Best Show Table Set Up

[Raleigh504]

I have been setting up at shows the past few years along with attending them. Besides parts of the table (having items priced, QR codes sign for easy payment, cards in toploaders, etc), in your opinion, what is the best 1 table set up?

For instance, my typical table set up is 2 cases with local/star/graded/HOF players of various sports. Then 2-3 boxes of $1 cards broken out by sport and then 1 box of $2+ cards by sport.

I have seen broken out by players, by teams, by years, only $50+ card showcases, only cards under $5 to $0.10 cards.

There are a ton of ways but what works best for you and/or what do you like seeing at a 1 table set up?

[Raleigh504]

I am always trying to find ways to improve sales, move more cards and have unique types of ways to sell my cards.

I just did about 10 cards on plastic stands too outside of my cases and boxes next to my framed QR code picture of my Paypal, Instagram and eBay store

[thenightman]

Someone once told me that you should always have your best stuff right in the middle of the case; people tend to start there. Then start laying things out from top to bottom.

I don't know if this is scientifically proven, but it's worth a try if you haven't tried that.

[checkoutmydeals]

Someone once told me that you should always have your best stuff right in the middle of the case; people tend to start there. Then start laying things out from top to bottom.

Logistically, this also makes some sense with OP's setup. If the dollar boxes and $2+ boxes are next to each other, there is a high probability of cards getting mixed into the wrong boxes.

If there are boxes of $1 cards, a showcase of better stuff, and then boxes of $2+ cards, it will happen less frequently.

[longhornjunkie]

Logistically, this also makes some sense with OP's setup. If the dollar boxes and $2+ boxes are next to each other, there is a high probability of cards getting mixed into the wrong boxes.

If there are boxes of $1 cards, a showcase of better stuff, and then boxes of $2+ cards, it will happen less frequently.

This is great advice... I have not set up at a show (yet) but one of my fears is taking time to sort cards by price or team or whatever and they all get shuffled.

This also allows the bargain hunters (of which I am one) that stop down to look through the whole box to spread out and not be shoulder to shoulder or waiting on someone to move.

[KnucklePuckTime]

You could try wearing an oversized hat to bring attention to yourself.

[jamcas997]

This is great advice... I have not set up at a show (yet) but one of my fears is taking time to sort cards by price or team or whatever and they all get shuffled.

This also allows the bargain hunters (of which I am one) that stop down to look through the whole box to spread out and not be shoulder to shoulder or waiting on someone to move.


A 10 cent box unsleeved cards, $1 box all cards penny sleeved and $2 and up box toploaded and priced.

[longhornjunkie]

You could try wearing an oversized hat to bring attention to yourself.

https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2762981136.8416/flat,750x,075,f-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.jpg

[MavsRChamps]

This could be a good thread if more people respond ... I recently did my 1st show & am doing several more in the coming months. Overall to the OP - My strategy is pretty similar to yours. The big one is to separate by sport. That's more important besides anything else ... Personally the separation by teams/players is not worth it for me for a couple reasons - 1. Time to do this, 2. People can easily shuffle the cards around & the whole organization is lost, 3. I would estimate 75%+ of customers are not "team specific" when they buy cards, they just like certain players around the league, certain types of cards, looking to just get good deals, etc. Separating by team would not only be useless for these buyers, but also "less fun". Part of the fun for me when I go to shows is going through a mix of $1 and different boxes. When I have to go through cards separated by team, it's just less fun to me ...

My strategy has been basically 1 showcase, $1 Boxes separated by sports, a $5 box, and a $10 and up box (marked). Plus some random items like packs, other graded, etc. For me, the simplicity of pricing - from 1 to 5 to 10 is just easier mentally when I organize. And easy for the buyer too. Some $4 I just stick in the $5, some may go in the $1, $2/$3 just go in the $1, etc. IN my $1 box I basically have a mix of cards - some perhaps 50 cent cards, most $1-$3 sort of stuff. Common jersey cards, rookies (but not common guys to water down the box), prizm parallels, subsets/inserts, star cards. Just a mix of stuff.

*** Also to not get the cards mixed, I do this: For all the $5 and up cards, I just put a little white sticker on the top right indicating the price. Not too time consuming. I topload all the $5 and up and even some cards in the $1 box, rest penny sleeved. It's a psychological thing for me to not just "all penny sleeve" the $1 cards - it just looks less attractive for a buyer. I topload some, typically the better ones, and scatter the toploaded once throughout so they're not all in 1 spot, will get more people to look through box in my opinion.

One thing I'll add is you have to consider a customer's time and also spending power and where you want them to put it. This is why I am against for me putting a 10 cent box out. It would take maybe half the people who would normally go in the $1 box and instead they'd just search the 10 cent. So instead of say spending 20 minutes at your table going through the $1 box, 10 minutes going through $5 and up, instead they spend 15 minutes going through the 10 cent, 10 minutes going through $1, and only 5 min. looking at more expensive cards.

