Collectors Universe and Topps Team Up to Offer Authenticated Single Signed Baseballs

mercurynut

Updated: 11:57 AM EDT
Collectors Universe and Topps Team Up to Offer Authenticated Single Signed Baseballs

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Collectors Universe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLCT), a leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services to dealers and collectors of high-value collectibles, announced today its agreement with The Topps Company, Inc. (NYSE: TOPP) to authenticate single signed baseballs through a Collectors Universe division PSA/DNA Authentication Services, or PSA/DNA. The PSA/DNA authenticated baseballs will be distributed and sold by Topps through Sam's Clubs around the United States.

PSA President Joe Orlando commented, "We are quite pleased that Topps, our long time friends in the sports card market, have expanded their offerings to include autographed items authenticated by PSA/DNA. We believe Topps has entered a market with an excellent product with PSA/DNA authenticated single signed baseballs and we believe that we can continue to grow this relationship with other PSA/DNA authenticated products."

"Genuine and authentic autographed sports merchandise is a product line that can satisfy huge demand by collectors and sports fans," stated Michael Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of Collectors Universe. "Topps, one of the largest distributors of sports collectibles, recognizes this demand for different, unique and personalized items, and the need for the consumer confidence provided by authenticity services from PSA/DNA. This co-branded offering brings together two superb sports brands in Topps and PSA/DNA to address what we believe is a very large market that up until now could only be satisfied with look-alike logo apparel

DirtyHarry

Great....Walmart will continue to drive down prices and margins for everyone else who attempts to compete in the world of retail. They have killed supermarket growth, put "Mom and Pop" stores out of business in rural areas, and will now put the crush on hobby shops. Their suppliers should care....but obviously Topps and PSA don't give a hoot about the individuals who make their living in the hobby. They only care about their own bottom line.

ndleo

First the hobby shops have crushed themselves long before Wal-Mart.

I did a business plan on starting a new store and decided to scrap it. Just to make the rent I would have to sell $6000 worth of wax per month with a 25% net mark-up. The only people making decent money in this hobby are the large wholesalers and the auction houses. The only way an independent dealer can make decent money in the hobby is to find an old widow selling her husband's collection and buying it for 10% book. That is what all storeowners pray for.

Axtell

<< <i>First the hobby shops have crushed themselves long before Wal-Mart.

>>



I agree.

By continually trying to charge more than list to sell, then wanting to rake their customers over the coals when trying to buy at 1/10th of book...the owners were (not all mind you but most) gouging customers all day, and they were way too slow to react to the power of the internet, especially ebay.

The hobby shop owners failed to recognize the shift in marketing from brick and mortar to virtual, and they thought they would outlast the internet - bad move.