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Got to meet Mike Tyson + lots of new pictures. ** Grand Slam Collectibles in Murfreesboro, TN **
1980scollector
Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭
Here are a few new pictures. It's been almost six months now. They are just random pictures or items we picked up the last week or so. We have a FB page, twitter page and instagram. We also have BGS coming to the store to grade cards on February 24th from 12-6 and trade night 6-9PM. We have seen/heard/learned a lot since we opened. If you have any questions or want to hear a card story or two let me know. Got to meet Iron Mike at the Upper Deck Diamond dealer convention.
Want to share some pictures from out shop from this weekend (11-12-16) .
Below are,just random pictures along the way on the iPad I thought you might like to see.
Well, today we got our federal tax ID number, the lease is being prepared and wanted to share with you guys first that Grand Slam Collectibles was established today. Murfreesboro is over 100,000 population and we have the largest university in the state(MTSU undergrad). We are about 20-25 minutes from Nashville. We have no card shops in Murfreesboro. My career in real estate/property management provides my income so we won't be depending on the store to provide that. We have four shows per month and each promoter has agreed to help in any way to promote the shop.
The shop is 1220 sq. ft and next to Outer Limits comic book shop. They have been in Murfreesboro for around twenty years. We are going to demo a few walls on 8-1-16 and that will take a few days. Then we plan to have a grand opening that we set in a week or so that will be around 8/15-8-20.
I am going to post pictures so you can see a few before/after photos. I've come here for advice before about opening a store so here we go.
We will carry cards/non sports/coins/supplies/vintage video games etc. We will do online box breaks for customers as well. If any of you have advice on how to be succesful please share. If you want to tell me all the reasons why not to do it it's too late.
Grand Slam Collectibles
1238 NW Broad St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
The front entrance. The sign will be moved so our signs will sit side by side.
We get one of the windows as well you see here.
Store front before the demo
Update 8-3-16
Walls are done and showcases have been installed.
8-17-16
Want to share some pictures from out shop from this weekend (11-12-16) .
Below are,just random pictures along the way on the iPad I thought you might like to see.
Well, today we got our federal tax ID number, the lease is being prepared and wanted to share with you guys first that Grand Slam Collectibles was established today. Murfreesboro is over 100,000 population and we have the largest university in the state(MTSU undergrad). We are about 20-25 minutes from Nashville. We have no card shops in Murfreesboro. My career in real estate/property management provides my income so we won't be depending on the store to provide that. We have four shows per month and each promoter has agreed to help in any way to promote the shop.
The shop is 1220 sq. ft and next to Outer Limits comic book shop. They have been in Murfreesboro for around twenty years. We are going to demo a few walls on 8-1-16 and that will take a few days. Then we plan to have a grand opening that we set in a week or so that will be around 8/15-8-20.
I am going to post pictures so you can see a few before/after photos. I've come here for advice before about opening a store so here we go.
We will carry cards/non sports/coins/supplies/vintage video games etc. We will do online box breaks for customers as well. If any of you have advice on how to be succesful please share. If you want to tell me all the reasons why not to do it it's too late.
Grand Slam Collectibles
1238 NW Broad St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
The front entrance. The sign will be moved so our signs will sit side by side.
We get one of the windows as well you see here.
Store front before the demo
Update 8-3-16
Walls are done and showcases have been installed.
8-17-16
** Working on the following sets-2013 Spectra Football Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Autograph set, 2015 Spectra Football Illustrious Legends Autograph set, 2014-15 Hall of Fame Heroes autograph set. **
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Comments
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stupid print dots
James
Wishing you the best on your new venture.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Can't wait for pictures as you get the store all situated.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
Currently collecting 1934 Butterfinger, 1969 Nabisco, 1991 Topps Desert Shield (in PSA 9 or 10), and 1990 Donruss Learning Series (in PSA 10).
KC
Congrats. I cover Tennessee as part of my territory, and will have to stop by the next time I am in town.