Though Im curious about the "pro 10 cent box" dealers out there and the reasoning for doing so. For me, it just doesn't seem to economically make sense from a financial standpoint. I could theoretically have 10 buyers look through them, pick out 20 cards each & that's just $20 ... Those same 10 buyers could spend that time in the $1 box, pick out 10 cards each & that's $100 ...

[Budler]

I have only done one show and 90% of what I sold was to other dealers. So as a seller I do not know what the best way is. As a buyer I like the 10 cent stuff, boxes to look though. When I see a case I just walk by.

For sellers I really think you should consider who your customers are. Or whom you want to sell to. The guys who spent money at your 10-cent box may not even look at your $1 box and if they do, they will ask for a discount.

The last show I went to had: One table had only boxes, packs, sets and supplies. Several had only Graded cards. One had only high dollar stuff ($100 plus). One had only Non-sport cards. ( lot of kids around him). One guy had only odd ball cards/stuff. Then the Hockey guy, One guy with only 1970 or older cards and not a lot of them (some I though was real good prices). The rest had a little of everything ($1 boxes $5 boxes, normal what I thought they would have.) Only one had 10 cent and 25 cent boxes and he was the busiest of all. The guys around the Graded cards was not around the 10 cent boxes.

There was a lot on buyers but for some reason they were not buying. Every dealer I talked to said it was a looky-loo day. (looking but not buying). This surprised me as there was a little for everyone at this show. A couple of dealers stated that the last month's show was great with fewer buyers.

[Raleigh504]

This could be a good thread if more people respond ... I recently did my 1st show & am doing several more in the coming months. Overall to the OP - My strategy is pretty similar to yours. The big one is to separate by sport. That's more important besides anything else ... Personally the separation by teams/players is not worth it for me for a couple reasons - 1. Time to do this, 2. People can easily shuffle the cards around & the whole organization is lost, 3. I would estimate 75%+ of customers are not "team specific" when they buy cards, they just like certain players around the league, certain types of cards, looking to just get good deals, etc. Separating by team would not only be useless for these buyers, but also "less fun". Part of the fun for me when I go to shows is going through a mix of $1 and different boxes. When I have to go through cards separated by team, it's just less fun to me ...

My strategy has been basically 1 showcase, $1 Boxes separated by sports, a $5 box, and a $10 and up box (marked). Plus some random items like packs, other graded, etc. For me, the simplicity of pricing - from 1 to 5 to 10 is just easier mentally when I organize. And easy for the buyer too. Some $4 I just stick in the $5, some may go in the $1, $2/$3 just go in the $1, etc. IN my $1 box I basically have a mix of cards - some perhaps 50 cent cards, most $1-$3 sort of stuff. Common jersey cards, rookies (but not common guys to water down the box), prizm parallels, subsets/inserts, star cards. Just a mix of stuff.

*** Also to not get the cards mixed, I do this: For all the $5 and up cards, I just put a little white sticker on the top right indicating the price. Not too time consuming. I topload all the $5 and up and even some cards in the $1 box, rest penny sleeved. It's a psychological thing for me to not just "all penny sleeve" the $1 cards - it just looks less attractive for a buyer. I topload some, typically the better ones, and scatter the toploaded once throughout so they're not all in 1 spot, will get more people to look through box in my opinion.

One thing I'll add is you have to consider a customer's time and also spending power and where you want them to put it. This is why I am against for me putting a 10 cent box out. It would take maybe half the people who would normally go in the $1 box and instead they'd just search the 10 cent. So instead of say spending 20 minutes at your table going through the $1 box, 10 minutes going through $5 and up, instead they spend 15 minutes going through the 10 cent, 10 minutes going through $1, and only 5 min. looking at more expensive cards.

Though Im curious about the "pro 10 cent box" dealers out there and the reasoning for doing so. For me, it just doesn't seem to economically make sense from a financial standpoint. I could theoretically have 10 buyers look through them, pick out 20 cards each & that's just $20 ... Those same 10 buyers could spend that time in the $1 box, pick out 10 cards each & that's $100 ...

Thank you and agreed if people share their thoughts/insights/reasons then it could be a good thread. I am sure there are cool ideas out there for table set-ups that could help other dealers.

My current set up is:
- 2 display cases (1 with baseball, the other mixes sports (basketball, football & random cool cards). The displays included graded and non-graded
- 3 $1 2-row shoe boxes (1 for football, 1 for baseball & 1 for basketball)
- 1 $2+ 2-row shoe box of cards that don't make the display case yet. I have large paper indicators (sticks out so easy to read) for the sport & includes the box set-up ($1 cards or $2+ cards).
- A picture frame 8x11 QR codes of my Instagram account, eBay store (with private code for 10% off) & PayPal. Sometimes internet is spotty and it helps make things go faster
- several stands with cards that are not good enough to go into the cases but don't want to put in the $2+ box.

