It sure was nice to sleep in a bit after waking up before dawn for the Oak Creek show. Only bummer this morning was the light drizzle. We were back in the basement for this one and I was in my usual spot.
I brought out the same stuff, seven display cases, as I had the day before in Oak Creek. That way I did not need to unload the car after Saturday's show. I have been a little down on the Schaumburg show as sales have lagged as of late. The August show was a pleasant surprise.
Once again, the show was jam-packed with dealers. Nice crowd early on and steady throughout the day.
There is a collector who I regularly see in Orland and Schaumburg, he even came out to my pop-up shops last year. I am so bad with names, and I just can't seem to remember his name. Anyway, he started my day off on the right foot by purchasing my 1969 Topps Ernie Banks PSA 8. Woot!
Ernie Banks was the theme this morning as a regular customer purchased my 1958 Topps Ernie and my 1959 Hustler Banks action card. Switching over to Roberto Clemente, my old friend Chuck purchased my 1969 Topps Clemente. Thanks Chuck! A new customer then purchased my 1978 Topps Eddie Murray rookie. Things were cookin'!
That July slow spell is now nothing but a memory. The National, then Oak Creek and now Schaumburg have been excellent!
Set up on my left in Schaumburg were two adults and two children with modern cards. One of the kids wanted to buy out the room. I enjoyed watching him beg his dad for $900. Dad was a no go on the $900. I remember when I was that age and my dad brought me to card shows. I, too, would beg my dad for money but never quite so much money. I remember asking for $20, which my dad usually gave me.
Dads, wives, and kids regularly walk by my tables and comment that they see me everywhere. Yes, I set up at as many shows as I can, one, because I really enjoy it and two, it is a great way to promote my Oak Creek show as I always have a stack of flyers for the Oak Creek show on my tables. There are many tools I use to promote my show. I am always looking for more ways as well. I have learned that in order to have a successful show, I must do whatever I can to get the word out and get people in the door.
For the most part, I feel like I am doing a decent job letting folks know about each and every Oak Creek show. Yet, I always get a wakeup call that reveals my efforts are not good enough. I need to find more ways to let card collectors know about the Oak Creek show. For example, at this past Schaumburg show, I met a couple of guys who drove down to Schaumburg from Oak Creek, and they had no idea that I operated a monthly show in their backyard -- one that is five times larger than Schaumburg, or most any other monthly show for that matter. Hopefully, they attend my September 3rd Oak Creek show and that they tell all of their friends. It definitely pays to set up at as many shows as I can!
Back to my sales at the Schaumburg show, which were excellent. A new customer purchased my 1972 Topps Johnny Bench, 1976 Topps Hank Aaron, and 1976 Nolan Ryan. Joe, a new customer as well, purchased a bunch of cards including my 1962 Topps Switch Hitter Connects Mantle. Joe's buddy bought my 1967 Topps Billy Williams, my other 1976 Topps Aaron, my 1968 Topps Roger Maris, and my 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan Record Breaker.
Then a guy wearing a Cubs hat bought my 1982 Cal Ripken Jr. rookie. Another new customer bought my 1954 Bowman Minnie Minoso. I know I had a bunch more sales, but I can't seem to remember exactly what else I sold.
I think I forgot to mention my Oak Creek purchases in that blog the other day. Of course, I can't exactly remember what I purchased but I do remember buying cards and placing piles of stuff on the bench behind my tables.
I also went on a buying spree in Schaumburg. Flush with cash, I spent a pile of it with Junior on a bunch of cards including 1961 Topps Billy Williams and Ron Santo rookies. My friend George also came by to collect on some cash that I owed him. George comes to my office most every week to sell me cards. I don't always have money on me at work, so I pay him down the road. It seems to work out.
So, I was really happy with the Schaumburg show and my huge jump in sales. I know a few guys were bummed out that I did not bring my binders. I will probably bring the binders out to the September 11th Schaumburg show.
As my friend Stan reminded me recently, I am really behind on my blogging. I hope to catch up soon. I still need to blog about the Rockford and New Berlin shows.
I love how so many people come up to me at each and every show to discuss the blog. Thanks guys! Let's talk blog this weekend when I am set up on Saturday, August 20, at Da Region Sports Card Expo in Merrillville, Indiana, and on Sunday, August 21, at the Civic Center in Orland Park, Illinois. I am leaning towards bringing out the binders this weekend. Newly reloaded are the 1961 Topps baseball binder and the 1974-75 Topps Hockey binder. I am currently working on reloading 1976 Topps baseball... that one is going to take a while.
Next Oak Creek show is Saturday, September 3, 2022. See you soon!
Pictured below is Joe, my favorite customer from the August Schaumburg show. I have to say that folks at all of the shows lately have really stepped up their T-shirt game. I am seeing so many great shirts lately!!