How to Sell Sports Cards at a Card Show

Card shows are a key part of the sports card hobby, offering a place for collectors, dealers, and vendors to connect in person. They allow for hands-on buying, selling, and trading while helping build relationships and stay current with market trends. We will walk through the basics of selling at a card show, from setting up, to networking, and post-show evaluation.

Preparing for the Card Show

The first step to selling at a card show is actually finding the show. You’ll want to research shows happening in your local area, and register online. You can use social media tools such as Instagram or Facebook to locate upcoming shows and sign up as a vendor.

It is important to choose the right show. Knowing your level of inventory, and your current sales capabilities, you must select a show that makes the most sense for you. If you are a small dealer just starting out, the best option would be to locate a small local card show, and get a table. This will be the most cost-effective way to get your feet wet in the vendor space, and maximize your sales and networking potential.

What to Bring and How to Organize Inventory

To get started, you should separate your inventory into categories. Depending on your inventory and goals, you can select these categories based on a variety of factors. For example, you may want to separate your inventory by sport, player, value, etc.

There are two main ways that you will be setting up your cards at a card show, either in a display, or in value boxes. Typically, you will want to include all of your higher end and graded cards in your main display. This will allow customers to view your best inventory with ease, and know exactly what you are selling. Your value bins will be for lower end cards, typically $10 or less.

TIP: Be sure to have prices displayed for all of your cards. Buying a set of labels to stick onto all of your top loaders/sleeves will help you immensely in the long run.

Setting Up Your Table for Success

When a customer is walking through a card show, first impressions are everything. You will want to make sure that your booth/table is set up to catch the eyes of all potential customers at the show. To make a good first impression, make sure that you have a neat layout that is appealing to potential customers. This includes organizing your table and displays efficiently and accessibly. Additionally, using eye-catching signage such as your logo, QR codes for your social media, or images of some of your best cards will attract attention.

Promoting deals or bundle offers is also a great way to gain new customers at a card show. You can promote “Buy 5, Get One Free”, or similar offers in your value bins to really drive sales volume. This is a low risk, high reward strategy, because liquidity is everything as a vendor, especially when trying to move low value cards. A card show is the perfect opportunity for vendors to get rid of their bulk and low-end inventory which is much harder to move online.

Selling Strategies During the Show

As a vendor at a card show, there is one skill that you will need to learn early on: negotiation. Buyers will try to negotiate the price on almost anything. The key here is to stick to your numbers. Before heading into a card show, make note of your absolute lowest value on a card. As a new seller, it can be easy to accept every offer that comes your way, especially when big money is on the line; however, it is important to stay calm and evaluate each situation carefully.

After the Show: Follow-Up and Evaluation

Once the show has ended, your work is far from over. At the end of the day, it is important to review all of your sales. Make note of your profits for the day, and update your inventory. After properly accounting for your sales and inventory, it is very important to analyze your performance. Take note of what sold well, and what didn’t. This will help you plan for your next show, and maximize your profits moving forward.

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