Costume Jewelry – A Lucrative Hobby
Chris Larson asked:
Many people discredit costume jewelry as a decent moneymaker. They like to think of collecting it as a simple hobby, and nothing more than that. A true collector, however, will tell you that costume jewelry can be a lucrative business just like any other hobby.
My friend Travis grew up very involved in sports, specifically basketball. From age 6 until age 16, he was on the basketball team at school. Near the end of his elementary school days, he discovered basketball cards. He realized that it was a way for him to collect the pictures and stats of the basketball players he adored so much when watching the game on television. By the time he ended high school, he had built up a substantial collection. Around this time, Travis found out how profitable his basketball cards could be and began to sell them in the local card shops for money. Years later, he used internet sites to buy more cards, advertise his personal collection and sell his purchases for a profit.
Just like Travis’ basketball cards, costume jewelry can make people a great deal of money. All you have to do is work at it and know what it is you’re selling. If you’re skeptical to start buying costume jewelry right away, make sure you learn about it first. Learn the do’s and don’ts of online buying and selling as it pertains to fashion jewelry. There are many guides on the internet that can help you out. You just have to look for them.
Well, it’s needless to say that Travis is a very rich man today. To think, it all started with a little hobby like collecting basketball cards. Looks like the skeptics were wrong about that one. Why don’t you give it a go with costume jewelry? You might make a lot of money. Hey, at least you tried, right? What have you got to lose? In the end, you just might prove those skeptics wrong.
Many people discredit costume jewelry as a decent moneymaker. They like to think of collecting it as a simple hobby, and nothing more than that. A true collector, however, will tell you that costume jewelry can be a lucrative business just like any other hobby.
My friend Travis grew up very involved in sports, specifically basketball. From age 6 until age 16, he was on the basketball team at school. Near the end of his elementary school days, he discovered basketball cards. He realized that it was a way for him to collect the pictures and stats of the basketball players he adored so much when watching the game on television. By the time he ended high school, he had built up a substantial collection. Around this time, Travis found out how profitable his basketball cards could be and began to sell them in the local card shops for money. Years later, he used internet sites to buy more cards, advertise his personal collection and sell his purchases for a profit.
Just like Travis’ basketball cards, costume jewelry can make people a great deal of money. All you have to do is work at it and know what it is you’re selling. If you’re skeptical to start buying costume jewelry right away, make sure you learn about it first. Learn the do’s and don’ts of online buying and selling as it pertains to fashion jewelry. There are many guides on the internet that can help you out. You just have to look for them.
Well, it’s needless to say that Travis is a very rich man today. To think, it all started with a little hobby like collecting basketball cards. Looks like the skeptics were wrong about that one. Why don’t you give it a go with costume jewelry? You might make a lot of money. Hey, at least you tried, right? What have you got to lose? In the end, you just might prove those skeptics wrong.
Upper Deck Baseball Cards – 1988 Happy Anniversary!
Delio Jimenez asked:
Upper Deck baseball cards, 1989 marked the release of this hi-tech (at the time) product. But few people know that the Upper Deck baseball product, issued cards used to market their cards in 1988. Years later these cards also paved the way, for what we now have come to learn are “Promo cards”.
In 1988, a few players were part of the original marketing product, and those players were Wally Joyner and Dwayne DeWitt, and they were actually featured in 2 Upper Deck baseball cards released that year. Those cards had one purpose, to fuel the interest in the Upper Deck product. Although all of the product sold out and quickly, clearly it was not because of the poster boys but rather the hype that surrounded the Upper Deck company.
In a time, where there was some counterfeiting going on in the sports card industry. These baseball cards offered a hologram (on the back right hand corner) that was to be tamper proof. The actual poster boy for the 1989 Upper Deck baseball product quickly became Ken Griffey Jr. You can say what you like about the Upper Deck baseball product but Ken Griffey Jr. did not disappoint.
In fact it is hard to believe, that with his record over 600 home-runs, Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Upper Deck rookie baseball card can be had relatively cheap. Hard to believe that at one time, Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most amazing center fielders to ever have played the game, Ken Griffey Jr. is no longer a hobby favorite in all areas of the country, but a 600 plus home-run all-star none the less.
How many home-runs could he have hit? Had he not been injured for about 4 years totaling all of his trips to the disabled list. Maybe 750, I guess we will never know. For argument sake, I will say respectively 35 home-runs a year. Ken Griffey Jr. is still playing, the Chicago White Sox are probably going to bring him back, there are your 750 imaginary home-runs!
