Photo: Michael F (@MikesStadiumSC)
Advanced Photoshop Work: Me
I was able to sit on the sofa the last few days and follow the 2014 Industry Summit via twitter and all the
“inside” sources I have …. which are none. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see an announcement bragging about
a ‘record breaking’ number of attendees. That’s ok – less is more often times.
Seemed to me (from the sofa) Panini stole the show with some ‘innovative’ ideas they’ve been working on.
A patch card DB, Panini Rewards – that replaces redemption cards, and 14/15 NBA rookie cards are all things
(if Panini pulls them off) should go a long way in engaging collectors even further.
Topps (from the sofa) seemed about the same. Said they were making less product and they are “made to order”
so I guess that means the sales are down. They plan to advertise on Nickelodian. I bet that’s not cheap. If sales are
down, it’s because your product isn’t compelling – not because you don’t have ads on Nickelodian. Good luck.
Upper Deck is 25 years old, but acts like one twice as old. At least there are signs of life in SoCal.
Don’t expect many innovations as they are just buying time to sell once that’s possible.
Group Breakers. The companies are on record they account for about 10% of sales. That’s no chump change
when you add it all up. That’s probably why I’ve been very vocal on looking for ways to legitimize that business
model. They should work together on figuring out ways they can operate without risk of breaking raffle and
lottery laws. Trust me, 10% of $100,000,000 is enough to get a lawyer out of bed one day.
Thanks to the tweeters from the event. My comments below are not meant to patronize their work in any way.
Day 1
Brian Gray is here. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 16, 2014
After posting a sheepish apology on Leaf’s Facebook page
Day 2
Leaf acquires the rights to Sportkings http://t.co/KHLvUx4jEr
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
For a heck of a lot less than you think …..
Topps: This year, we have them signing already (during spring training) and about 5 months ahead of the game #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
So ………. they just figured out this would be a good idea?
Topps: redemption site is antiquated and will merge that with regular site soon. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
This is probably more difficult than making the cards bro!
Topps’ David Reel: This year we are going to sell significantly more hobby than retail. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
That’s because it’s not selling through at retail.
Topps: New for 2014 Topps Tek, Stadium Club and Topps Dynasty (a high-end like no other) #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Tek wasn’t that popular back in the day, but Stadium Club was pretty cool.
Topps: Average collector is older than we would like. Engage kids at Play 60 (nfl), ads on TV for BB on Nick, CN, Disney #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Ads on TV are hard to measure, expensive and in the hands of an amateur – a great way to burn money.
So along with buying cards from a website, a collector can also pick the option of picking cards up at a physical shop, no shipping charges
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Referring to a Beckett Business Solutions service. Seems like a good idea.
BBS: there is a need for a employees. One of the ways we failed is by having 1 or 2 employees at shops #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
I owned a card store. You can’t have employees if margins are < 10%
Larry: After a due diligence process we did what we needed to do what was best for the industry and UD exclusive was the way to do. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Where “due diligence” = who offered the most guarantee $$$$$$$$$$
Larry: The things we felt with an exclusive outweighed those aspects. Bringing down # of brands, bringing a .99 cent brand back #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Remember the NBA said similar things when Panini originally got an exclusive. Panini now releases 20+ products per year.
NHLPA is running a promo. Putting up $75K. Card show owner provides a plan on how to get kids in and collect hockey cards #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
That’s the million dollar question – but they are only offering up 75k.
Panini is still supposed to do (NHL) stickers still, so I hear #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
That’s because fat cat in Italy screamed – STICKERS MAKE MONEY!!!!
Goldin employee: my boss wants to be the Jeff Bezos of the industry (re: putting money back into company) #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 17, 2014
Amazon doesn’t make a profit. Shareholders have though ….
Day 3
Panini: Adding a Flawless Hockey card in each National Treasures BOX to say “thanks.” #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
That’s nice. If I spent $500 on a box of trading cards, I’d think the company would thank me.
Update: Check that, no thanks
Panini will be doing … FLAWLESS FOOTBALL! But not at the same price point. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Yes, that’s because it will be $16,000 a box.
Panini: colors galore in Prizm, lower box price point with still two autos in every box #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Sweet. Hope they still do JUMBO boxes that deliver further value.
For the NBA Draft Rookie Exchange, you will get a card numbered 1-25 and get the player drafted in that slot #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Worked well back in the early 2000’s – not sure why they don’t do this every year.
Read our latest letter to $EBAY shareholders at http://t.co/kAuEwYUys2
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) March 18, 2014
I thought I was the only person in the world who questions business models?
With a QR code on back, you can scan the card and find it on the Panini site. If the patch doesn’t match photo – it’s fake #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
So, in other words Panini is creating a patch database for high-end cards. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Hope everyone else in the business copies this.
Panini announces Panini Rewards, which will replace redemptions moving foward #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
A reward card in pack (can use on IOS and Android, or web). Register card and build rewards toward cards, items, experiences #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Rather than a redemption for a specific player, you get a reward point. So you pick the card you want (if you have enough points) #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
I wonder if Kevin Isaacson would call this innovative?
Panini: 2013 was a mixed year. Football had a lot to do with that #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Can’t say I didn’t tell all ya’ll (on August 11, 2013)
Panini’s Tim Franz has seen some YouTube vids or Breaker.tv that “makes me want to vomit.” #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
I thought they were saving the hobby!!!!!!!
Manufacturer guesses on what % of wax moves through breakers Topps 8-10%, UD 10-15% and Panini did not guess.
— Michael F (@MikesStadiumSC) March 18, 2014
I bet sales to un-opened box retailers are down similar percentages.
Topps: We get about 3,000 orders a week, send about 4,000 #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
They say this to a group of hobby shop owners mind you.
Topps: Taking steps to be more transparent with weekly updates #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
What a great idea Topps!!!!
Topps: 6 months ago was bad, it’s not perfect yet.We are getting there slowly #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
6 months ago was bad? Before that must be a term not appropriate for children then.
Topps: Even 30 days out tough for CL. Making changes up until day of packout. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Exactly. If the product is live and there’s no CL – then you can complain.
Kevin Isaacson asks if people are checking Twitter … Definitely, not me. #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
Shows you how clueless this guy Isaacson is.
UD: Hockey 2014-15 calendar: Aug: MVP; Sept: OPC; Sept: Fleer Ultra; Oct: Artifacts; Dec: UDS1 #lvis
— Sooz (@yanxchick) March 18, 2014
So if you like high end hockey …. you’ve got plenty of time to save up!
Topps today, after Panini’s Industry Summit announcements pic.twitter.com/Qw02N6ois0
— MikeE P (@CubsfanP) March 18, 2014
lol
Day 4
Nothing cool ever happens this day …. at the Summit that is.
