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Local Card shows and the Economy
- Thread starter dksportz8
- Start date
DougLaurieSports
Verified Trader,
Depends. Let's say it costs me $150 to do a show with table fees, gas (and my day off).
You tell me you're looking for older hockey singles and inserts, so I load my Jeep up with some boxes of that stuff, forcing me to leave out other things I know will sell at the show because I don't have the table space now.
Now one of three things will happen:
1) You show up and buy $50-100 worth of singles. That was worth it.
2) You show up and buy $5-10 worth of singles. That was not worth it.
3) You don't show up at all. That was not worth it.
Trust me, as someone who sets up at shows and has promoted shows in the past, Options 2 and 3 are by far the most likely outcomes.
Dealers have what they have on their tables because it's what's given them the best ROI (return on investment) in the past. Old hockey inserts are generally not good ROI.
Flea markets are good if you're getting rid of a bunch of crap. People there are just looking to spend $1-5 on stuff -- they don't even to really seem to care what it is -- just stuff.
Mall shows have died for a couple reasons. Most malls now want the promoter to provide insurance on the dealers in case someone trips and gets a 1990 Donruss Juan Gonzalez RC lodged in his ***, I guess, and that's pretty much killed shows. It makes the tables too expensive.
The other problem is a lack of local dealers. I used to run small shows in my store's mall and charge $50 for four tables for three days. We could never get more than six vendors, and that didn't cover my advertising costs, let alone the headaches of running the show itself.
What I think people forget about running shows is the same thing they forget about a card shop -- the promoter/owner is there to make money, not just so you can have somewhere to go hang out. Why would a guy spend 2-3 weeks promoting and working on a mall show when he's maybe going to make a few hundred bucks if he's lucky? It just doesn't make sense.
dksportz8
Registered Trader
The last 3 shows I've done in my area (Washington DC area, Maryland and Virginia) came out like this:
Show #1
Table fees: $65 (1 table - expensive 6' table)
Outcome: Made $22.00 before table fees.
Show #2
Table fees: $60 (2 - 6' tables)
Outcome: Made $37.00 before table fees.
Show #3
Table fees: $50 (1 - 8' tables)
Outcome: Made $45.00 before table fees.
My view: Doing card shows is a waste of time. BUT I still do them. Go figure. I got one this Saturday at mall and Sunday at a card show but it's 90 miles one way. Wish me luck!
Show #1
Table fees: $65 (1 table - expensive 6' table)
Outcome: Made $22.00 before table fees.
Show #2
Table fees: $60 (2 - 6' tables)
Outcome: Made $37.00 before table fees.
Show #3
Table fees: $50 (1 - 8' tables)
Outcome: Made $45.00 before table fees.
My view: Doing card shows is a waste of time. BUT I still do them. Go figure. I got one this Saturday at mall and Sunday at a card show but it's 90 miles one way. Wish me luck!
FrankToronto
Banned User
Good luck!
At the Toronto Card Show, we charge $55 for an 8' table (regular dealers have an opportunity to pay $45 when 3 shows are booked and paid for in advance).
We've been running strong since 2006 and what we've learned is that we've been able to attract not just a lot of people to our show, but people who spend money. We're also attracting kids who will spend money in the future. Dealers at our show do very well and when they don't they realize that there are ups and downs but the idea is to look at the show on an ongoing basis because there really is no trending.
What has been obvious when a new dealer doesn't do well is that they simply are out of touch, not offering what people are looking for, or have early 90's pricing on their early 90's cards, and (sometimes) have a bad attitude about it. We don't see these dealers again. Often a new dealer may not do that great their first time at it, but they chalk it up as experience, get it, and come back roaring next show and become a quality dealer ongoing.
We charge more than other shows do. But the return is greater making our table fees a very good value. We also put a lot of work into our show that goes beyond simply setting up a room with tables and chairs. It makes a difference.
At the Toronto Card Show, we charge $55 for an 8' table (regular dealers have an opportunity to pay $45 when 3 shows are booked and paid for in advance).
We've been running strong since 2006 and what we've learned is that we've been able to attract not just a lot of people to our show, but people who spend money. We're also attracting kids who will spend money in the future. Dealers at our show do very well and when they don't they realize that there are ups and downs but the idea is to look at the show on an ongoing basis because there really is no trending.
What has been obvious when a new dealer doesn't do well is that they simply are out of touch, not offering what people are looking for, or have early 90's pricing on their early 90's cards, and (sometimes) have a bad attitude about it. We don't see these dealers again. Often a new dealer may not do that great their first time at it, but they chalk it up as experience, get it, and come back roaring next show and become a quality dealer ongoing.
We charge more than other shows do. But the return is greater making our table fees a very good value. We also put a lot of work into our show that goes beyond simply setting up a room with tables and chairs. It makes a difference.
