Saturday, August 5, 2023, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI
I was back at work on Monday after the National answering all of the messages I ignored the previous week. I spent all week prior to the Sal show dealing with folks that wanted to set up at the show. I ended up with a lot of new dealers, once again.
Interest in the show is strong. I thought it could go either way after the National. I figured some folks would be sick of cards while other folks would be charged up after that crazy week in Rosemont. More folks were charged up.
Lisa and I arrived at the Sal around 6 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023, and began organizing the space for the show. I invited a few dealers to come around for early set up. I'll have early set up again on September 1 for any dealers interested. Please arrive around 8 p.m. I don't recommend leaving any cards in the building because I do not know how secure it is. However, display cases and tables should be fine.
I have to apologize to the dealers because our morning load in is a cluster$%#^ ever since the Sal rented some space to Weight Watchers and blocked out the front parking lot. It is just a big problem for us. So I am trying to alleviate it with Friday night set up and I am arriving a little earlier on Saturday morning, around 7 a.m., to let folks get an early start. Please don't argue with our friends at the Salvation Army on Saturday morning. It is their building and we have to abide by their rules, no matter how inconvenient it can be.
Anyway, several dealers arrived Friday night to set up along with some extra help for Lisa and I. Our friends George and Kristy came by to help set up. Their help was much appreciated!
We finished setting up around 9 p.m. then George, Kristy, Lisa and I had a nice dinner at the Water Street Brewery.
Man, hotel prices in the Oak Creek area have shot up like crazy this summer. I used to be able to get a room at the Homewood Suites for about 100 bucks. Price was $350 for the night of August 4. WTF? We ended up staying at the Value Inn which was kind of crusty but not too bad.
We were up bright and early Saturday morning in order to make it to the Sal around 7 a.m. I talked to so many new dealers and returning dealers this past week, I was not totally sure who exactly was going to show up Saturday. I had mapped out several spots that would be available for the folks who did not confirm but might show up. Several did, indeed, show up. While several others, who had confirmed, did not show up -- an ongoing problem. All I can do is try to weed these folks out.
I was set up in the Chapel, once again. I brought out binders and was very busy all day. My newly reloaded 1964 Topps binder got a workout. Lisa has taken over collecting table fee for me so I can stay at the table and sell cards. I had a real nice day selling cards. I've got one customer, whose name escapes me, who lives in Madison but formerly lived in the Chicago area. We got to talking and realized we both worked at the Daily Herald Newspaper. He in the late 1980's, me in the early 1990's.
Jeff was back! He purchased a bunch of cards. I also sold cards to big Mike and Kevin. I love talking to Mike about his days on the radio. Bob bought some cards. My main man Kevin bought some cards. Dean bought some cards. So did many others. Thank you!!
Attendance reached 700, our largest crowd of the summer. No issues to report.
New for September is a trading area to be located on the stage in the Chapel. I am going to put out a bunch of tables and chairs on the stage in the hopes that the many kids that sit on the floor all over the building during the show will, instead, flock here and conduct their trading/selling/buying on the tables provided.
I know some dealers don't like these business transactions among attendees but I think it adds to the show and it is especially important for the kids to be able to mingle amongst others their age and share in the joy of the hobby. Some of the older dealers are a little bit too ornery and need to chill. Remember, it is a hobby and we should all have some fun.
On the buying front, I ended up purchasing a nice group of 1969 Kellogg's baseball along with some other stuff. I picked up a 5,000-count box of cards from the 1970's -- like I really need more cards from the '70's! I have a problem.
A big thank you to all the dealers and everyone who attended the show!
Next Oak Creek show is coming up fast on September 2. I have a few dealer spaces available but they are filling up fast and will sell out before the show. Reminder, all new dealers must bring their own tables because the Sal has less and less of them at each show.
In the meantime, I have a double-bill weekend coming up with Woodstock on Saturday and Orland on Sunday. I'm bringing out display cases to both shows. I'll have some new 1970 Topps stars along with some 1960 Leaf baseball high numbers. Let me know if you want to see any binders.
See you this weekend!
Below are some photos Lisa and I snapped of the August 5th Oak Creek show.