KC
I know the type stuff you like. Hopefully, I will have built up a few nice ones by the time you get by.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
LaJoie Portrait 3+, Cy Young Bare Hand 3+
Ty Cobb Bat Off 4+, ANY Red & Green Portrait
Congrats. I cover Tennessee as part of my territory, and will have to stop by the next time I am in town.
KC
I know the type stuff you like. Hopefully, I will have built up a few nice ones by the time you get by.
That would be awesome. Murfreesboro is a great location and growing like a weed. Lived in Nashville from 1995-1998, and card stores were decemt and the Internet was just coming into existence - thanks Al Gore! Being a single guy at the time it was buy-buy-buy. Now I cannot find a card store for the life of me, but we have eBay and the CU board. Will definitely stop in once you are open.
KC
Plus as a huge Reds fan I am sure you will be stocked up.
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
Jeff
Card Country
Graded stars 1950's-1980
eBay Store
Greg Maddux #1 Master SetGreg Maddux #2 Basic Set
I do know from friends that have owned similar stores that variety or cross over was/is key. One thing that added a lot to their income percentage wise was weekly tournaments or games for the local teens/ low 20's. The collectable card games like world of warcraft (don't know the current popular ones). Brought a lot of people in. And the environment was busy, exciting, with things going on. IMHO.
Wish i was closer to visit. Looks like you're all over it....Awesome news!!
If I could give a small piece of advice;
I'd recommend shipping items to customers. This would most likely be done through starting your own website with the items posted but I think it may be worth it.
I've purchased a majority of my vintage rookies, hof'ers and Michael Jordan rookie cards from a card shop that's about 150 miles away, and I've never even stepped foot in the building all because they have a website that they post their new items on.
It just makes it more accessible to those who would otherwise be unable to help support your store (like myself).
Good luck!
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
My suggestion to you is to buy your current wax from a distributor like GTS or Southern Hobby - not directly from the manufacturer - and don't speculate on product. The market is quite volatile and fickle when it comes to new product, and the big players like DACW and Blowout can manipulate the market and ruin any position you may have. Whenever Warren Buffet buys a stock, it goes up a little, because investors respect his opinion. Whenever he sells, the price dips for the same reason. Unless you have inside knowledge on what is really going on with the big players, I'd stick to buying in small quantities and re-ordering as needed. Paying an extra 5-10? is better than the watching the value of your product dropping below cost the week of release. There's a reason why BBCE doesn't deal in modern wax, aside from stocking small quantities for our retail store.
Best of luck to you, and give me a call if you need anything.
Reed Kasaoka
Buyer, Baseball Card Exchange
cell: (808) 372-1974
email: ReedBBCE@gmail.com
website: www.bbce.com
eBay stores: bbcexchange, bbcexchange2, bbcexchange3, bbcexchange4
Magic the Gathering. Sell it. Learn it. Play it. Host it. I see more MTG customers at one of my
LCShops than sports guys, and its a great sports shop. You'll be surprised at the amount of people
who play and what product sells for (quickly!). Great for sales, trading and securing another arena with collectors.
What type of inventory are you carrying now for sports?
I always liked the shops that encouraged you to stay longer equals more sales. More people opening stuff and talking cards equals more sales and customers - today's day and age wifi is a must plus a few flat screens with games on to create a sports environment. Hardest part is long hours being open with no traffic only to have 80% of your traffic come in at the same time after 4pm on Friday or Saturday am.
One thing I would definitely do if I had a shop would be to get kids involved - sponsor a little league team, offer discounts one night a week to kids that wear their jerseys in, local signings by graduated college players from mtsu or Vandy... Too many businesses fail because they are too transactional rather than built on relations - make it about long term relationships with customers rather than what can I sell today and you will do great. Best of luck to you, and cannot wait to visit the shop.
KC
wish you the best!
