I Opened a Sports Card Shop- What It Takes To Open Your Own LCS
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- If you collected sports cards as a kid then you would have always dreamed of the day that you would open your own card shop. In the summer of 2020 I made that dream a reality as I opened a shop called "The Card Attic". Less than 3 months later I was out of the business for a few different reasons, but the process was still satisfying and unique. Opening a card shop is very difficult and this video I explain that process and the pros and cons.
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Sorry, I should have said this in the video. The Card Attic is still open for business! I just had to step away with other business ventures and a few other personal reasons at the time. Thanks for watching and all of the support!
@@jamesestrada82 When Scottie left, there was another guy that took over, but ran it VERY poorly.
I second what @James Estrada stated, and it looks like you have a mess to clean up from the other guy who took over. Also, I spent 6 years in Logan and am a USU grad. Love that town and miss it greatly! Enjoy it and I'll be sure to hit up the attic when I come through town (as long as it's open).
You're talking in past tense alot......,are you still the owner?
Nice vid dude !!
I know this is older, but a couple questions, how did you get ADA compliant ok'd and do you share the restroom fir your employees with taco time (which is bomb btw, we have them in WA).
I spent so much money in that card shop in 1999-2000! I was one of their biggest customers. I picked up my Brady Bowman Chrome there.
I was thinking about opening a card shop after I "retire" from my 'real job' in a few years. But after watching this, the main thing for me would be the negatives. I don't think I want the hobby I love to become a full time job. Will settle for eventually setting up at card shows, which are fun as well, and can do on my own terms, not chained to a lot of money invested and full time job...in retirement 😎
I've wanted to do this since I can remember. I used to go to the shop and dream about my own. I started a ebay store around 4 months ago and it's doing great. I couldn't be happier with it but I want to take it further. This is a big help so thank you! Congrats on your LCS! 👏
u will run out of inventory eventually
@@LITMOVIESCENESthat why it preferable to start online rather than onsite until you got alot of imventories or funds to buy even more single cards
That was an awesome testimony man I really appreciate your knowledge your input your honesty I can’t wait to open up a card shop one day
Great video me and a couple of friends are wanting to open up a sports cards and gaming shop. Watching your videos has given us much needed input. Appreciate you and the content you share with all of us.
Great video and insight. Your content is always top notch compared to the others - genuine, relevant and on point. all of us greatly appreciate your insight!
Spent my whole childhood up there. It was awesome. Loved it when you where involved and around on a consistent basis. It’s kind of sad now. I think it could flourish with a bit of effort.
It must be a tough business if you couldn't make it..... thanks for sharing. You made the place look polished and a place I would enjoy visiting~ clean, cozy and fun. Kinda like a fun business meets a man cave... Bravo Scotty.
Thanks for sharing your story Scott!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing!
Nice video buddy :)
I closed my card store down and use it as storage now..........Closed it to go back to college & discovered the emergence of Ebay......sorta got stuck on Ebay and never reopened after graduating college........feel like opening it back up with the recent interest (CARD SURGE).
Great video! Actually working on opening one of my own. Yes, it takes time on limited resources. But I’m having a good time doing it. My wife already has a consignment shop and I’m getting a corner in it to start out with mainly singles as of now. My target customer is kids to try to keep the love of the hobby going. Been in contact with Panini and will be a few months before they let me be a distributor, but it’s coming.
Thanks for sharing! God Bless!!
Good luck brother!
Thank you for all this info i have been thinking of opening my own
Well balanced summary of the experience. I’d love to design and decorate a card shop. I’d do it for free and use Apple Stores as an influence.
Congratulations 🍾🎊🎈🎉 Scottie on your card shop. I live in Oregon and want to stop by on a road trip.
Thanks for this Video, I am looking into starting a card shop in the next two years and this video will help me on my journey.
had idea for opening one for years watching how others done it doing my research this one best videos yet feeling better bout it great watch thank you.
