Setting up at a show Saturday, 1st time in 17 years

lsutigers1973 · July 23, 2009 3:08PM

Weekend card show at our largest civic center. Last time I set up at a card show, 1990 Upper Deck Juan Gonzalez was the hottest modern card on the market and I was selling them for $15 a pop.

Any advice from the regulars?

billwaltonsbeard · July 23, 2009 3:17PM

I would suggest not asking $15 for those Gonzalez RCs this time.

storm888 · July 23, 2009 3:23PM

If you have packs of junk, try handing one to every looker
who gets in front of your tables.

"Free pack for every visitor, today. Thanks for stopping."

If it's a parent with a kid, give a pack to the parent AND the kid.

............

Hopefully you are near an entry/exit.

.................

If you can get a nice looking apron-banner for the tables, it
may help.

If you have a wall or sturdy backdrop, a nice banner helps.

...............

Opening pitch to lookers:

"If you have any questions, please ask."

...................

If you wanna promote your EBAY biz, use a card OR tape
the name on the back of your giveaway packs.

................

Some folks will tell you everything has to have a price
sticker. I disagree.

..............

Keep your money in your pocket.

.............

joestalin · July 23, 2009 3:30PM

dollar boxes and dollar boxes

jeffcbay · July 23, 2009 3:32PM

It's been almost 10 years since my last show. I used to ask any kid (under the age of 12) who their favorite player was, and then let them pick any two cards from the player-separated box. The look on a kid's face when he gets to pick out a free card or two of their favorite player, is priceless.

Stone193 · July 23, 2009 4:14PM

I agree with the buck bin - 6 or 7 for 5 bucks - cards that book in the 5 to 10 buck range but ya know you'll never get 10 bucks anywhere on earth!

Have bags for people to put their stuff in. Don't forget change - singles.

Do you have display cases? - I still have 3 of them in the garage - PSA cards walk if laid on a table.

Stand up and greet people - nothing's more annoying than someone slumped in a chair looking indifferent.

I used to use my wife's whiteboard easel from school and put a bunch of set specials on it - when sold, I just x'ed them out.

Good luck - I used to just enjoy talking with the people - even if I didn't make much money.

mike

Bottom9th · July 23, 2009 8:20PM

$1.00 boxes are always winners. I love Storm's idea of handing out packs - you could even make up grab bags to give out something.
Common boxes for .10 cents each with commons and regular issue stars always seems to work too and it keeps people at your table longer.

Good Luck

Bosox1976 · July 23, 2009 9:01PM

A nice, big sign that says -- "Always buying - I pay strong prices". You make money two ways at a show, selling and buying.

daddymc · July 23, 2009 9:23PM

It's been 10 years since I've done a show, but like the others said, the $1 boxes were always a hit.

gameusedhoop · July 23, 2009 9:41PM

Make sure to keep those dollar boxes near the end of your table, away from anything good you want to sell. Nothing like having people with $$ not being able to see your good stuff because you have 4-5 people looking through dollar boxes and sepending less than $10 each. Happens all the time, I am looking for $100+ cards and there are a bunch of guys who have grown roots looking through trash boxes. Must not want my $$.

If you want to move some bulk quick take about 10 "good value", but usually unsaleable cards, and tape them in their holders to the top of a monster box. Fill the box with mostly commons and packs from the same type sets and set a price UNDER the value of the cards on the top. Used to do this just to get rid of monster boxes full of junk without pitching it. Make it someone elses problem. You'd be surprised how quick you can get $25-$50 bucks for something that you'd never get $$ for otherwise. Put them under the front of your table, so they don't take up space, but put a "special value" sign just above them. Getting $200 for the trash under the table is suprising easy. I've had guys buy one, go out to the lobby or parking lot, breezing through them and come back and grab more right away. Your carp is someone elses afternoon of treasure hunting.

fandango · July 23, 2009 10:15PM

what table # are you..i would like to stop by

Downtown1974 · July 23, 2009 10:29PM

<< Make sure to keep those dollar boxes near the end of your table, away from anything good you want to sell. Nothing like having people with $$ not being able to see your good stuff because you have 4-5 people looking through dollar boxes and sepending less than $10 each. Happens all the time, I am looking for $100+ cards and there are a bunch of guys who have grown roots looking through trash boxes. Must not want my $$.

