stated in my last blog, I felt sales were down in 2016. The year 2017, on the other hand, has started off with a bang. I had my best show ever at the Clarion Hotel in Milwaukee on January 7, 2017, pictured above. Milwaukee television channel 12 mentioned the show on its morning program and we ended up with our best attended show to date. There was a steady flow of customers from the opening bell to the closing whistle.
I had a monster day selling cards. A huge thank you to Jerome who about knocked out my newly reloaded 1963 Topps baseball binder. I had quite a few sales to new customers. Sales were continuous all day long.
On the buying front, wow, just wow! We had more people than ever before bring in cards to sell to the dealers. I picked up a pile of stuff including some old publications. One guy brought in a huge suitcase of junk, which I turned down. Gary had the buy of the day from a customer that brought in cards from the 1950s including quite a few Mantles and Clementes. It was incredibly cool to see so much stuff walk in the door. Just about all the dealers reported great sales and great buys. Man, if I could just copy the January 7th show and rerun it every month, life would be perfect!!
Milwaukee Channel 12 is the best!! Thank you for the plug!!!
As I stated in my last blog, I felt sales were down in 2016. The year 2017, on the other hand, has started off with a bang. I had my best show ever at the Clarion Hotel in Milwaukee on January 7, 2017, pictured above. Milwaukee television channel 12 mentioned the show on its morning program and we ended up with our best attended show to date. There was a steady flow of customers from the opening bell to the closing whistle.
I had a monster day selling cards. A huge thank you to Jerome who about knocked out my newly reloaded 1963 Topps baseball binder. I had quite a few sales to new customers. Sales were continuous all day long.
On the buying front, wow, just wow! We had more people than ever before bring in cards to sell to the dealers. I picked up a pile of stuff including some old publications. One guy brought in a huge suitcase of junk, which I turned down. Gary had the buy of the day from a customer that brought in cards from the 1950s including quite a few Mantles and Clementes. It was incredibly cool to see so much stuff walk in the door. Just about all the dealers reported great sales and great buys. Man, if I could just copy the January 7th show and rerun it every month, life would be perfect!!
Milwaukee Channel 12 is the best!! Thank you for the plug!!!
Sunday, January 15, 2017, Gonzaga Hall, Milwaukee
It was nice being back at Gonzaga, pictured above, after missing December due to a snow storm. Once again we had an excellent crowd at Gonzaga. I bought and sold quite a few cards. A big thank you to everyone who purchased cards from me at the January Gonzaga show!
Sunday, January 15, 2017, Gonzaga Hall, Milwaukee
It was nice being back at Gonzaga, pictured above, after missing December due to a snow storm. Once again we had an excellent crowd at Gonzaga. I bought and sold quite a few cards. A big thank you to everyone who purchased cards from me at the January Gonzaga show!
Sunday, January 22, 2017, Orland Park, Illinois
As many folks told me, it was sad that it took the death of John Leary, the former promoter of the Orland show, for me to return as a dealer. As you all know, John got angry at me when I started my Milwaukee show at the Clarion. Words were said and I stopped setting up at Orland. More than two years later, John died, just before the January 22, 2017 show. I never wish ill will on anyone and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
In late 2016, John sold the show to Rich Troy, who was kind enough to give me a call and invite me back to the show. I requested my old spot, the one I occupied for 15 years or so. Unfortunately, the dealer that used to be next to me took over my spot and I am out of luck. My new spot is in the middle of the left-side wall. I think I will be just fine with this new spot.
Anyway, I was welcomed back with open arms. My tables were mobbed all day long. I had a phenomenal show. The old crew was there and they purchased a ton of cards. A big thank you to Rick, Will, Joe, Joel, Dan, Paul, Chris, Mike, Larry, Tony S., Neil and everyone else who purchased cards. Wow! What a day!!
I also bought a pile of stuff including a nice grouping of 1957 Topps baseball and a few Mantles from the 1960s. One customer came by with a binder of T206s which is very unusual for a one-day show. He was kind enough to let me take a photo.
Man, I had a great time. I hustled the whole day, buying and selling. I did not get a chance to walk around. The room was filled with dealers and there was tremendous attendance. All I can say is that it was really nice to be back at the Orland Park show.
Now I understand that in 2016 John cut the show down to once a month. Rich has brought the show back to twice a month. With my job commitments, family and other shows, I can only set up in Orland once a month. So I am planning to do the second show of every month.
Rich Troy seems like a great guy and he has instituted all sorts of new things for the show. For one, he has several drawings throughout the day where customers can win some sort of sports memorabilia. He also has a website and a Facebook page. Rich seems to be vigorously promoting the show, which is so nice to see. My only hope is that he adds food sometime in the near future. It has been years now since food has been served at that show and it is something that is desperately needed.
A big thank you to everyone at the January 15 Orland show for such a warm welcome back. I had a great day and a great time! I'm back!!!
Next up is my Clarion show on March 4, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5311 S. Howell in Milwaukee. See you at the Clarion!!
Pictured below are more photos from the Orland show, including a customers collection of T206 cards and some of my purchases.
As many folks told me, it was sad that it took the death of John Leary, the former promoter of the Orland show, for me to return as a dealer. As you all know, John got angry at me when I started my Milwaukee show at the Clarion. Words were said and I stopped setting up at Orland. More than two years later, John died, just before the January 22, 2017 show. I never wish ill will on anyone and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
In late 2016, John sold the show to Rich Troy, who was kind enough to give me a call and invite me back to the show. I requested my old spot, the one I occupied for 15 years or so. Unfortunately, the dealer that used to be next to me took over my spot and I am out of luck. My new spot is in the middle of the left-side wall. I think I will be just fine with this new spot.
Anyway, I was welcomed back with open arms. My tables were mobbed all day long. I had a phenomenal show. The old crew was there and they purchased a ton of cards. A big thank you to Rick, Will, Joe, Joel, Dan, Paul, Chris, Mike, Larry, Tony S., Neil and everyone else who purchased cards. Wow! What a day!!
I also bought a pile of stuff including a nice grouping of 1957 Topps baseball and a few Mantles from the 1960s. One customer came by with a binder of T206s which is very unusual for a one-day show. He was kind enough to let me take a photo.
Man, I had a great time. I hustled the whole day, buying and selling. I did not get a chance to walk around. The room was filled with dealers and there was tremendous attendance. All I can say is that it was really nice to be back at the Orland Park show.
Now I understand that in 2016 John cut the show down to once a month. Rich has brought the show back to twice a month. With my job commitments, family and other shows, I can only set up in Orland once a month. So I am planning to do the second show of every month.
Rich Troy seems like a great guy and he has instituted all sorts of new things for the show. For one, he has several drawings throughout the day where customers can win some sort of sports memorabilia. He also has a website and a Facebook page. Rich seems to be vigorously promoting the show, which is so nice to see. My only hope is that he adds food sometime in the near future. It has been years now since food has been served at that show and it is something that is desperately needed.
A big thank you to everyone at the January 15 Orland show for such a warm welcome back. I had a great day and a great time! I'm back!!!
Next up is my Clarion show on March 4, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5311 S. Howell in Milwaukee. See you at the Clarion!!
Pictured below are more photos from the Orland show, including a customers collection of T206 cards and some of my purchases.
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