I remember hitting that old card shop..congrats man. I'm in SLC I'll stop by next time I'm up that way
Holy cow, I was watching this video and while I knew we lived in the same state, I had no idea (at first) you were speaking of the Card Attic! When I was attending USU, though I had left the hobby by then (until I wised up years later), I did stop in at the "old" card shop above Taco Time, every once in a while for old time sake. I was happy to see it opened up again but only made it there once last year (bought a Jordan Love college Prizm /99 - Go Aggies!). This was a great video and wow, I'm both shocked at how trashed it got after all those years, and super impressed by how well you restored the place. Well done! Even though you moved on to other things, I think it's great you were able to get the card shop up and going again, and to have that experience. I worked at a card shop as a young teen for a while in SLC area (paid in cards LOL) and loved it, so it's cool seeing what goes into starting one up. Great video 👍
Nice video! I’m taking the leap into having my card shop open
Great video!!
Love what you've done with the place. I've considered doing the same, but it's an unpredictable market. One wrong move in terms of supply by Panini, and the potential for disaster is too much. Basically I have no business balls...😅. Kudos to you for having the courage to do it. Good luck!
Beautiful! Salute! Great Pointers too📥📤🙋🏻♂️👍🏻
Outstanding…thanks.
That's a really nice logo for your shop.
Nice video thanks for sharing , i learn a lot .
Great video 😎
Awesome video
Glad I found this video
Great video , I did it in the late 80s early 90s .. I couldn’t do it now to many people on the other side of the table think that they should make the same margins as the store owner . Comps have destroyed the hobby . Everyone wants to flip and not just collect or sit on a card for a few years . Hobby is going to implode with this attitude .. To many investors not enough collectors
100% coming from a collector first and dealer to get rid of what I don't collect and said this to so many customers last week at a show! I said comps should never be anything other than a guestimate guideline or starting point of negotiating a price from there it's worth what ever 2 people decide it's worth period go back to supreme and Nike flipping(not u😉) and leave #thehobby alone
😆 card shops were the worst. I remember shops offering garbage prices on purchases but selling everything full retail as if it's PSA 10. You guys were pretty much pawn shops that took advantage of people's excitement for the hobby and sports.
What it is now IS a market! The shops don't "set" the price anymore, the MARKET does. I hope all the card shops go away.
Card shops broke my heart as a kid and are 100% the reason I stopped collecting. I remember the feeling of trying to sell or trade and always left feeling taken advantage of. I remember thinking I did well on a card because I bought it for 5$ and now it was worth $50 only to be offered $8.
@@jacobr4558
That's business. Go take your car to a dealership and see what they offer you.
😆 THAT is exactly my point. Car dealerships don't OWN the market! Its 1 option of many. A dealer might offer me 1,000 for my car but I can sell to another person/collector for $3,000. Imagine is dealerships were the ONLY way to buy a 🚗. That is what the card industry WAS. Those days are gone and that's the only reason I'm back in this hobby.
I think this hobby needs an enima. All the old school people are just upset because they can't take advantage of people as easily as before. Now there are grades and market prices. It was SO shady before and basically came down to card shops(aka pawn shops just with collectibles) or con artists talking you into selling cheap or over paying. THOSE DAYS ARE GONE!
I've noticed quite a few card shops opening in peddlers malls. That could be a cheap overhead starter for someone. I just looked at prices in my area is 137 a month for the booth, and 8% fees. If you had the ability and know-how, you could easily and cheaply start in something like that.
Thanks nice information
Opening our own shop next month, wish us luck!
Great Video Scottie B!!!! My mother-in-law grew up in Logan, and her claim to fame is she grew up with Merlin Olsen. Go AGGIES!!!! I defiantly will have to check the shop out next time I'm up north. I live in Layton. Love the channel!!!
One of my cousins used to own a card shop and there's alot that goes in to owning a card shop finding the right location to open the card shop insurance having the up to date card hobby boxes NFL merchandise including having the NFL jerseys auto graph framed pictures there's alot involved
I just moved from Utah. I wish I knew about your guys shop.
I've always wanted to start a card shop it's up. The only thing that is going on with me that I'm concerned with is that we we already got one going Is in the next town over. I would love to start one because I enjoy the hobby, The only thing I would not carry is the pokemon and gaming.. There are issues with the pokemon and gaming. So if I just followed the sports end of things,, would that hold it together
Good stuff
Great video. Any business start up needs your passion for the product. Unfortunately the thin margins created by large runs and fewer people collecting, as opposed to “investing” or really just flipping, makes sustaining a brick and mortar card store tough. The pandemic closed the two that were here in town so the experience is now an hour drive away.
