Fast Five: Buzz's few collecting goals for 2021

This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five collecting goals Buzz has for 2021.

MODERATION & DIVERSIFICATION
Placing limits on how many boxes I buy of any given brand ... and dabbling more broadly
Sure, this is two things in one ... but they are related in my case. This year presented a lot of challenges for many of us trying to find new boxes if working on a budget or if out in the retail wild. Why? Ultimately, it's all supply and demand -- there are more collectors coming back to cards and others coming from other flipper realms to clear shelves, stockpile and cash in. It's all good ... but I know I can't buy everything and compete with those guys who want it all no matter what. Everybody has their place in the big picture no matter what or how/why they collect, though, and, for me, instead of doing as many Buzz Breaks as I could for what brands I could get my hands on (Hello, Mosaic NBA, Prizm draft and Chronicles draft football, Chronicles NBA ... and a lot of WWE) I have some other goals on this front for 2021. I may try and break more different types of boxes (if I like them) and perhaps put a cap on how many I rip ... three of any brand's particular format may be my limit. At least that's my goal at first ... we'll see how it holds up depending on availability and what I like. I've found that some releases haven't aged well for my tastes after ripping tons this year and I've also opted to just pony up a little more than I might for particular single cards this year, too. This idea all hinges on what's available, but if the release schedules ever get back to their normally-a-little-crazy regular routines, there should be plenty to choose from. (Should. But this will take patience ... the 2021 release calendar for January and February still has plenty of 2020 on it.)

Keep reading for four more things making up the list this time.

NOT ALWAYS WORKING ON THIS YEAR
Past-year boxes can still include big stuff ... those cards don't just vanish.
There are a lot of brands that came and went this year and I just couldn't commit to ripping into them for a full hobby box -- for a few reasons. Sometimes, it's price. Sometimes, it's just returns or inclusions -- some work for me, some don't. (I'll dabble with stuff I like less in smaller chunks ... blasters.) Don't be surprised if you see me dabbling with some Buzz Breaks of previous years' boxes here just to mix things up a bit. Just because stuff is a year or two older now doesn't mean there's not big stuff still waiting to be found. The same idea also obviously applies to players ... it's not always the current rookies making the biggest waves in a particular year. Working a little off the radar can pay off in the long term ... or at least keep you ripping on a budget. Keep in mind tastes can and often do change for the masses over time -- what's hot now may not be later. (Buy what you like ... most times you'll be fine.)

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STILL TRYING NEW ARRIVALS
New names, new releases ... they'll still get my attention.
This new 2020 brand you see here (hit the link) is something different that's set to drop sometime early in 2021, and it's something that's simple and not yet been done for WWE cards -- one encased hit per box and that's it. I'll be busting a case of this one -- one of my biggest card/case buys in several years (I just don't high-roll all that often) -- but I think Fully Loaded could be a hit. I've also been buying more than a few Rhea Ripley cards of late so this pic is 100-percent intentional. If I don't land one of these in my case I'll admittedly be bummed. We'll see how it goes. (I acknowledge my "moderation" goal is blown here doing a case ... but I like this one.)

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FOCUSING ON A FOCUS
Sometimes, it's easy ... sometimes it's not.
When you collect a player with a serious focus but they retire and are off the new-cardboard rosters of card companies, it can be slow-going, awkward and a bit scatterbrained to collect. That's been the case for me in some ways in recent years -- I now dabble in certain areas with certain parameters ... a bit of a team or genre collector while also grabbing stuff that is interesting and affordable. I was able to land my first two Superfractors of my retired player this year and I've been dabbling with a handful of younger WWE names here and there (see above) ... but still focusing on a single focus isn't easy for me. Perhaps 2021 will help more ... I know the COVID slowdowns of this year had me dabbling on odd stuff more than ever, though, too.

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GETTING ORGANIZED
Hitting the supplies section hopefully will get back to normal soon ... I need them!
When you rip a lot of random wax or in volume, it's easy to get behind on organizing ... if you even do it at all. My graded stash wouldn't fit in a single one of these -- but it's an option in the store (hit that link) -- and it's one of many ways you can store stuff. The COVID issues of 2020 also affected the supply manufacturers -- boxes, sleeves and top-loaders have been scarce finds for many collectors this year -- and they were often left waiting for imports or have other issues that slowed them down. (Our supplies section has been inactive since it's a busy time of year but they should be back soon.) Penny sleeves stopped being penny sleeves in 2020 but let's hope they can get back there soon. That's my goal for everybody. My second goal will get my stuff organized ... or at least to start trying to get there.

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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

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