If you were the head of a card company, name things you would or would not do.
frankhardy
Posts: 8,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
If you owned or was the head of a card company, name some things that you would or would not do. It may be something small. It may be something totally out of the ordinary. It may be something that is already done that you would improve on.
For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960.
Another thing that I would do is to have an autographed parallel set. In 2007 Topps, I know that some regular cards had sticker autographs on them, but (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think the whole set was autographed. If it was, then I would at least do "on card" signatures. Anyway, I would take the regular base cards, and have everyone of them autographed and limit the number to say 100 or 500. If this is already done, then forgive me. I think it a blast, but nearly impossible to complete a set like that.
I would definitely limit jersey cards. The "new" has wore off of these.
That's all I can think of for now. What would you do differently?
For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960.
Another thing that I would do is to have an autographed parallel set. In 2007 Topps, I know that some regular cards had sticker autographs on them, but (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think the whole set was autographed. If it was, then I would at least do "on card" signatures. Anyway, I would take the regular base cards, and have everyone of them autographed and limit the number to say 100 or 500. If this is already done, then forgive me. I think it a blast, but nearly impossible to complete a set like that.
I would definitely limit jersey cards. The "new" has wore off of these.
That's all I can think of for now. What would you do differently?
Shane
0
Comments
I know some collectors take great pride in owning a piece, but it's just something that makes me cringe!
Good thing the National Baseball Hall of Fame opened in 1939 and not 2004; there'd be nothing in it if Topps or UD had anything to do with it.
JMHO
PoppaJ
Chris
My small collection
Want List:
'61 Topps Roy Campanella in PSA 5-7
Cardinal T206 cards
Adam Wainwright GU Jersey
When the think tank crowds around the table - sitting there are a combinations of numbers crunchers, creative heads, decision makers and clerks - don't ya think they want to make a good product and please their audience?
Of course they do - the public is fickle - trying to stay one step ahead of them takes a combination of genius and clairvoyance.
My big complaint - the rush to take any small success and run with it over and over and over till it's no longer a novelty worthy of "chasing."
It started with the first inserted auto, subset, dufex/chrome/UV coated/refractor, and the move to over-produce those concepts to the brink of pure diminished returns.
The vintage purists love the simplicity of a nice 55T card - the "child of the 21st century" wants the card to refract AND speak 9 languages; card companies are between a rock and a hard place IMO.
mike
<< <i>I think I would have to work for a card company to know the inside working before making any judgements or recommendations.
When the think tank crowds around the table - sitting there are a combinations of numbers crunchers, creative heads, decision makers and clerks - don't ya think they want to make a good product and please their audience?
Of course they do - the public is fickle - trying to stay one step ahead of them takes a combination of genius and clairvoyance.
My big complaint - the rush to take any small success and run with it over and over and over till it's no longer a novelty worthy of "chasing."
It started with the first inserted auto, subset, dufex/chrome/UV coated/refractor, and the move to over-produce those concepts to the brink of pure diminished returns.
The vintage purists love the simplicity of a nice 55T card - the "child of the 21st century" wants the card to refract AND speak 9 languages; card companies are between a rock and a hard place IMO.
mike >>
Yes, I agree. But on the other hand, we are in the trenches, so to speak, and I think that we can all offer up good suggestions that are worthwhile. Sometimes those creative heads are too creative and try to fix something that isn't broke and end up messing things up (I am speaking in general, of course).
Shane
<< <i>
For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960. >>
56 and 60 had portrait cards, and I agree, I wish they were 100% consistent.
http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/
2. If you do a retro set, do it exactly like the original set. No computer generated turkey red nonsense or lame 02 heritage photos.
3. Keep sets segragated - all active players or all retired players. I hate when Mickey Mantle is inserted into every set.
4. Put the stupid rookie logo on the BACK of the card!
5. Announce a recall of all Barry Bonds cards.
6. Allow Quebec to participate in redemptions, but send them all the junk.
I'll think of some more later.
1. Fire any floor-designer who makes more than $22K per year. ONE CD can stay,
but his pay is capped at $40K.
2. Greatly expand the non-sports product to include MANY sub-par-Nielsen TV topicals.
3. Job ONE should be to increase product selection by at least 100%.
4. Job TWO should be to decrease production within each product by at least 50%.
(This will allow the secondary market to participate more fully in the profits,
and will encourage/guarantee the multi-level pump to move ALL of every product produced.)
5. Cut retail-prices by at least 20%.
6. Abandon traditional "economies of scale" in production practices. Over-production kills
peasantine-buzz, and more than offsets ANY imagined savings.
Eisner's fingerprints are NOT yet fully integrated into the product line. If we don't start
seeing what HIS contributions are SOON, it means that his buy was only a business deal.
If Eisner really believes that, "It is better to be a bad artist than a good businessman,"
it is nearly time that he walks the walk.