If you want to move some bulk quick take about 10 "good value", but usually unsaleable cards, and tape them in their holders to the top of a monster box. Fill the box with mostly commons and packs from the same type sets and set a price UNDER the value of the cards on the top. Used to do this just to get rid of monster boxes full of junk without pitching it. Make it someone elses problem. You'd be surprised how quick you can get $25-$50 bucks for something that you'd never get $$ for otherwise. Put them under the front of your table, so they don't take up space, but put a "special value" sign just above them. Getting $200 for the trash under the table is suprising easy. I've had guys buy one, go out to the lobby or parking lot, breezing through them and come back and grab more right away. Your carp is someone elses afternoon of treasure hunting. >>

That is great advice about keeping your dollar boxes away from your higher ticket items. The second paragraph....not so sure I agree with. Maybe it was the "make it someone elses problem" statement. I did get a chuckle over the last statement about the "carp" being someones afternoon of treasure hunting.

jackstraw · July 23, 2009 10:45PM

I wouldn't throw them Juan Gonzalez away yet.

Morgoth · July 23, 2009 11:12PM

Bill you really need dollar and quarter boxes these days.

For the dollar boxes, make it up of hot players today like Jeter, Pujols etc. Throw in those inserts and regular player cards in there. Also throw in some cheap RCs of FB and BB too.

For the quarter boxes I throw in tons of Bowman and Bowman chrome RCs. It doens't matter that the guy is 33 years old it says first bowman chrome card on the front and its a quarter dude I'll take it. Also throw in, yes I know this hurts, but all your HOFs from the 80s and 90s like don sutton, phil niekro etc. 1981 Donruss HOFs may book at 3$ but a quarter is all you can get realistically.

Sets sell well if they are cheap. Be sure if it's a 1990 Topps set to put the Frank either on the outside of the box or on top so if someone wants to look at it they can see the key cards without sifting.

If you do dime boxes, just load it with commons of either newer sets like Heritage and A&G or older popular sets like 84 donruss or 89 UD. Be sure to throw in those semi stars too as people get excited for some reason pulling 89 UD cards of Kevin Brown of dime boxes.

Bring tons of change as Russ can attest, I seem to have all of the guys that buy 1 quarter card and pays with a $20. Happened like 10 times at my last show.

gameusedhoop · July 23, 2009 11:19PM

<< "make it someone elses problem" >>

Meant it in a storage issues way. Who hasn't had boxes of stuff sitting around wondering "what the heck am I going to do with this? I just don't want to toss it, but it is taking up too much room"

In Bill's case, most of us don't a a U-Haul full of stufff in the living room. He HAS to move some of it quickly.

Downtown1974 · July 23, 2009 11:25PM

<< 

<< "make it someone elses problem" >>

Meant it in a storage issues way. >>

Ahhh...gotcha.

alnavman · July 23, 2009 11:35PM

make sure you take all of your old starting lineups with you and blow them out for a buck apiece.....that will bring folks to your table.

lsutigers1973 · July 24, 2009 1:06AM

Sure glad I posted this thread before going to bed last night. Some great ideas posted.

Already had the $0.50, $1, $2 and $5 boxes ready to go. Love Storms idea of giving away 2 junk pack to every one that stops by. Have a box of about 500 junk packs ready to go.

Thanks for the help guys.

Dboneesq · July 24, 2009 1:23AM

Bill ... GOOD LUCK! Let us know how you do!

PS Have NOT set up at a show in about 20 years!

itzagoner · July 24, 2009 1:31AM

i miss the show days.