IMF
Shane
Robert
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
Congratulations! I wish you and your family the best and hope you enjoy every minute of it!
Magic the Gathering. Sell it. Learn it. Play it. Host it. I see more MTG customers at one of my
LCShops than sports guys, and its a great sports shop. You'll be surprised at the amount of people
who play and what product sells for (quickly!). Great for sales, trading and securing another arena with collectors.
What type of inventory are you carrying now for sports?
We plan to have ten six foot showcases when the build out is complete. Here is the breakdown. Our current vintage inventory is going to need a boost. We are looking to purchase any of the items below excluding gold/silver. It's going to take a little while to have it exactly the way we want it but we will get there.
1- silver/gold coins
1-Nonsports Magic/Pokemon etc. singles
1-vintage video games
2-Vintage up to 1979 baseball
1- 1980's baseball/basketball/football
1- Modern high end
1-Tennessee Titans/Volunteers
The other one TBD
Every card will be priced and each showcase will have a certain percentage off that price.
-The Southern Hobby truck runs Thursday so we want to do a trade night every other Thursday night. The time to sell product is as soon as it is released. We can watch Thursday night football and let customers bring one 2 or 3 row box in to trade with other collectors. With any purchase you get free pizza/drink that night.
-Report card program that if you make A's and B's you get a free Pokemon/magic single up to $3.00 or pack. If you didn't make A's/B's you bring in your last report card and if you improved you get the same prize/gift.
-online box breaks- actually keep the camera on during business hours so people that subscribe can actually watch your shop and get to know you/how you treat customers etc. Almost like reality TV.
dream to open up a shop. I for one am envious!!
cards in the case to check or look up prices. Not everyone is as forward to ask about
a bunch of items so it helps a great deal and will save you time and hassle.
Definitely have cameras. Nowadays you can never be too careful. Especially with so many
pocketable items.
You can also have an email setup to let people know whats new and in stock or releases.
Tie in a sports trivia question for a little giveaway also
I sincerely wish you all the best. I agree with the others who have said being next to a comic store is a good idea.
I have to admit that the first thought of my joking side was:
If I were your accountant....
If you have any connections with the Predators, you can find out what it would take for players to make an appearance at your store. I'm sure the Predators' web-site would mention it along with posting on any Predator boards (the local paper, Hockeybuzz, etc.). If you could get Subban, Rinne, Forsberg, Josi or Johannson to your store, I am sure you would have a huge turnout.
Good luck.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best!
The big thing I like is when a store is organized.
I'm sure you know, while external advertising is so important - "internal" marketing gets way better results for cheap IMO.
Reward kids - bring in a good report card and get rewarded. Establish a "list" of kids e.g.
There's a thin line between "rewarding" - thanking someone for a referral and a "bribe" that feels tedious to a customer.
E.g. customer A walks in and says customer "B" referred them. A nice note to customer B with a "house certificate for $X" goes a long way - it says you're thinking about them.
Have monthly drawings - they have to put their email on the entry - another good way to build a customer list!
As new customers come in - see if they're willing to provide an email - so you can send out specials and announcements....
I went to a shop near the house with Al aka Bishop and they put in a nice long table for people to sit down and open stuff - I like that!
And of course Apps, twitter, Facebook...
I'm sure you've thought of all this - just had a few moments to ramble.
PS - here's hoping you hit a "Grand Slam"
Had a business client down in that town for a while; every time we went down there, we'd stock up on Ale-8-one to bring back home.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
Another thing I have seen is people can rent "mini" vertical cases from you for say $15/month, and anything you sell for them you get 10%. They move their items and usually with the $$ they make they will spend it with you. It is also a good way to drive traffic - people will check the cases, and the people selling items will check usually weekly to see what has sold.
KC
A childhood friend of mine and I had always wanted to do do this as well.
If I'm ever in the area via business, I'll be sure to stop in!
Justin
Retired - Eddie Mathews Master Registry Set (96.36%) Rank 1