Setting up at shows
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- GGSAE
- Getting that sauce across the border ain't easy.
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Setting up at shows
For the dealers and guys that do shows and conventions, what do you do use to setup wall books?
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- Elveen
- I sell comics, I collect Valiant.
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Re: Setting up at shows
GGSAE wrote:For the dealers and guys that do shows and conventions, what do you do use to setup wall books?
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Check out my insta-
elveens_comics
you will see all the pics you could want.
- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Didn't find it on pinterest.....I did see lots of good setups, but I don't want to be storing a massive structure I made for myself. Since this might only be a one-time deal I'm looking at different grid walls, as well as cardboard bin displays which are quite cheap.
- Elveen
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Re: Setting up at shows
GGSAE wrote:Didn't find it on pinterest.....I did see lots of good setups, but I don't want to be storing a massive structure I made for myself. Since this might only be a one-time deal I'm looking at different grid walls, as well as cardboard bin displays which are quite cheap.
Not Pinterest.
Instagram.
- maraxusofkeld
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Re: Setting up at shows
I live in suburbia and have had great luck with weekend yard sales, getting great money for books or doing local swap meets. With advertising on craigslist and Facebook, I have had no need to do a show.
- betterthanezra
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Re: Setting up at shows
in addition to Elveens instagram you can check out mine as well
shadowsip
it's not massive like E's but you get the point
-Brian
shadowsip
it's not massive like E's but you get the point
-Brian
I'm on Twitter follow me
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My Valiant story here
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Thanks, I see it now...technology
You guys have both good setups, Brian's is more what I'm looking for - smaller scale. Is this something that's built the day of the show, it looks like you have a base with the grids that screw into the wood on the end? How long does it take to setup/tear down?
You guys have both good setups, Brian's is more what I'm looking for - smaller scale. Is this something that's built the day of the show, it looks like you have a base with the grids that screw into the wood on the end? How long does it take to setup/tear down?
- betterthanezra
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Re: Setting up at shows
GGSAE wrote:Thanks, I see it now...technology
You guys have both good setups, Brian's is more what I'm looking for - smaller scale. Is this something that's built the day of the show, it looks like you have a base with the grids that screw into the wood on the end? How long does it take to setup/tear down?
It takes me like 5 minutes from pulling the ends out of my van to putting the racks on the hooks that's it...
-Brian
I'm on Twitter follow me
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My Valiant story here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6932" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://twitter.com/#!/shadowsip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My Valiant story here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6932" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- betterthanezra
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Re: Setting up at shows
That's about to change I'm building three more over the next month!!!!GGSAE wrote: Brian's is more what I'm looking for - smaller scale.
-Brian
I'm on Twitter follow me
https://twitter.com/#!/shadowsip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My Valiant story here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6932" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://twitter.com/#!/shadowsip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My Valiant story here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6932" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Pics plus a how-to youtube video, or it didn't happen!betterthanezra wrote:GGSAE wrote:Thanks, I see it now...technology
You guys have both good setups, Brian's is more what I'm looking for - smaller scale. Is this something that's built the day of the show, it looks like you have a base with the grids that screw into the wood on the end? How long does it take to setup/tear down?
It takes me like 5 minutes from pulling the ends out of my van to putting the racks on the hooks that's it...
-Brian
- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Hey guys,
Today was the day of my first ever show, I came ready to move bulk and was wondering what I would do to pass the time (seemed like it would be a slow day). I had a spot outside the main room, and quickly got to chatting with another young guy setup beside me who came from Montreal...
As I had some dealers go through my bulk boxes before the start, there's this one greasy big dealer that comes over with a sandwich in his hand and nearly knocks over my wall books on the top shelf!
If I wasn't so quick with my hands a number of big keys would have tumbled to the floor!! I realized these books aren't secure here (during my setup I forgot to get string/rope to tie around the shelves to hold the books). So I remove them and prop them up on the stand sitting in the lids of longboxes.
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Today was the day of my first ever show, I came ready to move bulk and was wondering what I would do to pass the time (seemed like it would be a slow day). I had a spot outside the main room, and quickly got to chatting with another young guy setup beside me who came from Montreal...
As I had some dealers go through my bulk boxes before the start, there's this one greasy big dealer that comes over with a sandwich in his hand and nearly knocks over my wall books on the top shelf!
If I wasn't so quick with my hands a number of big keys would have tumbled to the floor!! I realized these books aren't secure here (during my setup I forgot to get string/rope to tie around the shelves to hold the books). So I remove them and prop them up on the stand sitting in the lids of longboxes.
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
I also moved some short boxes to the table and let people flip through them...I had some lesser keys (none high grade) that I left on the second shelf and they did tumble to the ground! :/
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- GGSAE
- Getting that sauce across the border ain't easy.
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Re: Setting up at shows
In terms of sales everyone was griping about how it's the slowest show of the year - great time to start I joke! I also had several people ask how my day was, well it's the worst or best day!! I would joke this was my first attempt and had no basis for comparison...
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- GGSAE
- Getting that sauce across the border ain't easy.
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Re: Setting up at shows
GGSAE wrote:In terms of sales everyone was griping about how it's the slowest show of the year - great time to start I joke! I also had several people ask how my day was, well it's the worst or best day!! I would joke this was my first attempt and had no basis for comparison...
I also made many jokes about the real reason I was there - my girlfriend was making me sell my comics :/.
Anyways, the brass tacks: I ended up selling 9 times the cost of my table which to me is incredible. I went in with a purpose - to move bulk - and I did, and also sold a number of individually priced books and many people asking me if I would come back. I think having prices better than most dealers helped me turn stuff over, so I was very happy with that.
