What would you like to see in a card shop?

[Casebusters]

a place to sit down and rip or just bs with whoever, like a lounge would be awesome as well as organization!

This made me think of posting pictures of the greatest hits or pulls *framed* on the walls around the lounge - make it classy not chinsy.

Keeping customers in the store for as long as possible is always a good business strategy.

That's the logic I was thinking..Like I said before, I can set up my work station where I can work on cards while talking to customers who just wanna talk sports/cards.

 

[voteEjordan]

What do you guys think about online outreach?

I found that my old LCS (before I moved to DC) is on facebook. The owner does a weekly 'fantasy football' contest for those who stop by the store- free entry, pick 3 players who will have the best week or something- and the high score gets a $10 gift card. He posts their photo and picks. He also uses facebook to update when he gets new products in. And of course posts photos of great pulls from the shop, usually with the collector. It's very cool to see kids excited about pulling a nice card of a local star.

Whenever I see these on my news feed I think about buying some wax! I know if I were still in the area seeing posts on facebook would get me to drive over bust a few packs.

 

[FortyFour]

Yea having a social media presence can not hurt. Twitter, Facebook, youtube

 

[Casebusters]

what store hours would be good?
Right now I'm working overnights so would 1pm-9pm be a good time to be opened?

 

[FortyFour]

what store hours would be good?
Right now I'm working overnights so would 1pm-9pm be a good time to be opened?

I think 9 is a little late I would probably do 1pm-7pm if you can open earlier it would be better.

 

[TBTwinsFan]

Here is what I DON'T wanna see:
Comics,
Gaming Cards
Coins

Here is what I wanna see:
A good selection of singles
The newest Wax
Guest Signings
Supplies
(non Chinese) jersey's
Authentic signed stuff
Old wax (90s ****) in a corner

 

[A_Pharis]

YOu'll be hard-pressed to find a hobby shop without gaming cards. That's a big money-maker.

 

[bscook86]

One thing i dislike about card shops some times, is when i go on vacation and visit one and all they have is the local team. Just because im taking a vacation in branson, mo doesnt mean i collect the cardinals! haha.

Try to find a way to reach the younger generation as well. maybe a video game area. you can hold madden tournaments for the kids, because eventually one day, they will be our generation.

 

[Gonzaleznut]

As a player collector, nothing annoys me more than walking into a shop and nothing is sorted by player or team. I don't want to go throught 2,000 cards looking for one particular player. You should at least have 30 - 50 different guys with base, parallels, etc sorted for player collectors to sift through.

 

[FortyFour]

One thing i dislike about card shops some times, is when i go on vacation and visit one and all they have is the local team. Just because im taking a vacation in branson, mo doesnt mean i collect the cardinals! haha.

Try to find a way to reach the younger generation as well. maybe a video game area. you can hold madden tournaments for the kids, because eventually one day, they will be our generation.

Why would anyway take a vacation to Branson, MO?

 

[bscook86]

One thing i dislike about card shops some times, is when i go on vacation and visit one and all they have is the local team. Just because im taking a vacation in branson, mo doesnt mean i collect the cardinals! haha.

Try to find a way to reach the younger generation as well. maybe a video game area. you can hold madden tournaments for the kids, because eventually one day, they will be our generation.

Why would anyway take a vacation to Branson, MO?

because i live in kansas haha. Plus my little girl loves silver dollar city

 

[Casebusters]

One thing i dislike about card shops some times, is when i go on vacation and visit one and all they have is the local team. Just because im taking a vacation in branson, mo doesnt mean i collect the cardinals! haha.

Try to find a way to reach the younger generation as well. maybe a video game area. you can hold madden tournaments for the kids, because eventually one day, they will be our generation.

I had a store in a flea market 10 years ago and I had lots of people coming from everywhere to visit Florida, I had a team box for every team in baseball, football & hockey.

 

[Musial Collector]

If you are going to have a trading night, set up a work station that customers can enter into say a spreadsheet what they are looking for prior to that night.
And they can then also browse what other collectors are looking for, that way everyone can bring in not only random stuff, but specific stuff people are looking to trade for if they have it.
For example, I collect Michael Cuddyer, I could enter in that I'm looking for anything and everything Cuddyer, or I could be specific, like looking for these missing Allen and Ginter cards of Cuddyer from 2007 - 2010.
Or if you are doing a set at that time, put in the cards you are missing.
The options are endless.
I think if people come in and have successful trades, they will continue to come back and maybe get the word out your place is the place to go to make great trades.
And while they are there, they might be inclined to open product.

 

[Super Mario]

Nicest one I have been in.

It's about 20 miles away in Marion Illinois.

Fox Sports Cards


They've got a GREAT place they've renovated, and they have autograph signings with current and former Cardinals. Brandon Jacobs has done a signing there as well.


You can see a lot of how nice the shop is in these pictures.

The owner is a lurker here I believe.

Brendan Ryan

Brandon Jacobs

But look how nice this shop is. He renovated the entire place himself.

They have trade nights. Have a huge inventory of products, boxes, packs, singles, anything you need for the hobby. He sells memorabilia, autographed memorabilia, pennants, banners, McFarlanes, bobbleheads, player jerseys. Just anything anyone would even need sports related. You can cash in your redemption's through him as well and they come quicker.


David Reel, from Topps, answers a question from a young collector.

Marty Marion

Shop before.

Shop after.

I went by other day, but they were closed. But I looked in the windows and he has a ton more stuff in there than shown in these pictures now.




I'd say aspire to be like this guy's shop, and you'll be successful.

 

[tonsofcommons]

BE OPEN ON SUNDAY!

 

[csmtampa]

Isn't Fox Sports Cards the shop that won the wrapper redemption for a card shop makeover a few years ago?

Very very nice and classy looking card store.

 

[FortyFour]

Nicest one I have been in.


Brendan Ryan

I'd say aspire to be like this guy's shop, and you'll be successful.

Cool glasses sam

 

[Super Mario]

Cool glasses sam

I'm more partial to the necklace!

 

[Super Mario]

Isn't Fox Sports Cards the shop that won the wrapper redemption for a card shop makeover a few years ago?

Very very nice and classy looking card store.

I've never heard that.

 

[lambert58]

I live in Viera and I know the shop you're talking about..
I would want to open the store in Suntree/Viera..
I know the strip mall I want to get in already,
Its between a martini bar & a cigar shop..

I know the place. I work right down the street @ SCCU. I'm thinking of going to a show down towards Miami this weekend (2 hour drive one way) because I dying to see a good selection of cards & the show is not a huge one. But it's about all that's around here. The other store owner is a good guy, but not open Sunday & not a lot of recent sigles. Huge wax box selection though.