Prediction: Bill will wind up buying more than he sells.

the best thing about sitting around and waiting was for that ONE GUY......ya know the one, he's carrying a notebook.....of course, now times are much different, but ya never know.

but good luck man, you know i'll be happy to see you got rid of a lotta stuff, but you should keep another U-Haul on reserve just in case.

rexvos · July 24, 2009 1:32AM

when I am done with this I am writing a book about my experiences with Bill. I feel a little guilty about dragging hm into this. He texted me about the show this weekend, and 5 minutes later I called him to tell him I got a table for us.

Bottom9th · July 24, 2009 1:48AM

Hope you make lots of $$$.
Keep us posted

Nathaniel1960 · July 24, 2009 2:05AM

<< Weekend card show at our largest civic center. Last time I set up at a card show, 1990 Upper Deck Juan Gonzalez was the hottest modern card on the market and I was selling them for $15 a pop.

Any advice from the regulars? >>

Sell off your 1990 Upper Deck Juan Gonzalez horde.

Also, keep the $1 boxes away from the good stuff, on a separate table if possible, so the show cases are unobstructed.

Throw some 80's wax out there too for cheap and get some pack wars going. It's all about having people around the tables.

lsutigers1973 · July 24, 2009 2:14AM

<< Prediction: Bill will wind up buying more than he sells. >>

That is almost a guarantee.

akuracy503 · July 24, 2009 2:19AM

Nathanial1960....

I'm organizing a trip to Caracas to find hordes of Venezuelan Topps. Safety Not Guaranteed! I have only done this once before. Will need someone with translation skills, preferrably Spanish. This is not a joke. You will be paid once we return.

You take collecting to a new level...
That is pretty cool though.

Stone193 · July 24, 2009 2:29AM

Good luck Bill!

Last thing - and this is not directed at you but general statement - look neat/nicely dressed - I really think someone with a little money in their pocket will respect that and more likely to be drawn to that kind of table.

Sounds like a fun day - and like I said - even if ya don't get rich - it's always fun to talk with collectors and share stories - especially if ya talkin about the good ole days.

mike

Morgoth · July 24, 2009 2:52AM

Bill your area may be different than Indianapolis but I have about 10X more people look in my dime and quarter boxes than my dollar. A five dollar box around these parts better have 89 UD griffey rcs in it.

larryallen73 · July 25, 2009 1:36PM

Sooooooooooo, how did it go?

rexvos · July 25, 2009 2:22PM

sold a lot of junk cards, which was good, stuff we did not care about to make the table fees back plus a little money on top of it. Bill bought stuff, I stayed at the table, good time. For a second I owned about 80% of a 70 Topps Basketball set with an Ex-mt Maravich, but I flipped it and only kept a second year Maravich that came with the lot.

jswieton · July 25, 2009 4:45PM

I have always wondered if there is any money to be made at these small local shows. Are there guys out there that make a living selling at shows?

rexvos · July 25, 2009 9:02PM

<< I have always wondered if there is any money to be made at these small local shows. Are there guys out there that make a living selling at shows? >>

very few. The traffic was terrible. What saved me was was a ton of cards of local players, and s good deal on junk stuff. Only cards I sold over $20 were to dealers.

leadoff4 · July 26, 2009 4:21AM

On a mall show where a table may cost $100 for 3 days. I bet some guys aren't even making their table money back. There's not a lot of selling and most stuff is way overpriced. I hope it takes a turn for the better sometime.

EB22 · July 26, 2009 4:42AM

I did a few shows a long time ago and its all about having fun, so have lots of fun there. Sure you would like to make some money, but for me it was about the fun, even though I made out big on one show. The great part about having a table is beeing able to get a first look at every table there haha, so you might find lots of things your looking for, just make sure you have somebody with you to watch the table. I did all the shows with my wife and it was such a great time, so have lots of fun while your there!

Setting up at a show Saturday, 1st time in 17 years

Comments