Especially now to say the least. He opened during the crazy value rise. The resale prices on singles now though from every sport whether it's low end, mid end, or high end have been dropping and dropping for the last 7-8 months unfortunately. Single values are always the first sign of what the entire market will do shortly after.
The numbers aren't a result of cherry picking the worst sale of each card or anything like that either. The market has done nothing but go down every month for long enough now that it doesn't seem likely to change.
Also the huge names like Luka aren't just also loosing value but the bigger hit singles are the ones loosing the largest % margin of value each month. Not looking good at all.
I love what I'm hearing from Fanatics and how they plan to cut out all the middleman crap that's been going on since about 2018. The thing I wonder about though is if they will be WAY TOO LATE. We still have about another 3 years until they take over everything and their promises of way lower prices for the individual collector even start to kick in.
I will always be a collector but I wouldn't be surprised if the hobby returns to the state it was in between 2012-2017 (which was an awful but not nearly as fun as it got between 2017 and 2020).
The days of getting a Prizm box for $175-$225 may return like it was in early 2018 but it won't be possible to hit a silver Luka worth $150ish give or take. 2018 was the wonder years for real lol.
I was just in Logan not to long ago and was going to check out this shop, but then I saw the Google Reviews saying it's never open so I didn't want to waste my time. I had no idea this was your place. If I'm up that way again I'll try to check it out.
Hey! Those negative reviews unfortunately came after I had left the shop (I left at the end of August 2020). Make sure you shoot me a message on Instagram when you are up here and I will make sure the current owner is there to meet you 😁.
@@scottiebcards2354 sounds good thanks! I just discovered your channel and really dig your videos. My jaw dropped when I heard you mention Logan. I'm from Ogden, and live in Layton.
Didn’t know you lived here in Logan. I’ll have to keep an eye out. Sad to say, though, I’ve been to that shop multiple times during posted “open” hours to find the doors locked and nobody there. I started heading to the card shop in Hyrum instead. I’d love to stop in and check it out if I know it’s going to be open. Love your CZcams content!
The guys at Epic Ports Cards are good guys. As for the Card Attic, the one time I went there, I called in first and they met me there and took me up... but that was during the covid shut down, so not sure if that is how they're doing things now or not, for what it's worth 👍
@@bearcards3497 Yeah, Epic has been awesome. It's just a bit of a drive from the north side of the valley. But I try to get in there every month or two.
@@goodnedYep, it's a bit out of town, but luckily not too far. It's nice there are a couple in the valley for sure. Take care 👊
Bro!! You are in Logan?? I am in Pocatello Idaho. That is awesome to know that you are close to me!!
There's no card shop within 60-80ish miles from me in a town of 35k and county of over 100k. The local rc hobby shop sells singles, mostly commons and under $10 cards, because the owner is a big collector themselves and seller on Ebay so they offload everything else through the shop, but no boxes or packs. Our last card shop went under about 7-8 years ago(had been there about 40 years) along with the flea market booth when the flea market itself closed. So now there's a huge void. There's a lot of collectors here and the ONLY place to get cards is Wal-Mart(we have to Target and the other Wal-Mart eliminated it's card section early 2020 for some reason) and they don't last 10 mins, even with them being put behind the service counter with a 2 per limit. Everybody just buys from Ebay and waits in line at Wal-Mart every week to get their 2 blasters if they're early enough. Some travel an hour and a half to a real shop and others travel to all the surrounding Wal-Marts just to get something to break without having to pay Ebay prices. There's a great opportunity here for a shop and it's sorely needed. I've been thinking about trying to get some people together and start one but it's not wise to go into business with friends but getting the capital together is a tall order. I know a shop would do well if it could keep enough product to go around.
