Distribution Network Tells Summit Retailers: "No more ‘blind eye’ toward distributio

[doniceage]

LAS VEGAS, NV – Panini America executives stunned more than 100 hobby retailers at The Industry Summit by announcing sweeping, comprehensive changes to the company’s distribution network.

“These are things we’ve wanted to do for 10 years,’’ said Mike Anderson, Panini VP. “We are no longer turning a blind eye to the problem that has been killing margins for hobby stores.’’

http://cardcornerclub.net/

[montej1695]

Great premise, but will never succeed in execution.

[Velvet Hoop]

As far as I can tell, what's being proposed is essentially enforcing a minimum advertised price to help hobby shops compete with online distributors. I'm going to go ahead and assume that means raising the price online distributors charge for boxes rather than lowering the cost of boxes to hobby shops. If that's the case, the price of boxes will go up, less people will buy boxes, and it will seriously upset the status quo of collecting.

I hope I'm wrong and they're going to sell the boxes cheaper to hobby shops so they can run with the online distributors, but I'm not holding my breath.

[whalechaser]

As far as I can tell, what's being proposed is essentially enforcing a minimum advertised price to help hobby shops compete with online distributors. I'm going to go ahead and assume that means raising the price online distributors charge for boxes rather than lowering the cost of boxes to hobby shops. If that's the case, the price of boxes will go up, less people will buy boxes, and it will seriously upset the status quo of collecting.

I hope I'm wrong and they're going to sell the boxes cheaper to hobby shops so they can run with the online distributors, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think you are right and prices for online boxes will be raised, at least that's the sense I'm getting from the article too.

Thanks Panini, you're great and a savior to the hobby!

[GilbertArenas0]

I don't see this panning out. Upper Deck tried this a few years ago, and like in traditional UD fashion, they failed miserably.

If it price increases do happen, maybe collectors can stop talking junk and actually stop buying boxes. That can help the hobby a little bit.