In these challenging times for hobby shops and shows around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words.

From Buzz: We're looking at a show this time with a slight name change for this edition of the series.

Shipshewana Card Show

Promoter: Brad Beeman
Location: Shipshewana, Ind.
Twitter: @shipshewanacard 

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In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words.

From Buzz: We're looking at an auction house this time with some high-end antiquities and more that collectors might want to explore -- check it out at the link and see a gallery of six-figure sales below.

Continue reading →

In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words. 

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The Cardboard Devil

Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Opened: March 2019
Owners: Janice & Rick Haines

In their own words: "Our shop is more like home than the old school card shops. Our store was formerly a bridal shop. We really didn't change it much other than to freshen up the paint and add our store fixtures. We currently carry hockey, baseball, football and basketball sealed boxes. Normally we are fully stocked on UltraPro top-loaders, one-touches and we stock BCW storage boxes in a variety of sizes. We also have a singles inventory that is growing and changing for the four major sports. We also offer memorabilia through our B2B with AJ's. We can order almost anything that a collector might be looking for.

Continue reading →

In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words. 

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Playmakers Sports Cards, Memorabilia & Gaming

Location: Rapid City, S.D.
Website: www.playmakersllc.com

In their own words: "Playmakers was created by three guys. One, a sports card collector for over 30 years with a love for the hobby that just never faded away, another whose love for sports is contagious, with a very heavy background in retail sales and business management and a third who has been a hobby shop employee for over 10 years with a dream of owning his own and is an avid gamer. They joined together to create a business where they could not only utilize their expertise, but could also be a part of something they love while bringing into the homes of the rest of the world. ... Creating Playmakers just made perfect sense. We hope you enjoy our breaks here at Playmakers and never hesitate to reach out to any of us with questions you might have. We would love help out or even talk shop." -- Bradley, Monte, & Justin

THEIR LINKS
Email: Playmakersllc3@gmail.com
Twitter: @PlaymakersRC
YouTube: Playmakers Case Breaks
Facebook: facebook.com/PlaymakersRC
Facebook Group: Playmakers Breaks & Personal Boxes
Instagram: PlaymakersRC

Shop address
2200 N. Maple Ave Suite 208A
Rapid City, S.D. 57701

Phone: (605) 716-2220

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Do you own a shop collectors should see? Take the time to compile the info above for your shop and send it to us to be considered. 

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com

It wasn't an easy first year thanks to coronavirus, but they're almost there

You might remember them from this piece in March, and since then Turf & Dirt Sports Cards in Bellingham, Wash., has weathered the storm with its eye on a one-year anniversary roughly this time next month.

"We opened our shop to create the best environment possible for the community of sports card collectors," said owner Jimmy Sears, who opened it on Oct. 5 last year. "Being a new shop is always challenging, but a new shop during COVID-19, brought new challenges to being open and keeping the hobby going."

Continue reading →

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In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words.

From Buzz: In this instance ... it's an auction house (shop) that has moved its live auction online and it's active right now -- check it out at the link below.

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Birmingham Auctioneers 

Owner: Scott Russell
Location: Nesquehoning, Pa.
Website: www.birminghamauctioneersbid.com

In their own words: "David Birmingham founded the company in 1983 and he ran at least five auctions a year up until 2017 and many years he averaged one a month. As he got older, things slowed down and in 2017 he offered to sell me the company. I had just left my job to become a full-time dealer ... but on Jan. 1, 2018, I became the owner. I call eight live auctions a year but added online auctions to our repertoire. Our online auctions are usually themed Pre-War, Memorabilia, Oddball Odds & Ends, etc. Our live auctions are usually more general but focus mainly on 1950s to today -- all sports.

"I was lucky that when the state shut down live events I had the capability of moving online, though it was a lot of frenzied work. But there was no way to do the normal marketing I would do for an online auction -- and little budget since I'd already advertised the live event. The first year of owning the company was a big eye-opener and we spent a ton of money we didn't really have updating and upgrading things that were archaic. So we spent most of 2019 catching up on those expenditures and we were just starting to get a little bit ahead when this latest situation reared its ugly head.

"I am fairly well known as I am always at the Philly and Chantilly shows and have also done White Plains and Pittsburgh. I know mainly vintage guys, though, and it seems like Blowout skews a little more modern. ... We are assuming we will have to move April's auction online also and that actually has more of a modern theme."

THEIR LINKS
Twitter: @BirminghamAuct1
Email: info@birminghamauctioneers.com

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Do you own a shop collectors should see? Take the time to compile the info above for your shop and send it to us to be considered. 

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com

In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words. 

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Turf & Dirt Sports Cards

Location: Bellingham, Wash.
Website: www.turfanddirtsportscards.com

In their own words: "Turf & Dirt opened their shop to create the best environment possible for their community of sports card collectors. Jimmy Sears, Stacy Sears and their daughter, Emily, operate this shop as a small family business. Jimmy has been a collector since 1986 and has been in the business of sports cards for the last 10 years. The last five years, Jimmy helped run another card shop, but decided to open his own shop in October 2019. Turf & Dirt has built an active social-media presence but relies heavily on our local community to help create the environment of Turf & Dirt. The shop is attempting to do their part to help keep the hobby alive and strong during these times. When there are no sports to watch, why not rip some packs?"

THEIR LINKS
Twitter: @turf dirt
YouTube: Turf & Dirt Sports Cards
Facebook: Turf & Dirt Sports Cards
eBay store: turfanddirtsportscards
Instagram: turfanddirt
TikTok: @turfanddirt

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Do you own a shop collectors should see? Take the time to compile the info above for your shop and send it to us to be considered. 

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com