Way back in 1991 when I was a Senior in High School, I had an opportunity to setup a card shop inside of a coin store. I was there M-F after school and all day on Saturday's. During my "downtime", I would be doing homework and would stop whenever a customer came in. Back then, there were just a few distributors and going dealer direct with card companies was almost impossible for me. (IF I remember correctly, to go dealer direct with Donruss, they had a $10,000 OR ten case minimum.) I was able to purchase a few boxes of some Topps Products from a local gum/candy distributor about a block away from the store. While I didn't get rich by any means, I did make enough money to turn a small profit for about the 8 months that I was open. I had to give it all up when I started College being that a college class schedule is not consistent like high school.
1) I thought you in CO....that's what I get for making assumptions (by bad)
2) I was really hoping for a new shop in the Denver area....my LCS is way over priced and not very friendly
3) I'm sorry it didn't work, but I'm sure you learned a lot. Better to have that experience while you're young before you get into that 'family stage' of life where it's harder to take big risks like opening a shop.
4) And I'm glad it brought you down the path of making videos. Keep on, keeping on!
You ever go to "Mikes stadium Sportscards" store is always cluttered but Mike is a super cool dude! Store is basically in North parker though.
@@marshmangunnar9150 I was just going to vouch for Mike myself! He’s super friendly, and he pays top dollar for graded cards. Really fair prices for their product as well.
@@jamesestrada82 right on! Ya I've Never had a bad experience there, and ALWAYS leave with what I was looking for, too much most the time haha!
When will the shop be open again? I have stopped by multiple times and even called you at the number on the sign for an appointment but no response…..
I wish this guy luck. Smart, great video. Shame he is a Rockies fan:):):).
Hey man, what would you say the exact total was for initial store quality inventory?
What did you use as point of sale system and did you price singles on on the top loaders?
My plan is to open a dispensary in Oklahoma and in the back I want to open a card shop called "Team Rocket Hideout" where I sell singles and eventually all card shop stuff.
I’m trying to start off. But I don’t know if getting a place is really the best route right now. Everyone is online now. But I definitely want to own a shop sometime in my life. I’m wondering if the hobby is profitable enough to live off of? Also could you help me find a distributor? Great video thank you for your story.
I’m starting up my own card shop and I legit open on 8/26! I’m currently waiting on the state of RI to give me my resellers permit so I’m stuck without a distributor for now. Any ideas of how to get a distributor “easier”
Awesome bro good Luck I’m looking to do the same here in nyc
@@Brooklynquietmoney Thank you so much! What part of the process you at with your shop? Being in NYC you'll get tons of traffic and customers!!
@@murphscardtown legit the beginning looking for a decent commercial space it’s so damn expensive out here 2 grand and up
Next time you run across that much dust use shopvac first then wipe down it makes it easier plus wear a mask because that much dust can cause sinus infections among other things. Good luck looks good so far
I was also thinking about doing this when close to retiring. Now I think ill just sell sealed products so buy and get out 🤣
I have been thinking about a card shop but I think I would do/online sale still and do Card breaks with Facebook and CZcams to continue the crowd that couldn't come to the shop but still be a little turn prophet
Maybe I missed it but how long did you do the store?
My dream when I "retire" 😂 cool stuff
youd go broke owning a card shop..theres very little money in it
@@LITMOVIESCENES Seriously? 😢
@@tubenachos youd have to have someone going to walmarts etc and reselling to you..and thats all drying up fast ..noone really buys single cards worth anything...say it costs you 2k a month to run the shop counting rent etc...you know how many cards youd have to sell for 2k? lol ...you have the best store front in the world..its called ebay...if you could run one rent free itd be ok
should price stuff 20 percent more than ebay if anything. Don't want to be the cheap place people can go to and make money flipping. Advertisement budget for a successful store is more than the rent too.
how do i find a distributor? do you have to qualify to get "in bed" with a distributor? Love the content just subbed!
u cant
Where do u sell them or do you sell online
Do you offer consulting? Would like to start myself
I own a used car lot our margins on cars is 20-50 percent. I opened a card store and to get any volume of new cards from distributors takes tons of money and time and the margins are less than 5 percent. They would give me like two boxes of new product for ebay prices I could never get enough to make any money. No money in it. Maybe if you rip people off pawn stars style on their collections and resell it you could survive but it's a losing proposition.
The biggest Sports Card Shop in Texas is located in my home town of San Antonio. Sports Cards Plus is such a fun place to go and check out and I highly recommend if anyone finds themselves in the area to go check it out. And they recently renovated and it is now even bigger!
