Initially, I meant to arrange this month on the Detroit Sports activities Spectacular however after I discovered concerning the three-day Wisconsin Card Present, I made a decision that an hour drive to Milwaukee beats a five-hour drive to Detroit. I will hit that Detroit present one in all nowadays. Oddly sufficient, I noticed Shannon, who runs the Detroit and Chicago Sports activities Spectaculars, on the Milwaukee Present. I nearly requested her for tables as a result of the Detroit present is on the finish of the month however, man, I’m simply not feeling that drive.
I had two 8-foot tables to fill on the Wisconsin Card Present. I made a decision to deliver the identical stuff I introduced out to Kane County final week. After promoting a bunch of slabs in Kane, I priced up a bunch extra for the Wisconsin present, largely made up of 1955 Bowman soccer.
Like all three-day reveals, load in is at all times troublesome. Sellers solely had quarter-hour to park at an nearly hidden loading dock and cargo in. For sure, it was a bit of hectic as a result of when you had your stuff in your cart, you needed to take a service elevator as much as the fourth ground, weave your approach via a kitchen space and into the present room and again.
I used to be pleased to see Greg from Waukesha Sports activities who was arrange exterior the kitchen. Greg is my neighbor on the Chicago Sports activities Spectacular. I’ll not arrange on the November Sports activities Spectacular as desk charge has gone up as soon as once more. I gotta take into consideration that one.
After finishing load in, I needed to discover parking. Lorena from Lake Nation Playing cards, one of many promoters of the Wisconsin Card Present together with Swarmm Occasions and Waukesha Sports activities, was variety sufficient to supply a parking low cost for the venue’s lot together with one other close by lot. Drawback for me was that I couldn’t discover the packet she emailed to distributors with the parking information so I ended up driving round. I ended at two totally different parking tons, every wished $30 to park. I discovered one about 4 blocks away for $20. Subsequent time I am taping the parking information to my steering wheel! I might have saved a superb 40 bucks if I used the discounted parking. Ugh!
Anyway, the room housing the present appeared like a elaborate Vegas on line casino — it was cool! Top-of-the-line rooms I’ve ever seen for a card present. Tons of room! Good broad aisles. I had a ton of area in my pod. I may actually unfold out.
I used to be pleased to see that I used to be situated subsequent to Nelson and Michael. There have been a number of different youthful sellers within the pod who I didn’t know. One offered Pokemon whereas the others offered trendy sports activities. All appeared like good guys. Oh, it makes such an enormous distinction when everybody within the pod is variety and respectful and don’t pinch greater than their justifiable share of the area. If something, I in all probability took up many of the area and no person appeared to care.
I arrived a bit of late, round 2 p.m., on Friday, so there have been clients hovering over me as I loaded my show instances — which I completely hate. As you understand, I don’t wish to be bothered whereas establishing. I simply wish to get every little thing arrange first earlier than clients ask to see playing cards as a result of, in any other case, I lose out on gross sales by not having all of my wares out. No luck. Subsequent time I’m arriving early!!
With so many individuals hovering over me whereas establishing and asking to see playing cards lengthy earlier than I accomplished arrange, I believed I is perhaps in for an excellent day. Frustratingly, all these folks didn’t purchase something! In case you are not going to buy something, then stand again and let me end establishing!!
Oddly sufficient, as soon as I accomplished arrange, rather a lot much less folks got here round to view my show instances. In truth, the primary day appeared flippantly attended. I discovered myself staring off into area early on. My abdomen started to rumble and I discovered a meals sales space known as Cocina Filipina. I ordered a hen bowl which contained some mildly spiced hen over rice. In addition they had Food regimen Mountain Dew. Woot! The meals was a bit of dear however completely scrumptious.
After dinner, nonetheless not a lot motion at my tables so I made a decision to stroll round. I noticed loads of distributors who arrange at my Oak Creek present. So many who Andrew noticed me and stated “Welcome to your present!” It’s at all times nice see all these guys like Scotty P., Scott and Jim Z., Andrew and Gary, Mike M., Eric U., J.R., Boonie, Matt and Andy M., Tyler, Jorden C., Tommy and Frank C., and Aaron R.
Regardless that folks complained to me all weekend that there was not a lot classic at this present, I, alternatively, thought I noticed a good quantity of classic unfold out all through the present. I used to be one in all three sellers that had been all classic. The others had been Mike Meyer, who was arrange within the hallway, and Scott Z. However many different sellers had a good quantity of classic blended in with trendy like LCC, J.R., Eric, Tommy, Matt and fairly a couple of of the youthful trendy sellers. Certainly one of these younger trendy sellers had a 1955 Bowman Hank Aaron in his show case that I ought to have snagged. Tyler ended up getting it together with a bunch of different Aarons. You snooze, you lose!
Anyway, gross sales had been awfully gradual Friday. Purchases, alternatively, had been fairly good. A close to 1968 Topps Sport set walked up and I bought it for a tune! A number of different odds and ends trickled in as properly.
The present ended at 8 p.m. There was loads of safety on the present, so I used to be not too involved about leaving my playing cards there in a single day.
I had the choice of spending the night time in Milwaukee at my buddy George’s home. Thanks George! However I made a decision to drive residence as a result of I wished to seize extra stuff because the supplier subsequent me didn’t present up. Visitors was good and light-weight on the drive residence.
Fortunately, I didn’t must arrive all that early on Saturday because the present opened to VIPs at 9:30 a.m. My son Kolby determined to accompany me to the present. Woot! We arrived round 8:45 a.m. I debated on stopping for breakfast however was undecided we had sufficient time. Properly, issues had been gradual early on and we may have stopped!
