Topps Sold a Lot of Cards in First Quarter of 2021

[bryanscs]

Here is a link detailing some of Topps' sales numbers that I though was interesting:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...Z9Q7cU3ptJKMVU

For those that don't want to click the link:

Topps’ sales of trading cards and other physical elements in its Sports and Entertainment divisions were up by 101.7% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. While that number includes much more than baseball cards, it’s safe to say there were plenty of buyers for the company’s products.

In a regulatory filing Tuesday, Topps stated that the company’s net sales for digital products also more than doubled from the year before.

In all, Topps’ net sales increased by $59.3 million to a total of $166.6 million in the quarter, defined as a 13-week period that ended April 3.

Those numbers moved the company to anticipate that overall net sales for 2021 will be “in the range of $740 million to $760 million, representing an increase of 31% to 34% over 2020 net sales of $567 million.”

Topps’ business includes not just sports and entertainment physical and digital trading cards, but also candy products and a gift card fulfillment division. Sports and Entertainment is the bulk of the business, though, accounting for $103.1 million of the $166.6 million company total in Q1.

Topps says its consolidated gross margin improved 200 basis points, to 39.4% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 37.4% the year before. Topps is apparently selling a lot of cards and other items through its website. “The improvement mainly reflected a mix shift of net sales to e-commerce in Physical Sports & Entertainment, partially offset by higher freight costs and a mix shift to higher cost products in Confections,” the company reported.

[Timsterino]

Originally Posted by bryanscs

Here is a link detailing some of Topps' sales numbers that I though was interesting:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...Z9Q7cU3ptJKMVU

For those that don't want to click the link:

Topps’ sales of trading cards and other physical elements in its Sports and Entertainment divisions were up by 101.7% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. While that number includes much more than baseball cards, it’s safe to say there were plenty of buyers for the company’s products.

In a regulatory filing Tuesday, Topps stated that the company’s net sales for digital products also more than doubled from the year before.

In all, Topps’ net sales increased by $59.3 million to a total of $166.6 million in the quarter, defined as a 13-week period that ended April 3.

Those numbers moved the company to anticipate that overall net sales for 2021 will be “in the range of $740 million to $760 million, representing an increase of 31% to 34% over 2020 net sales of $567 million.”

Topps’ business includes not just sports and entertainment physical and digital trading cards, but also candy products and a gift card fulfillment division. Sports and Entertainment is the bulk of the business, though, accounting for $103.1 million of the $166.6 million company total in Q1.

Topps says its consolidated gross margin improved 200 basis points, to 39.4% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 37.4% the year before. Topps is apparently selling a lot of cards and other items through its website. “The improvement mainly reflected a mix shift of net sales to e-commerce in Physical Sports & Entertainment, partially offset by higher freight costs and a mix shift to higher cost products in Confections,” the company reported.

This is why we will have a Project 2022.

[ThoseBackPages]

and why Wander gets the Call Up stamp on todays NOW

[pewe]

Surprising how low their gross margins are… guess their licensing agreements must take a big bite


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[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by pewe

Surprising how low their gross margins are… guess their licensing agreements must take a big bite


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always.

[80s Kid]

How hard would it be for Topps to get the NFL or NBA back now that they will be public? Going to be really hard for them to match this years revenue with just their current properties.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by 80s Kid

How hard would it be for Topps to get the NFL or NBA back now that they will be public? Going to be really hard for them to match this years revenue with just their current properties.

That’s why a lot Of people think they will got for those licenses.

[SupermanBrandon]

Imagine that. Topps sells a ton more cards w/ their S1 products. Who knew? Let's see...put the biggest touted prospect in years, during a giant hobby boom in our S1 product (and everything in 2022 w/ a RC logo) or jam him into our least produced flagship product thats already been sold to distributors (Update). Yeah...I Wander which will they do?

[pewe]

Originally Posted by 80s Kid

How hard would it be for Topps to get the NFL or NBA back now that they will be public? Going to be really hard for them to match this years revenue with just their current properties.

Guessing they tried, but because the sports leagues learned having one licensee was better, it’s raised the license price to an unattractive level. More specifically, I’d bet the economics of the football and basketball licenses are dilutive to their margins. Plus much more volatile, smaller, and at an unsustainable peak right now.