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For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960. >>
56 and 60 had portrait cards, and I agree, I wish they were 100% consistent. >>
I did not mean a portrait like I think you are thinking. I meant portrait as in the way the card is turned. The 55, 56, and 60 Topps were turned 90 degrees.
Shane
If the card isn't available during production, then it doesn't exist as far as I am concerned
Redemptions suck
<< <i>I would print up large sheets composed of individual graphics of sports athletes, print their statistics on the back of the sheets, then cut the sheets into individual "cards". I would then insert a handful of these "cards" into a wrapper of some kind, seal the wrapper to form a "pack", and then sell these "packs" in large quantity to wholesalers and retailers for more than they cost to produce. >>
CD,
I knew you would chime in with your brilliant sarcasm!
Shane
Shane
<< <i>I agree with keeping active and retire players separate. >>
////////////////////////////
Cannot do that.
CAN limit the amount of cards used in the mix.
Cross-Promotion would STILL be necessary even if the players were "separated."
That means you have to include retirees in the modern mix to some degree.
- No more GU swatches. Redemtptions for full memorabilia
- only on card autos
- limit my labels under the parent brand (or whatever wording is appropriate)
- Have a online registry for all serial numbered cards. Once under strict regulations the card is proven to be yours, it's there. If a potential buyer wants it, they leave a msg and a automated system fwds you the email. The company is only the middleman.
-More collector input. Random cards to allow you to be in a set,design a insert,watch a players sign cards,free tickets to games etc.
- As mentioned before-no factory sets. Get more to compile sets.
- Offer a buyback program for completed sets. You'll eat $$ but you can afford it.
- Make packs unsearchable. It can be done. Do it.
- Very strict quality control. Somehow make printers liable. There should only be one 1/1 made. Not 23. Ridiculous.
- Printing plates-lost their luster. Make a redemption for the set, not just 1.
- Make retail odds the same as hobby. Not everyone has a hobby shop in town. Makes it less likely for people to flip boxes on ebay for profit.
- Hire some (more? ) employees to frequent message boards to see what the consumer likes/dislikes. Stay hidden.
2. No more relic cards, instead have redemption cards that you send in and get an actual bat/glove/hat from the player (not game used).
3. No more auto stickers, all players need to sign the cards and no redemption autos on players that have not signed the cards yet. Have auto redemption cards for signed bats, balls, hats, etc.
4. Stop flooding the market
5. No complete sets
<< <i>Do
- No more GU swatches. Redemtptions for full memorabilia
- only on card autos
- limit my labels under the parent brand (or whatever wording is appropriate)
- Have a online registry for all serial numbered cards. Once under strict regulations the card is proven to be yours, it's there. If a potential buyer wants it, they leave a msg and a automated system fwds you the email. The company is only the middleman.
-More collector input. Random cards to allow you to be in a set,design a insert,watch a players sign cards,free tickets to games etc.
- As mentioned before-no factory sets. Get more to compile sets.
- Offer a buyback program for completed sets. You'll eat $$ but you can afford it.
- Make packs unsearchable. It can be done. Do it.
- Very strict quality control. Somehow make printers liable. There should only be one 1/1 made. Not 23. Ridiculous.
- Printing plates-lost their luster. Make a redemption for the set, not just 1.
- Make retail odds the same as hobby. Not everyone has a hobby shop in town. Makes it less likely for people to flip boxes on ebay for profit.
- Hire some (more? ) employees to frequent message boards to see what the consumer likes/dislikes. Stay hidden. >>
how about more cards with obscenities on the bat knob?
<< <i>A nice 55t card? I got out of modern in 1991 simply because it was too much to take in, less is more >>
That about sums up my opinion
<< <i>
<< <i>I think I would have to work for a card company to know the inside working before making any judgements or recommendations.
When the think tank crowds around the table - sitting there are a combinations of numbers crunchers, creative heads, decision makers and clerks - don't ya think they want to make a good product and please their audience?
Of course they do - the public is fickle - trying to stay one step ahead of them takes a combination of genius and clairvoyance.
My big complaint - the rush to take any small success and run with it over and over and over till it's no longer a novelty worthy of "chasing."
It started with the first inserted auto, subset, dufex/chrome/UV coated/refractor, and the move to over-produce those concepts to the brink of pure diminished returns.
The vintage purists love the simplicity of a nice 55T card - the "child of the 21st century" wants the card to refract AND speak 9 languages; card companies are between a rock and a hard place IMO.
mike >>
Yes, I agree. But on the other hand, we are in the trenches, so to speak, and I think that we can all offer up good suggestions that are worthwhile. Sometimes those creative heads are too creative and try to fix something that isn't broke and end up messing things up (I am speaking in general, of course). >>
Of course you can Shane.