Round 10 a.m., issues picked up and the hoards arrived. Wonderful attendance on Saturday. There have been giant strains for autographs all day lengthy. A gentle circulate of shoppers funneled by my tables and gross sales had been glorious. I had 9 show instances and offered playing cards out of eight of them.
One other good day of shopping for as properly. A buyer, who drove up from Peoria, Illinois, offered me a 1957 Topps Eddie Mathews, an Early Wynn, and a 1973 Topps Dwight Evans rookie. Scott Z. despatched over a man promoting a matchbook from the 1940’s with some random participant pictured. I bought it.
As normal, a ton of fellows promoting junk period playing cards. No thanks! I needed to continually inform guys, and youngsters, that I solely buy outdated, outdated playing cards — 1989 Higher Deck is just not sufficiently old!
I gotta speak about this one numbnut who was promoting some printing plates from some random Topps problem from, I feel, 2003. He thought they had been value one million {dollars}. I informed him that if he had a printing plate of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, then he would have one thing value one million {dollars} however not some random 2003 problem that no person cares about. I might worth the 2003 printing plates at 50 bucks.
Whereas I didn’t get pleasure from all of the junk coming to my tables, I did get pleasure from some glorious conversations all weekend. It was cool to satisfy Kyle, who got here as much as my desk with a Mickey Mantle autographed ball on the market. Kyle at the moment lives in Inexperienced Bay however grew up in my hometown of Northbrook, Illinois, and we attended the identical highschool. I graduated in 1985. Kyle graduated in 1991.
I additionally noticed Milwaukee Bucks energy ahead Taurean Prince on the present. He collects playing cards! He was there all weekend and spent a ton of time on the supplier throughout from me and with a number of the younger guys in my pod. He appeared like an excellent man and was gracious as followers stopped him for pictures.
As normal, starvation finally took over. For lunch, Kolby had a sizzling canine which appeared pretty first rate however I’ve a tough time consuming sizzling canine when all the correct fixings aren’t supplied. All that they had was mustard and relish. I went again to Cocina Filipina and tried the spicy hen bowl — oh, my, so, so, good!
After the present, Kolby and I dined close by on the King and I Thai Restaurant. We each ordered Pad Thai, known as Pud Thai at this restaurant. Kolby ordered his spicy whereas I ordered mine gentle. Mine got here spicy. It was scrumptious however approach an excessive amount of warmth for me. I had problem consuming it. Our waiter was form of foolish and I nearly suppose he gave me the spicy on objective and bought a superb snort watching me attempt to eat it.
We had a straightforward drive residence. Visitors was mild once more.
No Kolby on Sunday, simply me. As soon as once more I arrived on the venue round 8:45 a.m. I might have stopped for breakfast however was not hungry this morning.
My morning routine at multi-day reveals consists of filling all of the holes in my show instances from yesterday gross sales. Sadly, I didn’t have too many further objects to fill the area. After some figuring, I used to be capable of get it executed.
Appeared like the massive crowds on Saturday had been there for Jackson Churio’s autograph. I figured giant crowds would attend Sunday as a result of signers included Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons. We ended up with a surprisingly mild crowd. Because of this, gross sales had been mild as properly.
I had some good buys, although. Eric offered me a pleasant grouping of 1969-70 Topps basketball. A daily, who I’ve identified for years, however, in fact, cannot keep in mind his identify, offered me a 1954 Topps Bob Buhl SGC 4.
Whereas I used to be negotiating with the common, and distracted, a man sat down in entrance of my greenback field and was there for a superb half hour, then he took off with a pile of playing cards and didn’t pay for them. Final time I introduced out the greenback field, on the Valpo present, I had playing cards stolen as properly. I do not suppose I’m going to deliver out the greenback field any extra as folks simply steal from me each time I’ve it out. Unhappy.
Theft apart, I needed to fill my tummy as soon as once more. On the best way in on Sunday morning, I noticed some meals cubicles on the volleyball match that was being held on the ground under the cardboard present. I ended there early for espresso then got here again for some orange hen at an Asian meals sales space. The orange hen was superb however the portion was small for the value. I used to be quickly hungry afterwards and bought a bratwurst from the market stand on the card present. I used to be pleased to see that that they had contemporary sauerkraut to accompany the brat which was very tasty.
Load out was a bit of troublesome. I didn’t wish to depart my playing cards unattended whereas I went to fetch my automotive so I carted my bins about 4 blocks to the parking storage. As soon as again to the venue, the guard wouldn’t let me drive as much as the loading dock. He stated there have been too many distributors already up there so I needed to sit and wait.
As soon as again into the present, there have been many extra obstacles because the kitchen employees and numerous distributors blocked the trail from my sales space to the service elevator. Ugh! A giant thanks to Tom from Actual Sports activities for holding my cart so it didn’t slide down the loading ramp whereas I loaded my automotive.
One other simple drive residence.
My total ideas on the present: I actually preferred it. I believed it was properly run. I’ll positively arrange once more! An enormous thanks for Lorena for taking such excellent care of me all weekend! I really like LCC!
Subsequent up for me is the Peru Mall present which I simply booked for Saturday, Might 24, 2025. Then on Sunday is the mighty Orland Park present on Might 25, 2025. I’m again to binders this weekend. New for Saturday is binder one in all two of 1969 Topps baseball. I additionally priced up some 1966 Coke Bottle Cap Packers. I’m in all probability going to additionally deliver out some classic groupings and much to Orland.
Subsequent Oak Creek present is June 7. Hope to see you this weekend!
Beneath are a couple of extra pictures from the Wisconsin present this previous weekend.
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