Father’s Day marks the 38 day countdown to the 30th National Sports Collectors Convention being held at the International Center (I-X) in Cleveland, OH July 29th through August 2nd.  On the outside it would be easy for one to imagine the Nationals as the end all be all event for collectors such as ourselves.  After all, the Nationals draws in dealers from all over the country (and even some from Canada); features a who’s who of autograph guests (where else can you find 24 heisman trophy winners signing in one location); and outside of Ebay Represents your greatest opportunity to find that one card which has always eluded you.  But while the Nationals is in and of itself a great event, it is not immune from the problem that afflicts those who set up at and run your weekly (or monthly) card show events.  The hobby is stagnant, in terms of dealers, clientele, products.  I’m not talking product in term of what card companies are continuing to pump out, I’m referring more to what collectors have to sell/trade to dealers, and what dealers in turn have to offer out to other collectors.  New product rarely comes through shows anymore, leaving dealers to fight it out with other collector on online auction sites, ripping new products themselves ( losing proposition), or breaking out their own personal collection just to have new things to offer.  As a local dealer I can tell you first hand that it is frustrating for collectors to see, week in and week out the same dealers offering the same cards they saw last week, month, etc…  While what the Nationals has to offer is a new market for many dealers, the underlying truth is there will continue to be fewer and fewer dealers willing or able to make the journey to larger regional (tri star, white plains, philly) shows and the National if this trend continues.   I don’t suggest I have the answers, I only hope we will soon see a tournaround to combat this trend and return to the glory days of the late 80s, a time many older dealers love to reminiss about while we sit around waiting for new customers to walk through the doors.

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