My potential set up is:
- same with the display cases
- only do 3 2-row shoe boxes broken out by sport with prices marked (anything not marked is $1).
- still do the stands and picture frame (will get more stands).

I seems most people will go through all the boxes or none. Very rarely I see people ONLY go through the dollar or ONLY for the over dollar box.

[Raleigh504]

I have only done one show and 90% of what I sold was to other dealers. So as a seller I do not know what the best way is. As a buyer I like the 10 cent stuff, boxes to look though. When I see a case I just walk by.

For sellers I really think you should consider who your customers are. Or whom you want to sell to. The guys who spent money at your 10-cent box may not even look at your $1 box and if they do, they will ask for a discount.

The last show I went to had: One table had only boxes, packs, sets and supplies. Several had only Graded cards. One had only high dollar stuff ($100 plus). One had only Non-sport cards. ( lot of kids around him). One guy had only odd ball cards/stuff. Then the Hockey guy, One guy with only 1970 or older cards and not a lot of them (some I though was real good prices). The rest had a little of everything ($1 boxes $5 boxes, normal what I thought they would have.) Only one had 10 cent and 25 cent boxes and he was the busiest of all. The guys around the Graded cards was not around the 10 cent boxes.

There was a lot on buyers but for some reason they were not buying. Every dealer I talked to said it was a looky-loo day. (looking but not buying). This surprised me as there was a little for everyone at this show. A couple of dealers stated that the last month's show was great with fewer buyers.

For me it is hard to have something people would look for since every show is different. I have done well and poorly with all different options (quarter boxes, $1 boxes, graded, higher end, etc.). I always look to improve what I have and won't be setting up to another show until next year.

I have seen people with display cases that have it cracked open (with a piece of wood or plexiglass. One idea I thought of would be to get said wood I have laying around the house and putting it under the display cases to prop it up so it is angled to the buyer. I would need to put it under the corners so it won't topple over.

[theoneilfactor]

For me it is hard to have something people would look for since every show is different. I have done well and poorly with all different options (quarter boxes, $1 boxes, graded, higher end, etc.). I always look to improve what I have and won't be setting up to another show until next year.

I have seen people with display cases that have it cracked open (with a piece of wood or plexiglass. One idea I thought of would be to get said wood I have laying around the house and putting it under the display cases to prop it up so it is angled to the buyer. I would need to put it under the corners so it won't topple over.

One thing I do is separate my bargain boxes by team. I’ll put $1, $2, $3, and $5 cards and put stickers on the penny sleeves to show the price. It’s a ton of work but my bargain boxes get alot more business because of the organization. Most people and respectful enough to put the cards back in the correct spot

[checkoutmydeals]

Though Im curious about the "pro 10 cent box" dealers out there and the reasoning for doing so. For me, it just doesn't seem to economically make sense from a financial standpoint. I could theoretically have 10 buyers look through them, pick out 20 cards each & that's just $20 ... Those same 10 buyers could spend that time in the $1 box, pick out 10 cards each & that's $100 ...

The main problem I have with a 10 cent box is that some people will search for hours to find the ultimate 10 cent card, at the end of which they will spend 10 cents.

One way around this is to make it a higher price, say 25 cents for 1 card, and then have a 100 count box or so (or the lid from a 100 count box), where the deal is that they can fill the box and get the entire pile for $10. You might even have a 300 count box they can fill for $20 or an 800 count box they could fill for $50.

They might try to cherry pick, but as time goes on, they'll be less selective about what they put in the box. Eventually, they'll throw in practically anything just to fill it up.

[Budler]

Though Im curious about the "pro 10 cent box" dealers out there and the reasoning for doing so. For me, it just doesn't seem to economically make sense from a financial standpoint. I could theoretically have 10 buyers look through them, pick out 20 cards each & that's just $20 ... Those same 10 buyers could spend that time in the $1 box, pick out 10 cards each & that's $100 ...

The main problem I have with a 10 cent box is that some people will search for hours to find the ultimate 10 cent card, at the end of which they will spend 10 cents.

One way around this is to make it a higher price, say 25 cents for 1 card, and then have a 100 count box or so (or the lid from a 100 count box), where the deal is that they can fill the box and get the entire pile for $10. You might even have a 300 count box they can fill for $20 or an 800 count box they could fill for $50.

They might try to cherry pick, but as time goes on, they'll be less selective about what they put in the box. Eventually, they'll throw in practically anything just to fill it up.


Some time back I dealer I know allowed his son a table at a show he was doing. 4 boxes of 5000 cards (commons). Priced 5 cent each BUT a MIN of $5 purchase. At the end of 2 days the son had a little over $200

[beauspencer]

The main problem I have with a 10 cent box is that some people will search for hours to find the ultimate 10 cent card, at the end of which they will spend 10 cents.

I do 25 cent boxes. Typically between 20 and 30 four-row boxes. Very, very rarely do I have anyone pick out just a couple cards. My inventory for quarter boxes is always acquired for between a half penny to (at most) a nickel per card. On average, a penny per card.