I’d guess Topps is mostly looking to expand its digital and direct business, and will probably not end up with NFL or NBA licenses any time soon.


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[pewe]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Imagine that. Topps sells a ton more cards w/ their S1 products. Who knew? Let's see...put the biggest touted prospect in years, during a giant hobby boom in our S1 product (and everything in 2022 w/ a RC logo) or jam him into our least produced flagship product thats already been sold to distributors (Update). Yeah...I Wander which will they do?

Will update be as bad this year as it was in ‘20???


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[actionbryan]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Imagine that. Topps sells a ton more cards w/ their S1 products. Who knew? Let's see...put the biggest touted prospect in years, during a giant hobby boom in our S1 product (and everything in 2022 w/ a RC logo) or jam him into our least produced flagship product thats already been sold to distributors (Update). Yeah...I Wander which will they do?

I want to see him in 21 Update so bad that I am hoping this is wrong, that any specific player is a more of a micro decision than we realize, and topps thinks macro.

It's not like Topps sales need any specific players help anyways, we will buy anything. And we do.

And they know they will make a boatload on Wander through topps now

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by pewe

Will update be as bad this year as it was in ‘20???


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Kelenic might be in Update, and if he is, ‘21 Update will exactly 5 million times better than ‘20 Update.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by bryanscs

Here is a link detailing some of Topps' sales numbers that I though was interesting:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...Z9Q7cU3ptJKMVU

For those that don't want to click the link:

Topps’ sales of trading cards and other physical elements in its Sports and Entertainment divisions were up by 101.7% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. While that number includes much more than baseball cards, it’s safe to say there were plenty of buyers for the company’s products.

In a regulatory filing Tuesday, Topps stated that the company’s net sales for digital products also more than doubled from the year before.

In all, Topps’ net sales increased by $59.3 million to a total of $166.6 million in the quarter, defined as a 13-week period that ended April 3.

Those numbers moved the company to anticipate that overall net sales for 2021 will be “in the range of $740 million to $760 million, representing an increase of 31% to 34% over 2020 net sales of $567 million.”

Topps’ business includes not just sports and entertainment physical and digital trading cards, but also candy products and a gift card fulfillment division. Sports and Entertainment is the bulk of the business, though, accounting for $103.1 million of the $166.6 million company total in Q1.

Topps says its consolidated gross margin improved 200 basis points, to 39.4% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 37.4% the year before. Topps is apparently selling a lot of cards and other items through its website. “The improvement mainly reflected a mix shift of net sales to e-commerce in Physical Sports & Entertainment, partially offset by higher freight costs and a mix shift to higher cost products in Confections,” the company reported.

That seems about right given the rate at which Topps is developing and selling D-to-C product lines (Topps Now, Project 70, Topps Living, Montgomery Club, Throwback Thursdays, On-Demand, etc.).

[80s Kid]

Originally Posted by actionbryan

I want to see him in 21 Update so bad that I am hoping this is wrong, that any specific player is a more of a micro decision than we realize, and topps thinks macro.

It's not like Topps sales need any specific players help anyways, we will buy anything. And we do.

And they know they will make a boatload on Wander through topps now

Unfortunately, they don’t need the hype this year for Update. He’ll be the flagship 2022 rookie to push all products. There will be a huge revenue headwind because of the boom from this year, and their 2022 sets will need to fire on every cylinder.

Even with Wander, they are going to have to get very creative, or purchase more licenses, to increase revenue next year. They certainly aren’t going to see 35%+ revenue increase without more product.

[SupermanBrandon]

Originally Posted by actionbryan

I want to see him in 21 Update so bad that I am hoping this is wrong, that any specific player is a more of a micro decision than we realize, and topps thinks macro.

It's not like Topps sales need any specific players help anyways, we will buy anything. And we do.

And they know they will make a boatload on Wander through topps now

I want his RC logo cards so bad I can taste it too. But the amount of money Topps will make by putting him in '22 vs '21 Update is astronomically light years apart. The amount of '22 product they can print w/ him in S1 can be drastically more than this past years pr.

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by pewe

Will update be as bad this year as it was in ‘20???


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Impossible IMO
The number of possible impact RCs eligible for 21 Update already dwarves the list from last year. It should be at least a standard "ok" release as far as rookies go.