A couple learning points (aside from the obvious wall setup) I shouldn't have brought books with no prices, I sold a couple books cheap because I had an old sticker on it simply because it was in a box of my collection that I didn't take out. I wasn't going to not honour the sales because that's bad form and this is my first impression with these buyers. Also, I had stickers on the back but I should have put them on the front so people can see right away what I was asking.
All-in-all, despite it being consider very slow I was quite busy. I'm a pretty social guy so I was chatting with everyone that came to my table, and the day just flew by! Favourite moment of the day: so I had a batch of bronze/silver books for $2/flat, I moved about half the box which I'm happy. Anyways, in the box were a bunch of mister miracles, then this guy walks by with a mister miracle shirt!! Hey I have some mister miracles first series for two bucks, "ya it's a great series" and keeps on walking! I turn to guy setup to my right, this is fate the guy is wearing a mister miracle shirt I was gonna jack up the price of those books to him for $5 but he didn't even stop, lol. We all had a good laugh...
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Oh ya, I saw this cool antique comic/magazine rack for $20 yesterday on kijiji. I even had the seller agree to deliver it to me...whether for shoe or at home, pretty cool item for $20 CAD!
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
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- Elveen
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Re: Setting up at shows
Congrats on the first show.
Big step.
Big step.
- nycjadie
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Re: Setting up at shows
Looks like fun. With the hockey in the background, it's so Canada;)
- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Haha, ya...I've been told winters are good for the card guys, especially if they get kids playing hockey looking for cards. I had a dad buy some of my $2 comics and told him each lad could grab a free $1 comic. It would be great if more boys and girls came in to get them exposed to more comics....nycjadie wrote:Looks like fun. With the hockey in the background, it's so Canada;)
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Here's a couple photos of the main hall, not sure if you can tell by the pics but about 35-40% of the show are card guys/sports memorabilia.
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- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
Just an update, last weekend I was a bit more prepared. I brought more books (restocked the cheap boxes and the $2 boxes), as well as had a bit better setup. Despite being told it's the slowest show of the year I moved a ton of books, both volume and dollar by selling a few keys and semi keys. I'm enjoying this a lot so far, and have already started developing some repeat buyers which is pretty cool. Until my schedule permits, I will continue to attend since the distance and cost to the show are both minimal.
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- GGSAE
- Getting that sauce across the border ain't easy.
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Re: Setting up at shows
Just did show #3, quite the success....Total dollar amount sold was high, 24+ times cost a lot of this was due to selling a bunch of keys/higher ticket books. I also made a group sales to a friend of mine after I told him I can accept credit
I meant to take pics but was rushed at the beginning, because I was stationed in the hall early-birds were already there and there were additional dealers that had populated the space even more. I managed to snag a great hard-plastic folding utility table for $10 and dumped my cheap long boxes across from me on the wall. I plan on using my main table to bring more boxes of just individually-priced books as I still need more inventory at the show and have a lot left to bring. Last point, I snagged some cheap preacher books from the dealer beside me....I'm starting to see the business that takes place between other dealers....
I meant to take pics but was rushed at the beginning, because I was stationed in the hall early-birds were already there and there were additional dealers that had populated the space even more. I managed to snag a great hard-plastic folding utility table for $10 and dumped my cheap long boxes across from me on the wall. I plan on using my main table to bring more boxes of just individually-priced books as I still need more inventory at the show and have a lot left to bring. Last point, I snagged some cheap preacher books from the dealer beside me....I'm starting to see the business that takes place between other dealers....
- TheeBaldMoose
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- Elveen
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Re: Setting up at shows
That is often the BIGGEST business.GGSAE wrote:Just did show #3, quite the success....Total dollar amount sold was high, 24+ times cost a lot of this was due to selling a bunch of keys/higher ticket books. I also made a group sales to a friend of mine after I told him I can accept credit
I meant to take pics but was rushed at the beginning, because I was stationed in the hall early-birds were already there and there were additional dealers that had populated the space even more. I managed to snag a great hard-plastic folding utility table for $10 and dumped my cheap long boxes across from me on the wall. I plan on using my main table to bring more boxes of just individually-priced books as I still need more inventory at the show and have a lot left to bring. Last point, I snagged some cheap preacher books from the dealer beside me....I'm starting to see the business that takes place between other dealers....
- GGSAE
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Re: Setting up at shows
You've probably seen this, but I've heard of dealers buying-out others completely. I know there's one guy down the hall from me that's selling his collection and told me he will need to make a decision shortly, either dump everything at $1 or buy more inventory. I guess that's the catch, you need to always be buying. It will be awhile before I need to make that decision, for now I'm just looking to move some stuff and try to learn something new each month.Elveen wrote:That is often the BIGGEST business.GGSAE wrote:Just did show #3, quite the success....Total dollar amount sold was high, 24+ times cost a lot of this was due to selling a bunch of keys/higher ticket books. I also made a group sales to a friend of mine after I told him I can accept credit
I meant to take pics but was rushed at the beginning, because I was stationed in the hall early-birds were already there and there were additional dealers that had populated the space even more. I managed to snag a great hard-plastic folding utility table for $10 and dumped my cheap long boxes across from me on the wall. I plan on using my main table to bring more boxes of just individually-priced books as I still need more inventory at the show and have a lot left to bring. Last point, I snagged some cheap preacher books from the dealer beside me....I'm starting to see the business that takes place between other dealers....