Their 1989 baseball product is loaded with plenty of future Hall of Fame candidates, I do not believe that John Smoltz will have any problems getting in when his time is up, being the only player to have led the National League in wins one year and saves another. I have a hard time making a case for Gary Sheffield, boy it seems that controversy always follows him, but still his career numbers are nice. Being the nephew of Dwight Gooden, you can see where the genes come from.
The 1989 Upper Deck baseball product is loaded with error cards as well, many more than I can ever list here but there are a few reverse negative photos out there. The Dale Murphy card being the more favorite and most expensive. Ungraded copies of these still sell in the $20.00 range.
All in all, I like the Upper Deck baseball product the cards grade very nicely if you are opening up the wax product or factory sets and I have had some fun chasing the error cards, but I am not ready to put this set in the top 5 baseball card sets of modern day baseball cards. Just my opinion.
Upper Deck baseball cards, 1989 marked the release of this hi-tech (at the time) product. But few people know that the Upper Deck baseball product, issued cards used to market their cards in 1988. Years later these cards also paved the way, for what we now have come to learn are “Promo cards”.
In 1988, a few players were part of the original marketing product, and those players were Wally Joyner and Dwayne DeWitt, and they were actually featured in 2 Upper Deck baseball cards released that year. Those cards had one purpose, to fuel the interest in the Upper Deck product. Although all of the product sold out and quickly, clearly it was not because of the poster boys but rather the hype that surrounded the Upper Deck company.
In a time, where there was some counterfeiting going on in the sports card industry. These baseball cards offered a hologram (on the back right hand corner) that was to be tamper proof. The actual poster boy for the 1989 Upper Deck baseball product quickly became Ken Griffey Jr. You can say what you like about the Upper Deck baseball product but Ken Griffey Jr. did not disappoint.
In fact it is hard to believe, that with his record over 600 home-runs, Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Upper Deck rookie baseball card can be had relatively cheap. Hard to believe that at one time, Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most amazing center fielders to ever have played the game, Ken Griffey Jr. is no longer a hobby favorite in all areas of the country, but a 600 plus home-run all-star none the less.
How many home-runs could he have hit? Had he not been injured for about 4 years totaling all of his trips to the disabled list. Maybe 750, I guess we will never know. For argument sake, I will say respectively 35 home-runs a year. Ken Griffey Jr. is still playing, the Chicago White Sox are probably going to bring him back, there are your 750 imaginary home-runs!
Their 1989 baseball product is loaded with plenty of future Hall of Fame candidates, I do not believe that John Smoltz will have any problems getting in when his time is up, being the only player to have led the National League in wins one year and saves another. I have a hard time making a case for Gary Sheffield, boy it seems that controversy always follows him, but still his career numbers are nice. Being the nephew of Dwight Gooden, you can see where the genes come from.
The 1989 Upper Deck baseball product is loaded with error cards as well, many more than I can ever list here but there are a few reverse negative photos out there. The Dale Murphy card being the more favorite and most expensive. Ungraded copies of these still sell in the $20.00 range.
All in all, I like the Upper Deck baseball product the cards grade very nicely if you are opening up the wax product or factory sets and I have had some fun chasing the error cards, but I am not ready to put this set in the top 5 baseball card sets of modern day baseball cards. Just my opinion.
Sport Cards Values Increase With Season’s Kickoff! Are You Ready For Some Football?
Delio Jimenez asked:
Sports card values are driven by the old “what have you done for me lately!”…Try selling a Chicago Cubs baseball card now, you get the picture. I was enjoying success selling Chicago Cubs memorabilia and cards when they were the team with the best record in the National league, now ouch!!!
Just like trying to sell a RC (rookie card) of Daniel Murphy, The NY Mets Phenom during their latest collapsed playoff run, try selling one now. I not making jokes! I am a suffering NY Mets fan, I have a hole in my bedroom wall to prove it!!! Oh well, another trip to Lowe’s, but you get the picture.
I am going to write a few articles to give my perspective on how to handle your card collection, once you dust the old trading cards off, I will show you a nice way to drum up some funds during the recession.
The sports card value is an every day changing affair, things that influence pricing is of course the new release of a product, and the highly anticipated card of that college, or recruited stud. Most of the time, they hog up the card dollars over old faithfuls like The Nolan Ryan Express, Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Brett Favre, Michael Jordan or any other names that fan flames in sports card collecting.