[kabrune2]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

I want his RC logo cards so bad I can taste it too. But the amount of money Topps will make by putting him in '22 vs '21 Update is astronomically light years apart. The amount of '22 product they can print w/ him in S1 can be drastically more than this past years pr.

Topps doesn’t give AF about us plain and simple, their lack of ethics is mind blowing. Wander won’t be a rookie in 2022, he’ll easily surpass the 125 PA qualification over the next 30-35 games. The hobby is a cesspool, and Topps just keeps shitting in the cesspool. there are a ton more sellers than buyers so the market is continuing to drop by 10% each month from its highs, and mark my word, 2022 S1 will be so overproduced you’ll buy it for less that retail by the 2022 all-Star break, even with a Wander RC. That’s assuming there’s a baseball season.

[pewe]

Originally Posted by kabrune2

Topps doesn’t give AF about us plain and simple, their lack of ethics is mind blowing. Wander won’t be a rookie in 2022, he’ll easily surpass the 125 PA qualification over the next 30-35 games. The hobby is a cesspool, and Topps just keeps shitting in the cesspool. there are a ton more sellers than buyers so the market is continuing to drop by 10% each month from its highs, and mark my word, 2022 S1 will be so overproduced you’ll buy it for less that retail by the 2022 all-Star break, even with a Wander RC. That’s assuming there’s a baseball season.

They hold back hot players for series 1 all the time… this is how Bregman was in ‘17 and Devers in ‘18


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[kabrune2]

Originally Posted by pewe

They hold back hot players for series 1 all the time… this is how Bregman was in ‘17 and Devers in ‘18


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And it’s not unethical how? Just because Topps keeps manipulating RC logos doesn’t make it right. This is why MLB/MLBPA needs to step in, and why competition would be a good thing, imagine Topps not putting an RC logo on Wander in 2021 but Upper Deck and Panini did in their 2021 releases.

[ThoseBackPages]

[SupermanBrandon]

Originally Posted by kabrune2

And it’s not unethical how? Just because Topps keeps manipulating RC logos doesn’t make it right. This is why MLB/MLBPA needs to step in, and why competition would be a good thing, imagine Topps not putting an RC logo on Wander in 2021 but Upper Deck and Panini did in their 2021 releases.

Yeh it sucks. MLB doesn't give 2 craps about a RC logo. Let's all remember that 99% of the outlets involved in our hobby, are businesses. They are in business...to make money! The collectors are the only aspect of the entire hobby, that it's a hobby for.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by kabrune2

Topps doesn’t give AF about us plain and simple, their lack of ethics is mind blowing. Wander won’t be a rookie in 2022, he’ll easily surpass the 125 PA qualification over the next 30-35 games. The hobby is a cesspool, and Topps just keeps shitting in the cesspool. there are a ton more sellers than buyers so the market is continuing to drop by 10% each month from its highs, and mark my word, 2022 S1 will be so overproduced you’ll buy it for less that retail by the 2022 all-Star break, even with a Wander RC. That’s assuming there’s a baseball season.

It’s the Topps equivalent of manipulating a player’s MLB service time!

Topps indeed takes advantage of collectors and collecting to cater to the more lucrative flippers who are even easier to take advantage of.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by kabrune2

And it’s not unethical how? Just because Topps keeps manipulating RC logos doesn’t make it right. This is why MLB/MLBPA needs to step in, and why competition would be a good thing, imagine Topps not putting an RC logo on Wander in 2021 but Upper Deck and Panini did in their 2021 releases.

The mlbpa gets 21 million in royalties from Topps. Like they want to make less money.

[roush16racing]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Impossible IMO
The number of possible impact RCs eligible for 21 Update already dwarves the list from last year. It should be at least a standard "ok" release as far as rookies go.

It does?

[Technochocolate]

People need to look at the calendar. And think of the time it takes to, for example, come to an agreement with a player for autos. Then to print the cards, ship out, get back, and pack out. And also of all the product design time.

Sure, jam Wander in Update. But at the cost of no or very few RC autos in products, and with no Wander RC in basically any other product other than Update (and the occasional late-season product, there's 2 or 3 December releases for example).

Do you want a world where Wander's only RC content across all products is just in Update? Do you want to repeat the Trout RC craze?