BREAKING NEWS- This Just In- Kids Don't Buy Sports Cards

[doniceage]

A survey, in conjunction with the upcoming Industry Trade Summit in Las Vegas, as reported by Sports Collector's Daily, revealed that "88 percent (of hobby shops)–report that those under the age of 17 comprise less than ten percent of their current customer base."

So does this, on its own, mean kids aren't buying sports cards? Absolutely not, and I'll tell you why. The results from that poll question can also be worded, "Ten percent of parents whose children collect sports cards, drive them to a local card shop."

http://www.voiceofthecollector.com/2...kids-dont.html

[xdacostax]

Well I did see a dad with 4 boxes of hockey retail hockey boxes in his basket while at toys r us. I mean card shops are rare compared to wal-marts and toys r us.
Actually it was a Wal-mart that got me back into collecting cards last month. Since i am old enough to drive i found my local card shop and go there now.
Wow that`s funny now that I think of it.

[shadeslayer]

Yea, kids buy cards at target,wal-mart or toys r us. never seen one at my LCS

[StadiumSportsCard]

Kids do buy sports cards but I would agree that the majority of collectors are adults. That is certainly what we see in the store. I would also say that more kids buy gaming cards than adults (although we sell very few gaming cards - not our thing).

When I look back when I was a kid, I collected sports cards until those evil girls caught my eye. Then I needed a mustang - and those evil girls. Then kids came, etc.... Then at some point, I got the disposable income to collect again - to the point where I am today.

I think collecting is a circle - one that gets revisited.

I also think kids play more video games than being outside playing road hockey or baseball.

I do also think that the internet will bring more kids back into collecting.

[geschrocks33]

Kids collect cards, just not like we do. they pick up a retail pack here and there when their mom lets them or when they have their allowance at Target. their collection is oh cool I got this player that plays for my hometown team, or cool I got an Ovechkin/Crosby card

Now on the other hand I'm sure there are a few kids that collect like us collectors on here, and I know there are a few kids among us on here.

I'm only 18, so I'm not exactly a kid anymore, but still fairly young and I have what I think to be a pretty serious collection

[hossa18sens]

When you go to the Expo I would say 10% is close.

But on the other hand I wonder how many shop owners have tunnel vision. Do they remember the 3 kids that spend $4.00 each or just the 1 big kid that spends $400.00. The key is to treat the 3 kids the same as the big kid..... someday they will have the $400

[geschrocks33]

I can tell you my shop owner, at least the one I go to the most counts every single kid, whether he's buying a pack of Victory, or spending a ton of money. I see it day in and day out, he's always helping little kids, giving them stuff.

There's probably like a 10 year old kid who just kid the set of MVP and was working on collectors choice, and my shop owner just gave him some cards he needed, opened packs to try and get the final MVP cards, etc, etc. ALL shop owners should be like that

[FrankToronto]

A lot of interesting points are made in that blog. However, it doesn't make sense that you can read into the results that kids are really buying sports cards today as they once were.

By suggesting that "10% of parents whose children collect sports cards drive them to a local card shop" and therefore 90% are buying them at big box stores does not mean that sports cards are mainstream among kids today as they were 20 years ago.

Over 20 years ago, the video game industry was an emerging market. Gaming cards eventually came onto the scene as an emerging market. Now those industries are more mature and still growing. Meanwhile, the sports card industry has shrunk substantially since the early 90's. When you read that Topps is investing heavily in their Attax line or the trading card game market, it doesn't mean it's because kids today are big on collecting sports cards. It means that kids still love sports and have been won over by gaming cards. So now in order to get them to collect sports cards, they need to combine sports with gaming cards.

On another note, in the comments "Tunguska" makes some really great points that would benefit the hobby and LCS's.

[blueshirtfan2136]

A lot of interesting points are made in that blog. However, it doesn't make sense that you can read into the results that kids are really buying sports cards today as they once were.

By suggesting that "10% of parents whose children collect sports cards drive them to a local card shop" and therefore 90% are buying them at big box stores does not mean that sports cards are mainstream among kids today as they were 20 years ago.

Over 20 years ago, the video game industry was an emerging market. Gaming cards eventually came onto the scene as an emerging market. Now those industries are more mature and still growing. Meanwhile, the sports card industry has shrunk substantially since the early 90's. When you read that Topps is investing heavily in their Attax line or the trading card game market, it doesn't mean it's because kids today are big on collecting sports cards. It means that kids still love sports and have been won over by gaming cards. So now in order to get them to collect sports cards, they need to combine sports with gaming cards.

On another note, in the comments "Tunguska" makes some really great points that would benefit the hobby and LCS's.

Wizards of the coast tried that already with MLB showdown. It didn't take

[gosens151911]

They also tried it for hockey a while back. Managed to pick up a bunch at a garage sale, interesting concept, but doesn't work out too well with hockey.