Ooouu I'll be in SAT end of April 👀
So what happened?? Cliff hanger!!!! Did you have to walk away? Is the store still open?
I'm curious what's going to happen to card shops now that Fanatics owns the licenses to the 3 major sports.
All I know is start stockpiling Topps starting now.
@@orlandoalessandrini2505 Stockpiling or will Topps slowly become irrelevant?
@@T-TiiMe they're losing the license so they'll stop printing them in 2023.
@@orlandoalessandrini2505 I understand that, but my question is how do we assume the value will increase over time? I could see both ways.
@@T-TiiMe I think it depends on how the investors see it. If they can find value in promoting Topps after obsolescence, they'll go ahead and play the "nostalgia" card and use the fact that Topps isn't in business (or at least not doing MLB cards) to jack up the value / price of the merch. IF on the other hand, investors see little to know value in promoting the brand, then the market will respond accordingly and what you'll find is that the final boxes and cards coming from Topps will most likely be notable for their RC, Chrome and SP / SSP cards, as no more will be produced for the foreseeable future. I'm hedging my bets and saving my cash now to buy boxes from here til then, and buy as many boxes as I can when their last boxes come out.
Is there any special licenses I would need to get in order to begin this career?
Yes
Hearing you say Utah State,maybe you can work with the Athletic program,parents of athletes to bring in people.Utah State has had some recent success,maybe something can be worked out to be a win-win with those associated with Utah State and your shop,especially with the new NCAA rules!!!
The main thing you need to open a card shop is a desire to work long hours and lose tons of money.
it's been rough the past few months
My area doesn't have any big card shops maybe one prob 20 miles away.
My dream is to open a card shop. Is it worth it long term in your opinion?
A new card store recently opened up in my town. I was disappointed to see none of the singles has prices on them. The owner has to look it up to see what its going for then and then give you a price. Not a fan of that at all. Also he had a lot of marked up retail and little hobby. I won't be going back.
prices fluctuate for cards and lotta of work to reprice everything. i could understand your point.....u have to understand the shops also. its just hard to have a frontline store competing with internet. i just don't see any brick and mortar shops being successful unless they do big part of their business online. then they think why they should pay rent and hours being at the shop. opening a card shop just not beneficial. you also have to worry about security.
While it sounds fun. reminds me be careful what you wish for.
5 ads for this video huh? Man. Just trying to learn here.
😂 I put in three. CZcams must have added more. I'll check it out.
I want to open a card shop
Got lots of cards
Maybe none of my business, but what made you give it up? Seems like the community dug it…
I got some singles I could sell you. Would you be interested in buying?
Rental space and a couple million cards
Fanatics about to end your whole career 😔
Never open a store on a second floor.
My god, the number of totally right and completely wrong comments here...
owning a card shop is not a great idea...they last about 3-5 yrs max
Thank you for sharing. Good luck. Want you to succeed. However, IMO if you don't have allocation you will kill yourself and be out of business in 24 months. Anyone can open a card shop, with hard work. But it is more than hard work. Lack of allocations is super important. There are bigger breakers and companies that will strangle LCS in the future. Again, I wish you the best, but I think people will try to do this and fail. This is just like 1990s and everyone opened a shop.
Why did you decide to open a physical store and not just go virtual from home? IMO the only reason for a store front is allocations.
Did you leave the shop? Or am I missing something at the end? What's going on now?
if you want to buy a massive collection hit me up i have every sport and everybody from 1940's untill present day
mark ups are ridiculous
First
Its not worth it. Overhead is too much. Your better off spending the money marketing on your website or ebay store. I owned a small store and I still sold 90% of my products online. It was an easy choice to move on from the brick and mortar and sell from the comfort of my home. Plus your not stuck in one place from 8am-7pm 6 days a week. My advice, Enjoy the hobby, don't let it consume you.
Terrible idea lots of overhead why not use social media n go to shows instead. The biggest dealers I know are people who don't have a shop who cares about boxes. Also distributors play games
Check the reviews, do not run a business like this guy
Another con: Little kids excited about the hobby that have no money. Amirite?
2001 Me: Yea Dad my eyes are also red from working all day!