That's not my point - suggestions - they get all the time.
You asked - not from the POV of a consumer - you asked - "if you owned or was head of a card company" - that's an entirely different POV and I answered it it that way.
Right?
mike
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I think I would have to work for a card company to know the inside working before making any judgements or recommendations.
When the think tank crowds around the table - sitting there are a combinations of numbers crunchers, creative heads, decision makers and clerks - don't ya think they want to make a good product and please their audience?
Of course they do - the public is fickle - trying to stay one step ahead of them takes a combination of genius and clairvoyance.
My big complaint - the rush to take any small success and run with it over and over and over till it's no longer a novelty worthy of "chasing."
It started with the first inserted auto, subset, dufex/chrome/UV coated/refractor, and the move to over-produce those concepts to the brink of pure diminished returns.
The vintage purists love the simplicity of a nice 55T card - the "child of the 21st century" wants the card to refract AND speak 9 languages; card companies are between a rock and a hard place IMO.
mike >>
Yes, I agree. But on the other hand, we are in the trenches, so to speak, and I think that we can all offer up good suggestions that are worthwhile. Sometimes those creative heads are too creative and try to fix something that isn't broke and end up messing things up (I am speaking in general, of course). >>
Of course you can Shane.
That's not my point - suggestions - they get all the time.
You asked - not from the POV of a consumer - you asked - "if you owned or was head of a card company" - that's an entirely different POV and I answered it it that way.
Right?
mike >>
Gotcha!
Shane
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<< <i>
For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960. >>
56 and 60 had portrait cards, and I agree, I wish they were 100% consistent. >>
I did not mean a portrait like I think you are thinking. I meant portrait as in the way the card is turned. The 55, 56, and 60 Topps were turned 90 degrees. >>
I meant the same thing you did. The first 2 1956 cards are the league presidents in vertical format as are the 1960 manager cards.
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<< <i>
For one thing, I would be as consistent as possible. One thing that drives me crazy is when some cards in a set are oriented in landscape and others are oriented in portrait. I would be consistent with it. I think it would be neat to have a whole Topps base set done in landscape again like 1955, 1956, and 1960. >>
56 and 60 had portrait cards, and I agree, I wish they were 100% consistent. >>
I did not mean a portrait like I think you are thinking. I meant portrait as in the way the card is turned. The 55, 56, and 60 Topps were turned 90 degrees. >>
I meant the same thing you did. The first 2 1956 cards are the league presidents in vertical format as are the 1960 manager cards. >>
Oh, I thought you meant..... Never mind. I think we are on the same page.
Shane
I would randomly insert cards in cases as advertised...
...unlike UD GOUDEY...
whoooop whooooop whoooop yuk yuk yuk
I just hope the card companies find a way to get the kids more involved. I dread the thought of this great hobby not continuing for future generations.
Sorry I could not give a better answer.
This is a no brainer and might actually get vintage guys to pay a little bit of attention to new product.
Burgundy
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
I would take Dr. Becketts approach....Buy all of one product, drive it up in value in my price guide, then dump it all in the market for a tidy profit, and then drive the price down so far that i don't even list in my price guide anymore....
Be the first to guess the year and the product and win a 1964 Topps #392 Jim Pagliaroni in NM/MT condition
Must be 18 or older to remember this.......
I would sell 15 card packs for less than a dollar so kids could afford to collect them.
I would never ever ever sell a factory complete set. You want a set? Build it.
I saw a guy asking about Topps address today and it got me thinking a little bit. I think UD has done a good job with their jersey and autographed cards but not a great job and Topps I think is just totaly lost in many ways, so I wouldn't mind working with them.
As for what I would do if I were head? I am so tired and I gotta get some sleep but maybe i'll trow in a few things tommrow.
Nice thread!
HK
1) no Factory sets
2) no GU swatches, or severely limit it
3) autos on cards only
4) come up with some sort of packageing that can not be searched!!!
5) 1-2 sub sets only.
6) redemption cards for actual signed game used equpment. (jerseys, bats, helmets, ext.)
1. Make retail packs unsearchable. They already do this at some places, but most retail chains will not put cards into separate containers to protect them.
2. Stop this obsession with people's hair in cards. Gross!
3. Create more refractors. Make them special though.
4. Have contests where you can win tickets to a game or something awesome.
5. Make redemptions worth the pull. Game used jersey's, auto'd balls, specialty items, etc.
6. NO STICKER AUTO'S!!!!!
7. Hire people to study what "we" want.
8. Offer discounts to loyal customers. Such as, save your packs or UPC's to send in for discount coupons on other stuff. Kinda like Kool-Aid points. Anyone miss that?
9. Have .99 cents packs for kids who can't afford the more expensive one's.
10. Make special cards, relics and auto's, less obtainable. Meaning they would be worth more.
Shane