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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. 

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

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