In my opinion, sports card collecting is a lost art, most people get into it because they think they can turn a quick profit, but in reality the profit part should come after you learn to appreciate the art, and of course learn the do’s and dont’s of card grading. Sports card values increase drastically with the grading element. PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators), BGS (Beckett Grading), Gai (Global Authenticators), SGC (Sports Card Guarantee), to name the more popular.
If your collection spreads vastly from the 1950’s to 1980’s, then PSA is the way to go. Take it from me, my loyalty to BGS has cost me in my profitizing efforts with vintage cards. BGS grades vintage too, they use the BVG label (Beckett Vintage Grading), but they just fall short with the true vintage collectors. I speak with conviction, I currently have a Nolan Ryan and the NY Mets celebrate Topps 1970 card up for sale on Ebay #290261812156. The card came back graded by BVG as an 8. The card has generated little to none interest during the peak of baseball season, yet my highest offer for the card was $90.00.
During the next 2 weeks, I will be conducting an experiment with PSA, they just don’t know it. I will be submitting that same card for a cross-over to PSA. I am quite confident that the card will come back as a PSA 9 or above. I am also quite sure that the card would fetch $400.00 plus. Baseball season or not.
I will be reporting my findings here in an article. I have done this before and the result has always been the same cross-over to PSA for vintage cards equals more money. Anyway, I will post findings here in EzineArticles the minute the card is returned to me. BGS, while very good in quality and communication, does lack the fact that collectors across the world have many more vintage cards to choose from that are already graded by PSA making their respective registry sets so much easier to complete.
I do utilize BGS for modern day cards of all sports, the newer generation of sports card values are best obtained by BGS in my opinion. For one they offer more monetary incentives and more often, with specials in all of their books as well as their web site. I have been collecting cards for about 35 years and grading cards for the better part of 9 years and I have experienced many things with the process both good and bad. I hope this information helps some of you that are trying to determine whether or not to have your cards graded, it should offer you piece of mind in the conservation of a collection and if done right, it will also increase your overall collection value.
Sports card values are driven by the old “what have you done for me lately!”…Try selling a Chicago Cubs baseball card now, you get the picture. I was enjoying success selling Chicago Cubs memorabilia and cards when they were the team with the best record in the National league, now ouch!!!
Just like trying to sell a RC (rookie card) of Daniel Murphy, The NY Mets Phenom during their latest collapsed playoff run, try selling one now. I not making jokes! I am a suffering NY Mets fan, I have a hole in my bedroom wall to prove it!!! Oh well, another trip to Lowe’s, but you get the picture.
I am going to write a few articles to give my perspective on how to handle your card collection, once you dust the old trading cards off, I will show you a nice way to drum up some funds during the recession.
The sports card value is an every day changing affair, things that influence pricing is of course the new release of a product, and the highly anticipated card of that college, or recruited stud. Most of the time, they hog up the card dollars over old faithfuls like The Nolan Ryan Express, Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Brett Favre, Michael Jordan or any other names that fan flames in sports card collecting.
In my opinion, sports card collecting is a lost art, most people get into it because they think they can turn a quick profit, but in reality the profit part should come after you learn to appreciate the art, and of course learn the do’s and dont’s of card grading. Sports card values increase drastically with the grading element. PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators), BGS (Beckett Grading), Gai (Global Authenticators), SGC (Sports Card Guarantee), to name the more popular.
If your collection spreads vastly from the 1950’s to 1980’s, then PSA is the way to go. Take it from me, my loyalty to BGS has cost me in my profitizing efforts with vintage cards. BGS grades vintage too, they use the BVG label (Beckett Vintage Grading), but they just fall short with the true vintage collectors. I speak with conviction, I currently have a Nolan Ryan and the NY Mets celebrate Topps 1970 card up for sale on Ebay #290261812156. The card came back graded by BVG as an 8. The card has generated little to none interest during the peak of baseball season, yet my highest offer for the card was $90.00.
During the next 2 weeks, I will be conducting an experiment with PSA, they just don’t know it. I will be submitting that same card for a cross-over to PSA. I am quite confident that the card will come back as a PSA 9 or above. I am also quite sure that the card would fetch $400.00 plus. Baseball season or not.
I will be reporting my findings here in an article. I have done this before and the result has always been the same cross-over to PSA for vintage cards equals more money. Anyway, I will post findings here in EzineArticles the minute the card is returned to me. BGS, while very good in quality and communication, does lack the fact that collectors across the world have many more vintage cards to choose from that are already graded by PSA making their respective registry sets so much easier to complete.