I was back at work on Monday after the National answering all of the messages I ignored the previous week. I spent all week prior to the Sal show dealing with folks that wanted to set up at the show. I ended up with a lot of new dealers, once again.
Interest in the show is strong. I thought it could go either way after the National. I figured some folks would be sick of cards while other folks would be charged up after that crazy week in Rosemont. More folks were charged up.
Lisa and I arrived at the Sal around 6 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023, and began organizing the space for the show. I invited a few dealers to come around for early set up. I'll have early set up again on September 1 for any dealers interested. Please arrive around 8 p.m. I don't recommend leaving any cards in the building because I do not know how secure it is. However, display cases and tables should be fine.
I have to apologize to the dealers because our morning load in is a cluster$%#^ ever since the Sal rented some space to Weight Watchers and blocked out the front parking lot. It is just a big problem for us. So I am trying to alleviate it with Friday night set up and I am arriving a little earlier on Saturday morning, around 7 a.m., to let folks get an early start. Please don't argue with our friends at the Salvation Army on Saturday morning. It is their building and we have to abide by their rules, no matter how inconvenient it can be.
Anyway, several dealers arrived Friday night to set up along with some extra help for Lisa and I. Our friends George and Kristy came by to help set up. Their help was much appreciated!
We finished setting up around 9 p.m. then George, Kristy, Lisa and I had a nice dinner at the Water Street Brewery.
Man, hotel prices in the Oak Creek area have shot up like crazy this summer. I used to be able to get a room at the Homewood Suites for about 100 bucks. Price was $350 for the night of August 4. WTF? We ended up staying at the Value Inn which was kind of crusty but not too bad.
We were up bright and early Saturday morning in order to make it to the Sal around 7 a.m. I talked to so many new dealers and returning dealers this past week, I was not totally sure who exactly was going to show up Saturday. I had mapped out several spots that would be available for the folks who did not confirm but might show up. Several did, indeed, show up. While several others, who had confirmed, did not show up -- an ongoing problem. All I can do is try to weed these folks out.
I was set up in the Chapel, once again. I brought out binders and was very busy all day. My newly reloaded 1964 Topps binder got a workout. Lisa has taken over collecting table fee for me so I can stay at the table and sell cards. I had a real nice day selling cards. I've got one customer, whose name escapes me, who lives in Madison but formerly lived in the Chicago area. We got to talking and realized we both worked at the Daily Herald Newspaper. He in the late 1980's, me in the early 1990's.
Jeff was back! He purchased a bunch of cards. I also sold cards to big Mike and Kevin. I love talking to Mike about his days on the radio. Bob bought some cards. My main man Kevin bought some cards. Dean bought some cards. So did many others. Thank you!!
Attendance reached 700, our largest crowd of the summer. No issues to report.
New for September is a trading area to be located on the stage in the Chapel. I am going to put out a bunch of tables and chairs on the stage in the hopes that the many kids that sit on the floor all over the building during the show will, instead, flock here and conduct their trading/selling/buying on the tables provided.
I know some dealers don't like these business transactions among attendees but I think it adds to the show and it is especially important for the kids to be able to mingle amongst others their age and share in the joy of the hobby. Some of the older dealers are a little bit too ornery and need to chill. Remember, it is a hobby and we should all have some fun.
On the buying front, I ended up purchasing a nice group of 1969 Kellogg's baseball along with some other stuff. I picked up a 5,000-count box of cards from the 1970's -- like I really need more cards from the '70's! I have a problem.
A big thank you to all the dealers and everyone who attended the show!
Next Oak Creek show is coming up fast on September 2. I have a few dealer spaces available but they are filling up fast and will sell out before the show. Reminder, all new dealers must bring their own tables because the Sal has less and less of them at each show.
In the meantime, I have a double-bill weekend coming up with Woodstock on Saturday and Orland on Sunday. I'm bringing out display cases to both shows. I'll have some new 1970 Topps stars along with some 1960 Leaf baseball high numbers. Let me know if you want to see any binders.
See you this weekend!
Below are some photos Lisa and I snapped of the August 5th Oak Creek show.
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