I do utilize BGS for modern day cards of all sports, the newer generation of sports card values are best obtained by BGS in my opinion. For one they offer more monetary incentives and more often, with specials in all of their books as well as their web site. I have been collecting cards for about 35 years and grading cards for the better part of 9 years and I have experienced many things with the process both good and bad. I hope this information helps some of you that are trying to determine whether or not to have your cards graded, it should offer you piece of mind in the conservation of a collection and if done right, it will also increase your overall collection value.
How Sports Trading Cards Have Inspired New Fantasy Types of Cards and Games For Children
Connor R Sullivan asked:
Collecting baseball or football cards has been a longtime hobby for a lot collectors in the past. Although many kids enjoyed buying these cards every once in a while the real collectors of these sports cards tend to be adults because they have the means to support that hobby. New trends of collecting cards came from these sports cards and have hit the new profitable market of gearing towards kids. This article will touch on some of these card collecting hobbies that are geared to the younger generations and how they have been very profitable.
The first game that emerged were cards that featured different characters from a thing called Pokemon. This cartoon looking characters that had a mystical and anime type of style were being sold in small packs of 5-6 cards. They only sold certain characters and some were harder to find than others. Soon, kids were begging their parents for more packs of cards to see if they could get the more rare characters. They made huge binders to store their cards in and often spent time playing with their friends in which they would trade cards back and forth. This phenomenon took off as a popular craze and has now evolved in more things than just trading cards.
Pokemon has entered the digital and technological age to continue to stay popular with the kids. They have a website full of information about everything Pokemon as well as video games and even cartoon shows that bring the stories and characters from the trading cards to life. Although the trading cards phenomenon has died down a bit, they continue to be popular in the various videos, games and TV shows that they have now. You will probably still see children dressed up as Pokemon creatures this Halloween as you have for the past decade or so as it remains popular.
Another children’s trading card game that emerged from the same principal as collecting sports cards is the game and cards of a thing called YUGIOH. This was a similar idea to Pokemon with different characters featured on the trading cards but the cards were actually used to play a game as well, not just to collect. Certain characters could overtake other characters and this would result in the better card winning the other card. So a new competitive game became the new way to acquire cards, not just by trading them but by actually winning them from others in a game that mimics a type of war. YUGIOH has also extended into the digital age with a TV show, video games and other toys using the theme of the characters on the cards.
The old basic concept of a sports trading card helped to bring on a whole new type of cards geared towards kids today. If you ask any kid about trading cards they most likely will say Pokemon or YUGIOH instead of a sports player like they used to. It a shame that fantasy characters are replacing real life people.
Collecting baseball or football cards has been a longtime hobby for a lot collectors in the past. Although many kids enjoyed buying these cards every once in a while the real collectors of these sports cards tend to be adults because they have the means to support that hobby. New trends of collecting cards came from these sports cards and have hit the new profitable market of gearing towards kids. This article will touch on some of these card collecting hobbies that are geared to the younger generations and how they have been very profitable.
The first game that emerged were cards that featured different characters from a thing called Pokemon. This cartoon looking characters that had a mystical and anime type of style were being sold in small packs of 5-6 cards. They only sold certain characters and some were harder to find than others. Soon, kids were begging their parents for more packs of cards to see if they could get the more rare characters. They made huge binders to store their cards in and often spent time playing with their friends in which they would trade cards back and forth. This phenomenon took off as a popular craze and has now evolved in more things than just trading cards.
Pokemon has entered the digital and technological age to continue to stay popular with the kids. They have a website full of information about everything Pokemon as well as video games and even cartoon shows that bring the stories and characters from the trading cards to life. Although the trading cards phenomenon has died down a bit, they continue to be popular in the various videos, games and TV shows that they have now. You will probably still see children dressed up as Pokemon creatures this Halloween as you have for the past decade or so as it remains popular.
Another children’s trading card game that emerged from the same principal as collecting sports cards is the game and cards of a thing called YUGIOH. This was a similar idea to Pokemon with different characters featured on the trading cards but the cards were actually used to play a game as well, not just to collect. Certain characters could overtake other characters and this would result in the better card winning the other card. So a new competitive game became the new way to acquire cards, not just by trading them but by actually winning them from others in a game that mimics a type of war. YUGIOH has also extended into the digital age with a TV show, video games and other toys using the theme of the characters on the cards.
The old basic concept of a sports trading card helped to bring on a whole new type of cards geared towards kids today. If you ask any kid about trading cards they most likely will say Pokemon or YUGIOH instead of a sports player like they used to. It a shame that fantasy characters are replacing real life people.
